Press Releases
Senators Urge President to Put Americans to Work Rebuilding Our Crumbling Infrastructure
Washington, DC - As the President and Congress continue to examine new ways to create jobs, a group of 24 U.S. Senators today urged President Obama to focus these efforts on rebuilding our nation's infrastructure. In a letter to the President, the Senators argued that their states have "significant, documented infrastructure repair needs" which present a prime opportunity for job creation. The letter was signed by Senators Whitehouse, Leahy, Levin, Kerry, Harkin, Wyden, Durbin, Reed, Landrieu,… Continue Reading
12.08.09
Whitehouse Statement on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Finding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's official conclusion that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to human health: "For eight years, the Bush Administration did everything in its power to avoid regulating greenhouse gas emissions as pollutants, even after the Supreme Court ordered EPA to determine whether greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and the environment. The EPA under the Obama A… Continue Reading
12.07.09
Whitehouse Introduces Amendments to Increase Funding for Local Hospitals
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has filed two amendments to the Senate's health care reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to help a pair of local hospitals get their fair share of federal funding designated for teaching hospitals. "Teaching hospitals offer new doctors invaluable experience working with patients, and the federal government has long recognized that additional funding helps make these residency programs possible," said Whitehouse. … Continue Reading
12.03.09
Whitehouse Introduces Amendment to Health Care Reform Bill
Washington, DC - Senator Whitehouse today filed an amendment to the Senate health care bill expressing the Sense of the Senate that surpluses generated by this bill for the Social Security trust fund be reserved for Social Security, and that savings for the long term insurance program created by the CLASS Act be reserved for that program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill would reduce the deficit by $130 billion in the first 10 years, and roughly $650 billion in the secon… Continue Reading
11.21.09
In Senate Speech, Whitehouse Speaks in Favor of Making Affordable Health Care a Reality for All Americans
Washington, D.C. - As the Senate continues the debate on legislation to reform the nation's broken health care system, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) spoke today on the Senate floor in favor of making quality, affordable health care a reality for all Americans and noted the extreme similarities between Senate Republicans' and the health insurance industry's opposition to reform. Full text of Whitehouse's remarks, as prepared for delivery, is below.------------------------------- Madame… Continue Reading
11.21.09
Statement of Senator Whitehouse on Senate’s Successful Vote to Move Health Care Reform Legislation Forward
Washington, D.C. - "During the course of our national debate on health care reform, I heard from thousands of Rhode Islanders online through my health care storyboard, at my community dinners, and at meetings and main street visits. I hear their urgent call for health care reform. The Senate's move to a full debate of comprehensive health care reform is a major step toward the enactment of legislation that will dramatically increase health care coverage, improve health care quality, and reduce … Continue Reading
11.16.09
Legislation Introduced in Senate and House to Better Manage Prison Population Growth
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced today the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help states and localities better understand how to manage the growth in prison and jail populations and increase public safety. The legislation would authorize grants to analyze criminal justice trends and to design and implement policies to better manage prison spending. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Dan Lungr… Continue Reading
11.13.09
Whitehouse Hears from Local Homeowners About The Housing Market Crisis
Warwick, RI - As millions of American homeowners continue to struggle against the tide of home foreclosures, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) heard from Rhode Island homebuyers and realtors yesterday about the recession's impact on the local housing market. Whitehouse hosted a roundtable discussion at The Rhode Island Association of Realtors in Warwick. Whitehouse stressed to the participants the importance of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit established last year and expanded t… Continue Reading
11.05.09
Whitehouse Votes in EPW Committee to Bypass Republican Obstruction on Climate Change Bill
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) today passed landmark climate change legislation to combat global warming and invest in a new clean energy economy. Because the Republican members of the Committee declined to propose amendments to the legislation and boycotted the Committee's meetings to consider the bill, the Committee approved EPW Committee Chairman Boxer's "mark" of the legislation without amendment. The bill passed by the Committee is stronger … Continue Reading
11.05.09
Delegation Applauds Selection of Curt Spalding to be New Regional Administrator for U.S. EPA
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today applauded the Obama Administration's announcement that it will name Curt Spalding as the new head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region I office. As the U.S. EPA Region I Administrator, Spalding will be New England's senior environmental official, overseeing federal environmental programs within the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. "I applaud the Obama Admin… Continue Reading
11.04.09
Whitehouse Praises Senate Passage of Unemployment Extension
Washington, DC - With millions of Americans still struggling to find work in this difficult economy, the U.S. Senate today took action to assist those in need by extending unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks. The legislation, which passed the Senate by a vote of 98 to 0, will also expand and extend the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit passed earlier this year and allow businesses to offset losses incurred during the recession. Whitehouse, a cosponsor of the unemployment provision, re… Continue Reading
11.03.09
Delegation Announces $15 Million Industrial Energy Efficiency Grant for Johnston Landfill Project
WASHINGTON, DC- Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy is awarding a $15 million Recovery Act grant to Rhode Island LFG Genco, an affiliate of Ridgewood Renewable Power, to support the expansion of Ridgewood's landfill methane-capture electricity generation plant in Johnston. The project will be the second-largest landfill gas-to-electricity generation facility in the United States. The project will generate 42 MW of power, and save an estimat… Continue Reading
10.26.09
Whitehouse Meets with Military, Afghan Leaders
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, traveled to Afghanistan this weekend as part of a congressional delegation led by U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) to learn first hand about the progress of U.S. military efforts in the region. While in Afghanistan, Whitehouse met with senior diplomats and military and intelligence officials, including International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander General Stanley McChrystal and U… Continue Reading
10.23.09
Whitehouse Travels to Afghanistan to Meet with Troops, Officials
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is traveling to Afghanistan today to meet with senior military, civilian, and intelligence officials. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is traveling as part of a congressional delegation led by U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) to get an update on the status of American efforts in Afghanistan directly from the professionals on the ground. "I'm always glad to have the chance to thank our troops serving abr… Continue Reading
10.20.09
President Obama Signs Whitehouse Bill to Ease Burdens Imposed on U.S. Attorneys by Foreign Investigations
Washington, D.C. - President Barack Obama has signed into law 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), was cosponsored in the Senate by both the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and the Ranking Member, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Repres… Continue Reading
10.20.09
Whitehouse Holds Senate Hearing on the Impact of Medical Debt
Washington, DC - As the debate over health care reform continues in Washington, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today held a hearing to examine ways to ease the burden of overwhelming medical expenses on American families. Rhode Islander Kerry Burns joined a panel of experts and victims of medical debt testifying in a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts. Whitehouse is chairman of the subcommittee. "As we in Congress co… Continue Reading
10.19.09
Whitehouse Tours Local Schools to Learn About Efforts to Increase Energy Efficiency
Scituate, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) last week visited Scituate and Ponaganset High Schools to observe initiatives at each school aimed at increasing environmental awareness and training students for environmental jobs. "I'm glad to see these Rhode Island schools leading the way in energy efficiency projects and environmental awareness," said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee. "I hope these measures will serve as an example to othe… Continue Reading
10.16.09
United States Senate 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 praised the Senate's confirmation 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, approved the nomination on October 8, and the full Senate today confirmed O'Donnell by unanimous consent… Continue Reading
10.16.09
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
