Press Releases
Rhode Island Homeowner Testifies During Senate Committee Hearing About Foreclosure Crisis
Washington, D.C. - As millions of American homeowners continue to struggle against the tide of home foreclosures, a Rhode Island resident today testified at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing about the foreclosure crisis and the idea of using bankruptcy reform to help people stay in their homes. Joseph Verdelotti Jr., of West Warwick, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts about his fight to keep his home in the face of unfair m… Continue Reading
07.21.09
Senators, New Jersey Governor Denounce Dangerous Amendment that Would Put Communities at Risk for More Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, DC - Trying to prevent an increase of gun violence in America's communities, Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) today denounced a proposed amendment by Republican Senator John Thune (R-ND) that would allow people, including some criminals and mentally ill individuals, to carry concealed weapons across state lines - even if the state… Continue Reading
07.20.09
New Report Highlights Significant Contributions to the U.S. Economy by the Copyright Industries
Washington, D.C.: The Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus, which is chaired by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), commended a new report released today by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) that underscores the critical role that copyright industries play in supporting the U.S. economy. The report concluded that the copyright industries, which include music producers, authors, fil… Continue Reading
07.15.09
Whitehouse: Committee Passage of Health Care Reform Takes us One Step Closer to a System that Works for Everyone
Washington, D.C. - This morning, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved landmark health care reform legislation. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who was named in May to serve temporarily on the HELP Committee, praised the committee's work today: "For the past months, Rhode Islanders have told me that we need to fix health care in this country. I've heard from people struggling under skyrocketing costs and fearful that their coverage will disappear;… Continue Reading
07.10.09
Senate Passes Whitehouse Bill to Ease Burdens on U.S. Attorneys Imposed by Foreign Investigations
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that makes it easier for U.S. Attorneys to respond to requests for evidence made by foreign authorities pursuing international criminal investigations. The Foreign Evidence Request Efficiency Act (S. 1289), cosponsored by both the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and the Ranking Member, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), will allow U.S. Attor… Continue Reading
07.09.09
Whitehouse Sponsors Legislation to Reduce Mercury Pollution
Washington, D.C. - Despite the health and environmental risks of mercury pollution, some plants in the U.S. that manufacture the industrial chemicals chlorine and caustic soda still use outdated technology that significantly increases their mercury emissions. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation that would require these facilities to begin using mercury-free technology within two years. "Mercury contamination in our air, land and water is a serious health threat… Continue Reading
07.08.09
Whitehouse, Schumer, Menendez Introduce Legislation Promoting Home Energy Efficiency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced the introduction of new legislation encouraging families and property owners to improve their homes' energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency in Housing Act of 2009 (S. 1379) would help consumers save money on home energy costs, create jobs for local contractors, and limit pollution that contributes to global warming. "As we work toward stabilizing our economy and reducing o… Continue Reading
07.01.09
Whitehouse Visits Local Solar-Powered Home, Announces New Legislation Promoting Home Energy Efficiency
Charlestown, RI - As the summer heats up and electricity costs begin to rise, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today visited a work site where a local company is installing a residential solar electric system for a local family, and during this visit announced new legislation encouraging families and property owners to improve their homes' energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency in Housing Act of 2009 (S. 1379) would help consumers save money on home energy costs, create jobs for local c… Continue Reading
06.30.09
Whitehouse Thanks Troops on Withdrawal from Iraqi Cities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today: "Today's withdrawal from Iraqi cities is a positive, welcome step forward that will help speed the day when Iraq's security will be entirely in Iraqi hands. It is also an occasion to thank America's soldiers, aviators, sailors and Marines. Our troops in Iraq are doing all that we have asked of them and more, and we are grateful for their courageous service." Whitehouse made his third trip to Iraq in… Continue Reading
06.26.09
Whitehouse Sponsors Legislation to Make Car Parts More Affordable
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced legislation that would ensure that consumers continue to have access to more-affordable parts to repair their automobiles. The Access to Repair Parts Act (S. 1368) would create an exemption in patent law for auto repair parts. Consumers who, after an accident, need an exterior collision repair part (e.g., a bumper, fender, or hood) to fix their car have long benefitted from a choice between a part produced by or for the ma… Continue Reading
06.19.09
Whitehouse: Obama’s New Consumer Financial Protection Agency is a Step Forward for Rhode Islanders Caught in Credit Traps
Washington, D.C. - President Obama's new plan to toughen federal regulation of financial products like mortgages, credit cards, and retirement accounts will help level the playing field for Rhode Islanders like Ryan Kamphuis, who saw his interest rate skyrocket when he paid one bill late after having been hospitalized for weeks, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said today. The White House this week announced a comprehensive regulatory reform plan that includes the creation of a new federa… Continue Reading
06.18.09
Whitehouse, Lautenberg, Menendez Bill to Alert Communities of Sewage Overflows Passes Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today approved legislation Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) authored to protect communities by requiring monitoring, notification and reporting of sewer overflows. "The public has a right to know about potentially harmful pollution in their water. Our bill would require sewer systems to be monitored regularly for sewage overflows and ensure that our neighborhoods are… Continue Reading
06.17.09
RI to Receive Over $12 Million to Upgrade Emergency Response Capabilities
WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to enhance Rhode Island's safety and emergency preparedness, Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced the state will receive over $12 million in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This federal funding, which was passed in the fiscal year 2009 spending bill, will be administered by DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The federal grants will help state and local agencies and non-profits prepare for and respo… Continue Reading
06.12.09
Whitehouse Praises Obama’s Creation of Oceans Task Force
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today hailed President Obama's creation of a new Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force as a step forward in efforts to protect and better manage our oceans and coasts. Whitehouse said: "The President's announcement today is another welcome sign that he takes seriously our responsibility to care for our oceans, coastlines, and Great Lakes. Balancing the different needs of marine ecosystem conservation, fishing and maritime industries; the thr… Continue Reading
06.12.09
Delegation Announces RI to Receive Over $250 Million in Federal Recovery Bond Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is making over $151 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds and over $100.8 million in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds available to cities and towns throughout Rhode Island. The money will be provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy … Continue Reading
06.11.09
Whitehouse Sponsors Legislation to Combat Childhood Lead Poisoning
Washington, D.C. - Legislation introduced today in the U.S. Senate would help homeowners in Rhode Island and around the country reduce the risk of childhood lead poisoning. The bipartisan Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2009, sponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would provide a federal tax credit of up to $3,000 to help cover the cost of reducing lead exposure in homes occupied by low-income families. The bill was first introduced in 2003 and in sub… Continue Reading
06.11.09
Rhode Island to Receive Nearly $450,000 to Keep Waters Clean
Washington, D.C. - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced $448,000 in federal funding for Rhode Island to help keep our waterways clean by preventing contamination from sewage. The funds will be used to install, replace, or renovate fifteen sewage pumpout stations around the state, and purchase a sewage pumpout boat to ensure Rhode Island boaters have easy access to proper waste management facilities. "This federal funding will help conserve Rhode Island's coastal waters so th… Continue Reading
06.10.09
Rhode Islander Testifies at Senate Hearing on Dangers of Relationship Violence
Washington, D.C. - Saunderstown resident Ann Burke, whose daughter Lindsay was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in 2005, has made "amazing contributions" to efforts to prevent dating violence in Rhode Island, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said today at a Senate hearing where Burke testified in support of federal legislation to create grant programs for relationship violence education. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke during the hearing to recognize Burke for he… Continue Reading
06.09.09
Experts Find Progress, but Room for Improvement, in Putting Science Before Politics at EPA
Washington, D.C. - President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made progress towards ensuring that environmental policy is based in science, not politics - but there's still room for improvement, experts testified before a Senate oversight hearing today. "In truth there is no silver bullet that will forever protect EPA science from political manipulation," said Dr. Francesca Grifo, Director of the Scientific Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Any law or po… Continue Reading
06.08.09
Whitehouse Hears From Rhode Islanders About Unfair Credit Practices
Providence, R.I. - On the heels of sweeping credit card reform legislation recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) met today with Rhode Islanders affected by unfair credit card practices at the John Hope Settlement House in Providence. Whitehouse heard from consumers and small business owners about the impact of high interest rates and other tricks and traps on their families and businesses. "With the economy in recession and u… Continue Reading
