Press Releases
Senate Committee Approves Bill to Fund RI Transportation Infrastructure
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today approved legislation re-authorizing federal transportation funding for the next two years. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Committee, supported the re-authorization, which prevents the harmful cuts in transportation funding proposed by House Republicans. "In Rhode Island and across the country, the infrastructure that helped build our great economy is crumbling," said Whitehouse. "We badly n… Continue Reading
11.08.11
Senators Introduce Legislation Empowering States to Protect Consumers from Abusive Lending
Stop Wall Street From Taking Advantage of Struggling Families Washington, DC - With public frustration growing over the unfair practices of big banks, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a bill today to protect consumers by restoring the ability of states to set limits on credit card and other consumer loan interest rates. The Empowering States' Rights to Protect Consumers Act would amend the Truth in Lending Act of 1968 to clarify that all consumer lenders-regardless of their… Continue Reading
11.02.11
Whitehouse Joins President to Push for Infrastructure Jobs
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined President Barack Obama at a press conference to urge support for legislation that will put Americans back to work and help rebuild our aging transportation infrastructure. Senator Whitehouse is an original cosponsor of the Rebuild America Jobs Act, which would provide immediate investments to improve roads and bridges, and would help establish a new "infrastructure bank" to fund future projects. During his remarks today, P… Continue Reading
11.01.11
Senators Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Clean Up Campaign Finance System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Michael Bennet today introduced a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the authority to regulate the campaign finance system. Among other important reforms, the amendment would allow Congress to correct the controversial Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance that has the effect of allowing virtually unlimited corporate and special interest spending in elections. Joining Udall and Bennet as original cosponsors of the legis… Continue Reading
10.25.11
Senators Urge Supercommittee to Reduce Debt Through Clean Energy and Conservation
Washington, DC - With less than five weeks until the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is due to submit its plan to reduce the long-term national debt, a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Democratic and Republican Co-Chairs of the committee urging them to seek savings in federal energy costs through a number of clean energy and energy efficiency strategies. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led the letter, which was also signed by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard … Continue Reading
10.24.11
Whitehouse Applauds New Obama Administration Effort on Foreclosures
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is applauding today's announcement by the Obama Administration that the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) will be expanded to help more families avert foreclosure. Earlier this month, Whitehouse joined a bipartisan group of Senators in writing to Administration officials to urge that they help more homeowners refinance their mortgages to reduce monthly payments and take advantage of record-low interest rates. Whitehouse is also a c… Continue Reading
10.21.11
Whitehouse Applauds US Troop Withdrawal from Iraq
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today after President Obama announced that all U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year. "I applaud President Obama for standing by his pledge to pull all troops out of Iraq by the end of the year. After years of hard fighting and billions of dollars spent, it is time to conclude the war in Iraq. I look forward to having our Iraq veterans home for the holidays in Rhode Island this yea… Continue Reading
10.21.11
Senate Committee Approves Key Education Bill
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has approved bipartisan legislation to re-authorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - a law which was last updated under President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative in 2001. The legislation approved by the Committee will eliminate some of the more burdensome requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" law, and also contains a key provision to improve our nation's middle schools whi… Continue Reading
10.20.11
Whitehouse Statement on Passing of John Hardiman
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today honoring Rhode Island Public Defender John Hardiman, who passed away yesterday: "Today my thoughts and prayers are with the family of John Hardiman, who dedicated his life to upholding the law and ensuring fair access to our system of justice for all Rhode Islanders," said Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island. "I'm grateful that I got to know and work with John during… Continue Reading
10.19.11
RI Seniors to Receive First Social Security Boost in Three Years
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded an announcement by the Social Security Administration that seniors will receive an increase in their benefits next year for the first time since 2009. Rhode Island seniors and disabled people receiving Social Security benefits will see a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3.6 percent in their monthly checks starting in January. "This is welcome news for Rhode Island seniors struggling to stay afloat in this tough economy,"… Continue Reading
10.13.11
U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Create a New National Historical Park in the Blackstone Valley
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to preserve the industrial heritage and natural and cultural resources of the Blackstone Valley, and help provide economic development opportunities for the region, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Scott Brown (R-MA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to create the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. As the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, this area is a national tre… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Whitehouse: We Must Take Action to Create Jobs
Washington, DC - Yesterday evening, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called on his Senate colleagues to work together to create jobs for the American people. In a speech submitted to the Congressional Record, Whitehouse urged passage of President Obama's American Jobs Act, and shared the story of a Narragansett family struggling to make ends meet to highlight the need for immediate action. "With 61,000 Rhode Islanders and millions of Americans currently looking for jobs, we must take swif… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Thousands of RI Seniors Benefitting from “Doughnut Hole” Fix
Washington, DC - 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 paying the total cost of their prescription drugs every year. According to a recently released report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, more than 6,700 Rhode Island seniors have received prescription drug discounts as a result of the la… Continue Reading
10.11.11
U.S. Senate Passes Legislation to Support Manufacturing Jobs
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to crack down on unfair currency manipulation by China and other nations. The bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), supports American manufacturing jobs by giving the Administration new tools to combat currency manipulation. It passed by a vote of 63-35. "Today we took a critical step toward putting a stop to this practice and leveling the playing field… Continue Reading
10.06.11
USDA Approves Statewide Disaster Declaration for RI Farmers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved natural disaster declaration assistance for all Rhode Island farmers that suffered damage as a result of Tropical Storm Irene. This declaration paves the way for farmers throughout Rhode Island to seek financial assistance for their losses due to the severe weather. Previously, the USDA had made farmers in Bristol, Newport, and Providence counties eligible… Continue Reading
10.03.11
Whitehouse Statement on Vote to Advance Currency Manipulation Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the successful procedural vote in the U.S. Senate to advance legislation that would crack down on unfair currency manipulation by China and other nations. The Senate voted this evening to invoke cloture on a motion to begin debate on the bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, setting up a final vote on the bill for later this week. "As I travel around the state, I've heard over… Continue Reading
09.30.11
RI Receives $3 Million to Help Students GEAR UP for College
PROVIDENCE, RI -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined with students and education officials at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence to announce a new federal grant that could provide up to $18 million over the next several years to help public school students across the state succeed in school and prepare for college. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program is designed to help economically disadvantaged students su… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Providence to Receive $1.35 Million COPS Hiring Grant
PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives David Cicilline and James Langevin today announced the Providence Police Department is receiving $1.35 million to add 5 more police officers to patrols this year. Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, this COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant will help put more police officers on the streets, reduce crime, and help the city fill budget gaps. "This… Continue Reading
09.26.11
CCRI to Receive $3.4 Million in Federal Funding to Help Train Workers for New Careers
PROVIDENCE, RI -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will receive more than $3.4 million for targeted job training and workforce development to help economically dislocated workers who are changing careers and increase the number of Rhode Islanders with a college degree or industry recognized credential. This federal grant will support partnerships between CCRI and employers to develop programs that provide pathways t… Continue Reading
09.23.11
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Day
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution declaring this Saturday, September 24, to be National Estuaries Day. The resolution was sponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Scott Brown (R-MA) and cosponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), , Ben Cardin (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Barbara Miku… Continue Reading
