Press Releases
Thousands of RI Seniors Benefitting from “Doughnut Hole” Fix
Providence, RI - Last year, as part of the health care reform law, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) helped lead the successful fight to end the Medicare Part D prescription drug "doughnut hole" which leaves thousands of Rhode Island seniors without prescription drug coverage every year. Now, according to new data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, more than 3,000 Rhode Island seniors had received prescription drug discounts through the end of June this year as a r… Continue Reading
08.12.11
Whitehouse Praises America’s Cup World Series Coming to Rhode Island
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement regarding today's announcement that Newport will host the final stop of the America's Cup World Series in 2012: "Rhode Island is the true historical home for the America's Cup, and I'm glad that these World Series races will be taking place in our beautiful City by the Sea. The arrival of the America's Cup World Series races next year will be a great boost to our state's economy, with the tourism and revenues it … Continue Reading
08.11.11
Whitehouse Pushes Administration for Action to Protect Air Quality
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) urged the Obama Administration to take action to protect our air quality and public health by expressing concern for the Administration's continued delay in setting a health-protective ozone, or smog, air quality standard. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also signed the l… Continue Reading
08.11.11
RI Delegation Announces Nearly $800,000 in Department of Justice Grants
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's congressional delegation today announced $785,360 in federal funds for various state agencies through the Department of Justice (DOJ). The money will go towards programs designed to keep Rhode Island's children safe by working to reduce Internet crimes, underage drinking, and juvenile delinquency. "This funding will help local law enforcement improve the lives and safety of our children," said U.S. Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressmen Langevin and Cicill… Continue Reading
08.11.11
Reed & Whitehouse Want Congress to Put Job Creation First
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and 21 of their Senate colleagues sent a simple message to members of the new Deficit Reduction Committee: Put jobs first. In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the 23 senators argued that spurring job growth in the short term is a vital element of reducing the deficit and should therefore be central to the new committee. "For families across the country, the biggest economic problem is high unemployment," w… Continue Reading
08.10.11
Whitehouse Hears from RI Business Owners About Job Creation Efforts
Johnston, RI - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse continued his fight to advance policies that can create good jobs for Rhode Island and help local businesses expand. Whitehouse met with a group of local business owners over coffee to hear about how the economy has affected them and to discuss legislation he has introduced to create jobs. "With so many Rhode Islanders still out of work, we must make sure our small businesses have the support they need to grow and create jobs," said Whitehou… Continue Reading
08.09.11
Reed and Whitehouse Meet with Alliance for American Manufacturing
Washington, DC - Continuing their efforts to boost manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island and across America, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) recently met with representatives from the Alliance for American Manufacturing to hear how a recent study shows that Americans want Congress to work on policies to bring manufacturing jobs back to this country. Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (… Continue Reading
08.02.11
Whitehouse Statement on Vote to Reduce Deficit and Avoid Default
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today after voting in favor of the compromise legislation to raise our nation's debt ceiling, reduce federal deficits, and avoid a default on our financial obligations: "This is a difficult and unpleasant vote, but the House Republicans threat to put the country into default must be avoided. The President's plan is far from perfect, but we must avoid default. "Throughout this debate, I've heard from senio… Continue Reading
07.27.11
CBO Says Democratic Deficit Reduction Plan Saves U.S. $2.2 Trillion, Nearly 3 Times the Republican Bill
WASHINGTON, DC -- The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today reported that the Senate Democratic bill to prevent default and cut spending will reduce the budget deficit by about $2.2 trillion over the next ten years, nearly three times the $850 billion credited to the House Republican debt ceiling plan announced Monday. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) planned to hold a vote on the GOP bill today, but after the CBO score was released the vote was called off and Republicans are t… Continue Reading
07.27.11
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
