Press Releases
Cranston Receives $3.45 Million to Hire More Firefighters
CRANSTON, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative James Langevin today joined with Mayor Allan Fung to announce $3.45 million in federal funding to help Cranston hire and train 20 new firefighters. This direct federal assistance, provided through the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, will help the Cranston Fire Department increase staffing of frontline firefighters. Cranston may use the federal SAFER grant to… Continue Reading
12.18.12
Senate Passes Bill to Strengthen Investigations of Missing Children and Sex Offenders
Washington, DC - Yesterday, the United States Senate passed the Strengthening Investigations of Sex Offenders and Missing Children Act of 2011 (S. 1792), which makes it clear that the U.S. Marshals Service has authority, upon request, to assist state and local law enforcement in investigating missing children cases. The bill was introduced last year by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). It passed the Senate unanimously yesterday even… Continue Reading
12.17.12
Senate Passes Whitehouse Bill on Federal Assistance in Mass Killing Investigations
Update: House passed the Senate version of this bill on January 1, 2013 Washington, DC - Today, the United States Senate passed U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, which authorizes federal law enforcement agencies to assist state and local counterparts in responding to mass shootings or other violent crimes that take place in public areas such as schools, shopping malls, or office buildings. Whitehouse introduced the bill last year,… Continue Reading
12.17.12
Whitehouse Statement on Passing of Senator Inouye
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI): "From the front lines of World War II through more than five decades of service in Congress, Senator Inouye led a remarkable American life. He was a Senator in the truest sense - a statesman who always represented the interests of his fellow Hawaiians; a hard worker who mastered the art of legislating; and a gifted politician who remained be… Continue Reading
12.14.12
Whitehouse Statement on Connecticut School Shooting
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the statement below regarding today's school shooting in Newtown, CT: "Today's shooting was an act of unspeakable horror, and my heart goes out to the families of those harmed. While many of the details are still unfolding, one thing is clear: no parent should ever have to face such tragedy. In the days ahead, I will work with officials here in Rhode Island and in Washington to support our friends and neighbors in Connecticut in any wa… Continue Reading
12.14.12
Reed, Whitehouse Urge Emergency Federal Funding for Fisheries Disasters
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help Rhode Island fishermen, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that $150 million is included in the Senate Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for several fisheries disasters declared in the past year. The Northeast commercial groundfish fishery was declared a disaster due to the depletion and unexpectedly slow rebuilding of fish stocks. The emergency funding included in the Appropriations bill can be used to provide a variety … Continue Reading
12.13.12
Whitehouse, Eshoo, & Industry Leaders Trumpet New Law to Stop High Volume Commercials
The CALM Act: Putting an End to Loud TV Commercials "Loud TV commercials have been among the most common consumer complaints to the FCC for decades now," said Senator Whitehouse. "While this is a small issue compared to the big challenges facing our nation, it is an unnecessary annoyance in the daily lives of many Americans, and I'm glad to have done something about it." "Earsplitting television ads have jolted and annoyed viewers for decades," Rep. Eshoo said. "With this new law, loud TV co… Continue Reading
12.10.12
Delegation Announces $6 Million to Repair Storm Damage & Help Protect Businesses at Quonset
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today joined with Governor Lincoln Chafee to announce $6 million in federal funding for the Quonset Development Corporation in North Kingstown and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to help make upgrades and repairs related to storm damage caused by Hurricane Irene. The federal funds, which are appropriated by Congress and administered by the U.S. Eco… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Senate Passes Defense Authorization Measure
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that will authorize funding for defense programs in the year ahead. Among other things, the legislation will provide funding for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines - an important priority for the defense industry in Rhode Island. It also includes two provisions authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Whitehouse's Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act was included as an amendme… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Whitehouse to Obama: No Need to Cut Medicare
Washington, DC - As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate towards a deal that will prevent a series of automatic tax increases and spending cuts in January, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is making the case that Medicare benefit cuts should be off the table in these discussions. In a letter today to President Obama, Whitehouse argues that we don't need to cut benefits to save money in Medicare, and calls for the establishment of a specific goal for system-wide … Continue Reading
11.29.12
Senate Approves Whitehouse Cancer Research Bill
Washington, DC - The United States Senate today voted in favor of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012, introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The legislation, which would support the coordination of research on those forms of cancer which are difficult to detect and have persistently low survival rates, was approved by voice vote as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act would direct the National Cancer Ins… Continue Reading
11.29.12
Whitehouse and Baldwin Call on President to Include the Buffett Rule in Deficit Negotiations
Washington, DC - As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue discussions to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" - the mix of tax increases and spending cuts set to automatically take effect in January - two prominent Congressional Democrats are calling on the President to include a version of the Buffett Rule for tax fairness in any deal. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to fight for the Payin… Continue Reading
11.27.12
RI Congressional Delegation Announces $218,000 in Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for Local Organizations
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's congressional delegation today announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a total of $218,000 in funding for arts organizations in the state. The funding will support the Rhode Island arts community and organizations that offer arts education to Rhode Island residents. "This federal funding will help support local artists and bolster economic development and education through the arts," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Chairman of the A… Continue Reading
11.20.12
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Sen. Warren Rudman
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement upon the passing of former Senator Warren B. Rudman of New Hampshire: "Senator Rudman was a statesman who served the people of New Hampshire and his country admirably. I am grateful for his bipartisan support on my DISCLOSE Act. He was a leader in the fight against secret money in elections, which, as co-chair of Americans for Campaign Reform, he identified as both 'unprecedented and corrosive to the politi… Continue Reading
11.14.12
Whitehouse Statement on Failed Cybersecurity Vote
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding today's failed vote on cybersecurity legislation: "I continue to believe that the cyber threat facing our nation is one of our most significant national security concerns, and we must take action to better protect ourselves. I'm disappointed that Republicans in the Senate chose once again to block our progress on this front, but I remain committed to working with anyone who is interested in thi… Continue Reading
11.09.12
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Fiscal Cliff
Providence, RI - Following President Obama's speech today about the need to find a solution to the so-called "fiscal cliff" before the end of this year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below: "My top priority in the coming weeks is to protect middle-class Rhode Islanders from income tax hikes, and I agree with the President that we should move quickly to do so. In fact, the Senate has already passed legislation to shield 98 percent of families and 97 percent of sm… Continue Reading
11.03.12
Obama Approves RI Disaster Declaration for 3 Counties
PROVIDENCE, RI - In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, President Obama today granted Rhode Island's request for a federal disaster declaration for Washington, Bristol, and Newport counties. Yesterday, Governor Chafee, with the support of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation, signed a request seeking a presidential disaster declaration that would provide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance in three of the state's five counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Today's declar… Continue Reading
10.27.12
As Sandy Heads North, Delegation Urges Obama to Speed Emergency Assistance to RI
PROVIDENCE, RI - As Rhode Island prepares for the possible impact of Hurricane Sandy, the state's Congressional delegation wants to help speed up emergency assistance from the federal government. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline sent a letter to President Obama urging expedited approval of any forthcoming request for additional federal assistance as well as possible requests for emergency or disaster declarations for the st… Continue Reading
10.26.12
Whitehouse Urges Rhode Islanders to Prepare for Storm
Providence, RI - As Hurricane Sandy begins to make its way up the coast, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is working to make sure Rhode Islanders have access to information about what to do before, during, and after the storm. Whitehouse's website now features a new hurricane preparedness page with a message from the Senator and links to additional resources. The page can be viewed at whitehouse.senate.gov/sandy. "With Hurricane Sandy making its way up our coast and the National Weather Servic… Continue Reading
10.18.12
Whitehouse Applauds Court Decision on Defense of Marriage Act
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to join the First Circuit in striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law which defines marriage as between a man and a woman: "Today's decision confirms that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act needs to go, and that Attorney General Holder made the right decision refusing to defend it. It's wrong that gay coup… Continue Reading
