Press Releases
Senate Bill Would Address Shortage of Critical Care Doctors
Washington, D.C. - Legislation introduced today in the U.S. Senate would increase access to critical care in intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the country. The Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act, sponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), would expand the critical care workforce and establish best practices to maximize the efficiency of existing critical care personnel. Critical care doctors provide care to critically ill or injured patients who… Continue Reading
05.08.09
Eight Senators Back Funding Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes in LGBT Community
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and seven of his senate colleagues called for a $2 million funding increase for the Center of Disease Control (CDC) to add a question regarding sexual orientation and gender identity to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Federal health surveys gather data on a range of demographic information, including age, sex, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, to determine funding and program priorities for federal, state, and local g… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Whitehouse Praises Health Care Funding in Obama’s Budget
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, commented today on President Obama's announcement of the details of his Fiscal Year 2010 budget: "The spending cuts President Obama proposed today show he understands that in tough economic times, we need to be willing to make difficult choices about how best to use taxpayers' money. At the same time, we need to take a hard look at the fiscal problems that will confront us in the future, and put… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Senate Passes Amendment to Combat Military Cost Overruns
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today passed an amendment to S.454, the Weapons Systems Acquisitions Reform Act of 2009, to crack down on multi-billion dollar cost overruns in major defense acquisitions programs. The amendment, which was proposed by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and cosponsored by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), would provide a transparent early warning system to clearly identify risks for cost overruns in defense contracts for weapons, fighter … Continue Reading
05.07.09
Senate Committee Approves Rhode Islander’s EPA Nomination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, applauded the committee's voice vote today endorsing the nomination of Cynthia Giles, of Barrington, RI, to be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "I have known and worked with Cynthia for years, and have seen firsthand her leadership in my state of Rhode Island on many critical environmental iss… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Eleven Senators Urge Progress on Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators today asked Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder to quickly put federal regulations in place that would allow electronic prescribing for controlled substances. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Kerry (D-MA), John Thune (R-S… Continue Reading
05.06.09
RI Delegation Announces $250 In Economic Recovery Payments For 179,353 RI Social Security Recipients To Begin Going Out Tomorrow; Expected To Bring $51M To State
Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation announced that social security recipients will receive one-time, $250 economic recovery payments beginning tomorrow, May 7th with the goal of getting them all out by the end of this month. By mid-May, payments to recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will also begin to go out. These payments are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was supported by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Durbin, Whitehouse Statement on Status of Justice Department Investigation of Torture Authorizations
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) sent them a letter regarding the status of the department's investigation of torture authorizations. "We are heartened to learn that the Department of Justice's internal review of the legal authorization for torture by lawyers at the Office of Legal Counsel is nearing an end." "According to a letter we received from … Continue Reading
05.05.09
Delegation Announces $1.1M in NEA grants for RI State Council on the Arts, Newport Opera House, RiverzEdge Arts Project
Washington, DC - Today, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation announced that the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and two local arts organizations in Newport and Woonsocket have been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has been awarded a $782,100 grant and a $291,500 grant for its State Partnership Program; Newport Opera House has been awarded a $10,000 grant under the NEA's Challenge America program; and RiverszEdge… Continue Reading
05.05.09
Rockefeller, Whitehouse, Degette: Americans Deserve High-Quality Health Care
Washington, D.C.-Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced "The National Health Care Quality Act." This landmark legislation will make patient health outcomes - not special interests - the determinants for how we pay for and provide health care services. The bill will create a new foundation for health care quality improvement within a National Health Care Quality Office. "We spend more money on health care in Ameri… Continue Reading
05.04.09
Lautenberg, Menendez, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Alert Communities of Sewage Overflows
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to protect communities from illness by requiring monitoring, notification and reporting of sewer overflows. "The public has a right to know about potentially harmful pollution in their water. My bill will require sewer systems to be monitored regularly for sewage overflows and ensure that our neighborhoods are alerted quickly if public health is at risk," said S… Continue Reading
04.30.09
Whitehouse Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Invest $1.8 Billion for Water Safety Projects Across the Country
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and George Voinovich (R-OH) today introduced legislation to authorize $1.8 billion in federal grants to help modernize antiquated sewer systems. These sewers frequently overflow directly into rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters during wet weather events, threatening water quality and public health and undermining local economies. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are also co-sponsors of the b… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Whitehouse Statement on Israeli Independence Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today to commemorate Yom Ha'atzmaut, the 61st anniversary of Israel's independence: "Today, we celebrate the 61st anniversary of Israel's statehood. The United States has a unique bond with Israel and her people, a staunch and enduring alliance founded on our nations' shared commitment to democracy. I had the opportunity to visit Israel for the first time earlier this year, and in meetings in Tel Aviv, Je… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Statement on Confirmation of Sebelius to Lead HHS
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today on the Senate's confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. "Secretary Sebelius will be a much-needed leader as we take on the urgent challenge of health care reform. We delay the repair of this broken, dysfunctional system at our peril, and her confirmation is a good step forward." ###… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Delegation Announces $750,000 for RI Crime Victim Assistance and Compensation Programs
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced $754,862 in Recovery Act funds for victim assistance and compensation programs. The announcement coincides with National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Rhode Island will receive $185,862 for crime victim compensation programs and $569,000 for crime victim assistance. "This funding will help ensure crime victims have access to critical support services so they can begin to rebuild their lives. For years, Rhode Island's Crim… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Introduces Rhode Islander Cynthia Giles at Nomination Hearing for EPA Post
Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Inhofe, thank you for holding this important hearing today to consider the nomination of three supremely qualified individuals to fill key positions at the Environmental Protection Agency. I am especially pleased to introduce today Ms. Cynthia Giles, from my home state of Rhode Island, as the nominee for Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. I have known and worked with Cynthia and have seen firsthand her leadership in the Ocean State o… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Whitehouse Applauds Passage of Bill to Fight Financial Crime
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded the Senate's passage of legislation to improve enforcement of mortgage, securities, and financial institution fraud. Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a cosponsor of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (S. 386). "The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act will enhance our ability to combat fraud and help bring justice to those injure… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Whitehouse: New Report Sheds More Light on Torture Authorizations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Judiciary Committee, commented today on the release of a comprehensive report by the Senate Armed Services Committee on interrogations carried out by the military under the Bush Administration. Whitehouse said: "This exhaustive report offers more evidence of failures within the Bush Administration that allowed officials to set history and the law aside to torture de… Continue Reading
04.22.09
Delegation Celebrates Earth Day, Announces Nearly $20 Million in Clean Water Funding
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help create green jobs and bolster Rhode Island's clean-water infrastructure, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced over $19.76 million in federal funding to improve the quality and safety of the state's drinking water. The money will flow to the state as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was supported by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin, and … Continue Reading
04.21.09
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Recommendation of Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell to be the U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, RI - United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced they have recommended that President Barack Obama nominate state police Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. "Lieutenant Colonel O'Donnell is a dedicated public servant and an outstanding police officer. He brings a proven record of experience, integrity, and independence to the job and we are confident he will serve Rhode Island and the nation with distincti… Continue Reading
