Press Releases
Delegation Announces $1.1M in NEA grants for RI State Council on the Arts, Newport Opera House, RiverzEdge Arts Project
Washington, DC - Today, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation announced that the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and two local arts organizations in Newport and Woonsocket have been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has been awarded a $782,100 grant and a $291,500 grant for its State Partnership Program; Newport Opera House has been awarded a $10,000 grant under the NEA's Challenge America program; and RiverszEdge… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Rockefeller, Whitehouse, Degette: Americans Deserve High-Quality Health Care
Washington, D.C.-Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced "The National Health Care Quality Act." This landmark legislation will make patient health outcomes - not special interests - the determinants for how we pay for and provide health care services. The bill will create a new foundation for health care quality improvement within a National Health Care Quality Office. "We spend more money on health care in Ameri… Continue Reading
05.04.09
Lautenberg, Menendez, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Alert Communities of Sewage Overflows
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to protect communities from illness by requiring monitoring, notification and reporting of sewer overflows. "The public has a right to know about potentially harmful pollution in their water. My bill will require sewer systems to be monitored regularly for sewage overflows and ensure that our neighborhoods are alerted quickly if public health is at risk," said S… Continue Reading
04.30.09
Whitehouse Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Invest $1.8 Billion for Water Safety Projects Across the Country
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and George Voinovich (R-OH) today introduced legislation to authorize $1.8 billion in federal grants to help modernize antiquated sewer systems. These sewers frequently overflow directly into rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters during wet weather events, threatening water quality and public health and undermining local economies. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are also co-sponsors of the b… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Whitehouse Statement on Israeli Independence Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today to commemorate Yom Ha'atzmaut, the 61st anniversary of Israel's independence: "Today, we celebrate the 61st anniversary of Israel's statehood. The United States has a unique bond with Israel and her people, a staunch and enduring alliance founded on our nations' shared commitment to democracy. I had the opportunity to visit Israel for the first time earlier this year, and in meetings in Tel Aviv, Je… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Statement on Confirmation of Sebelius to Lead HHS
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today on the Senate's confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. "Secretary Sebelius will be a much-needed leader as we take on the urgent challenge of health care reform. We delay the repair of this broken, dysfunctional system at our peril, and her confirmation is a good step forward." ###… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Delegation Announces $750,000 for RI Crime Victim Assistance and Compensation Programs
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced $754,862 in Recovery Act funds for victim assistance and compensation programs. The announcement coincides with National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Rhode Island will receive $185,862 for crime victim compensation programs and $569,000 for crime victim assistance. "This funding will help ensure crime victims have access to critical support services so they can begin to rebuild their lives. For years, Rhode Island's Crim… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Introduces Rhode Islander Cynthia Giles at Nomination Hearing for EPA Post
Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Inhofe, thank you for holding this important hearing today to consider the nomination of three supremely qualified individuals to fill key positions at the Environmental Protection Agency. I am especially pleased to introduce today Ms. Cynthia Giles, from my home state of Rhode Island, as the nominee for Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. I have known and worked with Cynthia and have seen firsthand her leadership in the Ocean State o… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Applauds Passage of Bill to Fight Financial Crime
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded the Senate's passage of legislation to improve enforcement of mortgage, securities, and financial institution fraud. Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a cosponsor of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (S. 386). "The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act will enhance our ability to combat fraud and help bring justice to those injure… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Whitehouse: New Report Sheds More Light on Torture Authorizations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Judiciary Committee, commented today on the release of a comprehensive report by the Senate Armed Services Committee on interrogations carried out by the military under the Bush Administration. Whitehouse said: "This exhaustive report offers more evidence of failures within the Bush Administration that allowed officials to set history and the law aside to torture de… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Delegation Celebrates Earth Day, Announces Nearly $20 Million in Clean Water Funding
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help create green jobs and bolster Rhode Island's clean-water infrastructure, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced over $19.76 million in federal funding to improve the quality and safety of the state's drinking water. The money will flow to the state as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was supported by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin, and … Continue Reading
04.21.09
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Recommendation of Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell to be the U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, RI - United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced they have recommended that President Barack Obama nominate state police Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. "Lieutenant Colonel O'Donnell is a dedicated public servant and an outstanding police officer. He brings a proven record of experience, integrity, and independence to the job and we are confident he will serve Rhode Island and the nation with distincti… Continue Reading
04.20.09
For Earth Day, Whitehouse Learns from Local Businesses, Consumers About Alternative Energy Option
Lincoln, R.I. - As the nation prepares to celebrate Earth Day, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined a group of Rhode Island small businesses working together to cut down on pollution here in our Ocean State by producing and distributing biodiesel. Whitehouse visited the home of Michael and Lee Ann Conway, a Lincoln family who heats their home with this locally produced, renewable fuel. Also on hand were representatives from three local businesses - Newport Biodiesel, TH Malloy an… Continue Reading
04.17.09
Whitehouse Commends EPA for Moving Forward With Review of Threat Posed by Global Warming
Providence, RI. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement applauding the Obama Administration and Environmental Protection Agency for quickly moving forward with an endangerment finding detailing the consequences to public health and welfare from greenhouse gas pollution. The endangerment finding responds to the landmark 2007 U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Massachusetts v. EPA confirming the Agency's authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxi… Continue Reading
04.16.09
Whitehouse Praises Decision to Release OLC Torture Memos
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees who has been a leading critic of the Bush Administration's use of torture, today applauded the Obama Administration's decision to release legal memoranda on interrogation drafted by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Whitehouse said today: "I'm glad the Obama Administration has released these opinions. Seeing them will help Americans fully appreciate the abjec… Continue Reading
04.15.09
New Legislation Would Increase Funds for Bradley Residency Program
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) are introducing legislation to help Bradley Hospital get its fair share of federal funding designated for teaching hospitals. Bradley is one of the few children's psychiatric hospitals that trains physicians in residencies in child and adolescent psychiatry, pediatrics, and general psychiatry. Most pediatric teaching hospitals receive payments to cover the extra costs associated with taking on r… Continue Reading
04.13.09
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Recommendation of Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals and John J. "Jack" McConnell to the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, RI - United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced they have recommended that President Barack Obama nominate Rhode Island Superior Court Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals and attorney John J. "Jack" McConnell to the U.S. District Court in Providence. "After an open process to solicit qualified applicants followed by extensive interviews and careful deliberation, we have recommended that President Obama nominate Rhode I… Continue Reading
04.10.09
Reed and Whitehouse to Host Academy Day 2009
WARWICK, RI -- In an effort to inform Rhode Island students about opportunities to attend our nation's military service academies, requirements for admission, and the appointment process, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will host United States Service Academy Day 2009 at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus, in Warwick on Saturday, April 25th at 0900 hours. This informational seminar is open to all high school students and their parents throughout R… Continue Reading
04.09.09
RI Receives Nearly $3 Million to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Clean Up Underground Oil Tanks
Providence, RI - Rhode Island will receive nearly $3 million in federal environmental funding to promote programs to reduce diesel emissions and clean up petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks, the state's Congressional delegation announced today. "This federal funding will help put people to work, protect public health, and restore critical environmental cleanup efforts. We need to ensure that families, communities, and businesses have safe, clean air and drinking water. This federal… Continue Reading
04.07.09
Reed, Whitehouse & Kennedy Announce $398K Grant for School Counseling Demonstration Program in Central Falls
Pawtucket, RI - Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman Patrick Kennedy announced today that the Central Falls School District has been selected to receive a $398,625 federal grant for a school counseling demonstration program. The funding will be used to hire four new certified guidance counselors for elementary schools in the Central Falls school district, effective September 2009. Currently, there are no guidance counselors at the elementary level in Central Falls. T… Continue Reading
