Press Releases
Whitehouse: Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Marks Historic Win for Equality
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today after President Obama signed legislation to repeal the law banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military: "Requiring gay and lesbian servicemembers to hide who they are went against the principles of integrity and responsibility on which our military stands. President Obama's action today marks an historic win for equality and civil liberties, and also for our proud military as we conti… Continue Reading
12.21.10
$400,000 Grant Awarded to Warwick Fire Department
Washington, DC - The Warwick Fire Department has been awarded $414,620 in federal funds to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) for the entire station, a new filing station, and related equipment. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse wrote a letter in July to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supporting the grant request. The upgrades will bring the Warwick Fire Department into compliance with current national standards. "Our firefighters are the invaluable first lin… Continue Reading
12.21.10
Reed & Whitehouse Help Restore LIHEAP Funds & Pell Grants
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate today voted 79-16 to pass a short-term funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR) which will keep the government running through March 4, 2011. The bill would maintain fiscal year 2010 funding for most programs, but also includes an additional $1.25 billion for the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and $5.7 billion to maintain the maximum award for Pell grants. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse, who both voted… Continue Reading
12.18.10
Whitehouse Statement on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Vote in Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today after the Senate voted to repeal the law banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military. Whitehouse cosponsored legislation to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' "For an institution founded on integrity and accountability, requiring brave, loyal and highly trained soldiers to lie about or disguise their sexual orientation was wrong, as Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates have eloquently explained… Continue Reading
12.17.10
Whitehouse Statement on Obama Administration Scientific Integrity Policy
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration's new guidance for improving scientific integrity in federal government decision-making: "I applaud the Obama Administration for their ongoing commitment to scientific integrity. The recommendations released today will help ensure that when federal agencies are making decisions about public health, worker safety, energy, and the environment, those decisions are base… Continue Reading
12.16.10
Whitehouse Urges President to Ramp Up Foreclosure Efforts
Washington, DC - In a meeting yesterday evening with President Obama, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) personally delivered a letter to urge the Administration to "retool foreclosure prevention efforts." The letter, which also featured the story of a Riverside, RI resident who struggled to obtain a mortgage modification, asked the President to support bankruptcy court foreclosure mediation programs such as one currently used in Rhode Island. "These programs simply require the servicer to… Continue Reading
12.15.10
Whitehouse Testifies Before US House Judiciary Committee on Foreclosure Prevention Programs
Washington, DC - This morning, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse testified at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary about how our broken foreclosure system has affected families in Rhode Island and around the country. Whitehouse discussed a program currently being used by Rhode Island's bankruptcy court which provides for pre-trial loss mitigation sessions, allowing homeowners to meet face-to-face with their lenders to negotiate in good faith toward a m… Continue Reading
12.15.10
Whitehouse and Cornyn Bill to Crack Down on Foreign Criminal Assets in the United States Unanimously Passes Senate
Washington, DC - Last night, the Senate passed the Preserving Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act. Introduced by two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), the bill would make it easier to freeze the assets held in the United States by foreign criminals. In doing so, the legislation will cut down on the funds available for international criminals to further their enterprises. It will also encourage foreign countries to assist the U… Continue Reading
12.13.10
Whitehouse Statement on Tax Cut Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding the Senate's procedural vote on legislation to extend emergency unemployment benefits, extend existing income tax rates, and provide new tax cuts to workers and businesses: "Today I voted in favor of badly needed relief for Rhode Islanders struggling in this tough economy. While I oppose some elements of the compromise package - including the extension of Bush-era tax rates for the wealthiest Amer… Continue Reading
12.12.10
FEMA Flood Grants Available to Local Communities, Non-Profits
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides grants to states to implement mitigation measures after recovery from a disaster and for previously identified mitigation measures to benefit the area. As a result of this year's flood disaster, Rhode Island became eligible to receive $11 million in funding for FEMA's Hazard Grant Mitigation Program (HMGP). Eligible HGMP activities include acquisition (and either demolition or relocation) of flood-prone homes, retrofitting buildings, and… Continue Reading
12.06.10
Whitehouse and Cornyn Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Foreign Criminal Assets in the United States
Washington, DC - Two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), have introduced the Preserving Criminal Assets for Forfeiture Act, which would make it easier to freeze the assets held in the United States by foreign criminals. In doing so, the legislation will cut down on the funds available for international criminals to further their enterprises. It will also encourage foreign countries to assist the United States in recovering the ove… Continue Reading
12.04.10
Whitehouse Urges Extension of Unemployment Benefits and Middle Class Tax Cuts
Washington, DC - As the Senate debates whether to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for wealthy Americans, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today spoke in favor of a proposal to continue the tax cuts for working class families and extend unemployment benefits. Speaking from the Senate floor, Whitehouse said, "On behalf of the 65,000 Rhode Islanders currently looking for work, I want to express my support for Chairman Baucus's one-year extension of emergency unemployment benefits… The on… Continue Reading
12.02.10
Reed & Whitehouse Announce Nearly $3 Million to Develop Nation's First “Green and Smart” Community Health Center in South Providence
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that the Providence Community Health Center (PCHC) will receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to build the nation's first "green and smart" community health center in South Providence and create sustainable jobs for local residents. This project is estimated to create 150 jobs and leverage $30 million in private investment. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department o… Continue Reading
12.02.10
Whitehouse Urges Extra Help for Seniors
Washington, DC - With seniors in Rhode Island and across the country facing a second consecutive year with no increase in their Social Security benefits, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate today to urge his colleagues to take action. Whitehouse is a cosponsor of the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act, which would provide a one-time payment of $250 to all Social Security recipients to help compensate for the lack of a COLA. "By passing the Emergency Se… Continue Reading
11.30.10
Whitehouse: Food Safety Bill will Protect Rhode Islanders
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which will improve safety procedures and controls over the nation's food supply. This legislation will provide for a stronger recall and inspection system, improve record keeping, help better track the distribution of food deemed unsafe, and provide for oversight of food imported into the United States. The bill passed by a vote of 73 to 25, and will be sent to the House for consideration. Praising its passage… Continue Reading
11.17.10
Whitehouse Calls for Paycheck Fairness for Women in Senate Speech
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today, by a vote of 58-41, failed to invoke cloture on a bill that would have helped ensure equal pay for women in the workforce. The Paycheck Fairness Act would have provided women with additional legal safeguards to protect against pay discrimination. Following the bill's defeat, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) submitted remarks to the Congressional record highlighting the need for this common-sense legislation. "Four decades after the Equal Pay Act w… Continue Reading
11.17.10
RI Health Care Initiative to Receive Federal Support
Washington, DC - Rhode Island is one of eight states set to receive federal support from the Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice (MAPCP) demonstration program. The state's congressional delegation announced today that the Rhode Island Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative (CSI) was accepted into the federal program. This federal support will allow more Rhode Islanders to access CSI's services and result in better care for patients. It's estimated that 70,000 Rhode Islanders currently … Continue Reading
11.16.10
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Counterfeit Products Sold to the Military
Washington, DC - In response to studies showing increasing incidents of counterfeit products in the military supply chain, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has introduced legislation to crack down on criminals who traffic in these dangerous goods. The Combating Military Counterfeits Act of 2010 would create an enhanced offense and increase penalties for trafficking in counterfeit military items. "With so many of our troops serving in harm's way overseas, it is vital that we provide them with th… Continue Reading
11.09.10
Whitehouse Holds Town Hall for Recently Deployed Veterans
Washington, DC - On Saturday, November 6, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) held a town hall at the Schofield Armory in Cranston to hear from the latest generation of veterans who have been deployed overseas. The event was a cooperative effort with the Rhode Island National Guard and included experts to provide information on the resources available to help veterans reintegrate back into civilian life. The purpose of this town hall event was to recognize the enormous contributions of the… Continue Reading
11.05.10
RI Delegation Announces $1.2 Million for RIPTA Solar Project
Providence, RI - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced that the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has been awarded $1.2 million in federal funds for solar energy projects. The clean energy funds will be used to install a sun-facing Trombe wall to absorb solar energy and convert it into heating and cooling for the RIPTA Transportation Building where buses are stored. RIPTA will also use the funds to generate power for the building by installing a roof top photovoltai… Continue Reading
