Press Releases
Whitehouse Urges DOJ to Address Abuse of Taxpayer Dollars in Afghanistan
Washington, DC - Following recent reports that millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars have been illegally funneled to Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is asking the Department of Justice to take action. The funds, which were intended to pay for trucking contractors to transport American supplies, were found to have instead paid for weapons and explosives used by U.S. enemies. "Tens of thousands of brave American men and women, including many Rhode Islanders, … Continue Reading
07.26.11
Whitehouse Statement on Administration Policy to Combat Organized Crime Abroad
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's newly announced Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, which aims to crack down on organized crime across the globe. "Criminal organizations operating from other countries threaten American families, businesses, and taxpayers through fraud, intellectual property theft, trafficking, cybercrime, and violent crime. The Administration's comprehensive strate… Continue Reading
07.25.11
Reed, Whitehouse, Langevin Announce $629,452 for Coventry Fire District
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) today announced the Central Coventry Fire District will receive $629,452 in federal funding to help fill vacancies in the ranks. This direct federal assistance, provided through the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, will help the fire district increase staffing of frontline firefighters, that had been somewhat under- staffed due to… Continue Reading
07.22.11
Whitehouse Statement on Signing on RI Ocean Management Plan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Jane Lubchenco's visit to Rhode Island to sign the state's Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP): "In Rhode Island, our oceans are critical for commerce and trade, tourism, and our fishing industry. Today's action by Dr. Lubchenco and Governor Chafee to sign the SAMP into Rhode Island's coastal zone management plan is a criti… Continue Reading
07.21.11
Whitehouse Statement on Passing of Governor Sundlun
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding the passing of former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun: "I mourn the passing of Bruce Sundlun, a beloved friend and mentor. Bruce's accomplishments as an athlete, soldier, lawyer, businessman and politician would each make his a memorable life; together they made him one of the most remarkable and accomplished Rhode Islanders in our history. But most who knew Bruce will remember him for his pers… Continue Reading
07.21.11
Judiciary Committee Approves Whitehouse Bill to Crack Down on Counterfeit Products Sold to the Military
Washington, DC - In response to increasing numbers of counterfeit products in the military supply chain, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the bipartisan Combating Military Counterfeits Act (S. 1228) earlier this year to crack down on criminals who traffic in these dangerous goods. Today the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved this legislation by voice vote. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John McCain (R-AZ), Jon Kyl (R-AZ)… Continue Reading
07.21.11
Whitehouse Supports Bill to Encourage Offshore Wind Energy Production
WASHINGTON - Today, Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced legislation to provide critical financial incentives for the investment in offshore wind energy. Joining Sens. Carper and Snowe as cosponsors are Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Specifically, the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act provides the offshore wind industry with enhanced stability by extending in… Continue Reading
07.20.11
RI Delegation Announces Over $600,000 in Federal Funds for Food and Shelter Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to provide critical assistance to struggling families, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced $616,716 in federal funding to supplement emergency food and shelter programs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) will support local social service agencies in providing food, rent, and utility assistance to individuals faced with non-disaster related emergencies. "During these difficult economic tim… Continue Reading
07.19.11
Whitehouse Holds Hearing on Drug and Veterans Treatment Courts
Washington, DC - With America's prison population continuing to rise and municipalities across the country struggling to keep up with the high cost of our criminal justice system, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today held a hearing in his Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism to examine alternative law enforcement approaches. The hearing, which featured testimony from acclaimed actor Martin Sheen and Chief Judge Jeanne LaFazia of the Rhode Island District Court, among others, ex… Continue Reading
07.15.11
Senators Express Concern on TransCanada’s Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was joined by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D- OR), Robert Menenedez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D NJ), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in sending a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today calling for a review of the permitting process of TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. In the letter, the senators outlined their concerns regarding the safety of the proposed pipeline and the lack of analysis fo… Continue Reading
07.14.11
Bishop Geralyn Wolf Leads U.S. Senate Prayer
Washington, DC - This morning Rhode Island's Episcopal Bishop Geralyn Wolf opened the United States Senate in prayer. Bishop Wolf was invited by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Bishop Wolf and her husband are in Washington, DC to discuss the problems facing the people of South Sudan with Rhode Island's congressional delegation. After Bishop Wolf's prayer, Senator Whitehouse addressed the Senate: "I'm delighted to be here with my senior colleague, Senator Jack Reed, to welcome Geralyn … Continue Reading
07.13.11
Whitehouse Highlights Threats to the Health of our Oceans
Washington, DC - Calling attention to a recent report released by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today took to the Senate floor to address our oceans crisis. IPSO is a consortium of ocean scientists and other experts from legal, communication, and policy arenas. The group works to identify current problems facing the oceans, project the future outcomes of these problems, and develop workable solutions. The workshop was co-sponsore… Continue Reading
07.13.11
Whitehouse Bill to Re-Authorize National Estuary Program Passes Senate Committee
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) bipartisan legislation to re-authorize the National Estuary Program (NEP) was approved by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with a bipartisan vote. First established in 1987 by Rhode Island Senator John Chafee, this program protects and restores estuarine habitats threatened by pollution, overdevelopment, and other threats. Authorization for this important program expired last year, compromising the programs in plac… Continue Reading
07.12.11
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Prevent “Agency Capture”
Washington, DC - Following reports last year of oil industry representatives exerting undue influence over the Minerals Management Service, resulting in a failure of oversight that contributed to the Gulf oil spill disaster, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced legislation to help prevent powerful special interests from "capturing" and controlling federal agencies that regulate their activities. Whitehouse's two bills, the Regulatory Information Reporting Act and the Regulatory … Continue Reading
07.11.11
Whitehouse Introduces Resolution to Defend Social Security and Medicare
Washington, DC - Amid reports that cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits may be included in a broader deficit reduction deal, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced a resolution to defend these vital programs. The measure, cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), would express the Sense of the Senate that any agreement to reduce the budget deficit should not include cuts to… Continue Reading
07.07.11
Whitehouse Statement on EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement of a new Cross-State Air Pollution Rule to curb pollution from "upwind" coal-fired power plants: "I commend the EPA for finalizing the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. For too long, virtually uncontrolled coal-fired power plants have used tall smoke stacks to export dirty air to downwind states like Rhode Island. This new rule is an important… Continue Reading
06.30.11
Whitehouse Introduces Bill to Re-Authorize National Estuary Program
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced bipartisan legislation to re-authorize the National Estuary Program (NEP), which was first established in 1987 by Senator John Chafee, to protect and restore estuarine habitats threatened by pollution, overdevelopment, and other threats. Authorization for this important program expired last year, compromising the programs in place for estuaries of national significance, including the Narragansett Bay. Senators David Vitter… Continue Reading
06.30.11
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Approves Whitehouse Legislation to Protect Servicemembers from Foreclosure
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs has approved the Veterans Programs Improvements Act of 2011, which includes a key component authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to help keep military families in their homes. The Committee's bill includes a measure to lengthen the period of foreclosure protection for servicemembers returning from active duty, which is similar to a provision from Whitehouse's Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011.… Continue Reading
06.29.11
Whitehouse: Counterfeits Pose Danger to Our Troops
Washington, DC - In response to increasing numbers of counterfeit products in the military supply chain, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on criminals who traffic in these dangerous goods. The Combating Military Counterfeits Act of 2011, which is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Chris Coons (D-DE), would increase penalties and create a heightened criminal offense for trafficking in counterf… Continue Reading
06.28.11
Whitehouse Receives Legislator of the Year Award
Washington, D.C. -- Last week, the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform presented U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) with their Legislator of the Year Award for his advocacy on behalf of students in the middle grades. Whitehouse received the award from Peter Murphy, Executive Director of the California League of Middle Schools and past president of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, during the organization's annual meeting. "Middle school is a critical time… Continue Reading
