Press Releases
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
06.27.11
Whitehouse Hears from RI Business Owners about Efforts to Create Jobs
Providence, RI - After hearing from small business owners about how we can get our economy moving, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse last week introduced the Job Creation Tax Credit Act (S. 1271) to help businesses hire more workers. Today Whitehouse met with a group of Rhode Island manufacturers to hear about their efforts to create jobs, and to discuss how this bill can help. "The Job Creation Tax Credit Act would help Rhode Island business owners like those I met today, many of whom want to h… Continue Reading
06.24.11
Whitehouse Statement on National Labor Relations Board Proposed Rule Change
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement on the rule change proposed by the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday: "The laws protecting a worker's right to organize have contributed greatly to the prosperity of the middle class," Whitehouse said. "The National Labor Relations Board's proposed rules would reduce unnecessary and costly delays in the conduct of union elections. Workers and businesses deserve a level playing field, and I believe t… Continue Reading
06.23.11
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Create New Jobs
Washington, DC - After hearing from small business owners about how we can get our economy moving, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced the Job Creation Tax Credit Act to offer tax incentives to help businesses expand their workforce. On Monday, Whitehouse announced the legislation while touring TEDCO, Inc., a manufacturing business in Cranston, RI which had been forced to downsize during the recession but is hoping to expand once again. "I hope that my colleagues on both si… Continue Reading
06.23.11
Whitehouse Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Promote Domestic Recycling of Electronic Waste
Washington, DC - With significant amounts of U.S. electronic waste currently exported to developing countries that handle the equipment in an unsafe manner, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced bipartisan legislation to put an end to this dangerous practice. The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, which is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), would restrict the export of electronic waste, help boost the domestic recycling industry, a… Continue Reading
06.23.11
Whitehouse Praises Administration’s Announced Release from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Washington, DC - The Obama Administration announced today that they plan to sell some of the oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) into the market to help bring down gas prices, a move that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse called for in a letter to the president in March. Today Whitehouse praised the move: "Rampant oil speculation has driven up the price of gas and taken money out of the pockets of Rhode Islanders. With the announcement today, I hope this eases summer gas prices and provides s… Continue Reading
06.22.11
Whitehouse: It’s Time to Begin our Exit from Afghanistan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today after President Obama announced that 10,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan this year, with 23,000 more to be withdrawn in 2012: "For nearly ten years, our troops and their families have made enormous sacrifices for our mission in Afghanistan. It's now time for the United States to begin the process of removing our troops and turning security responsibilities over to the Afghan people.… Continue Reading
06.21.11
Whitehouse Chairs Hearing to Evaluate Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Proposals
Washington, DC - Following the recent announcement of the Obama Administration's cybersecurity proposals, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today held a hearing of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism to evaluate the plan. The proposals, which the Obama Administration unveiled in May, aim at key cybersecurity challenges, for instance securing our critical infrastructure, such as our electric grid, and providing for voluntary assistance in response to a cyber incident. "Our nation… Continue Reading
