Press Releases
Whitehouse Brings Experts to Rhode Island to Discuss Credit Card Reform
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) brought a panel of noted national and local experts in lending and bankruptcy law to Rhode Island College today for an official hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on credit card reform. "As I travel around our state and talk with Rhode Islanders, I often hear concerns about out of control credit card rates and fees," said Whitehouse, who chaired the hearing. "Times are tough in our Ocean State, and people who are unemployed or unde… Continue Reading
12.01.08
Whitehouse Reacts to Announcement of Obama National Security Team
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today praised President-elect Obama's selections for his national security team. Obama announced this morning that he is nominating Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to serve as Secretary of State, former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as Attorney General, and Susan Rice to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Whitehouse said: "In Senator Clinton, President-Elect Obama has chosen a Secretary of State who will help… Continue Reading
11.25.08
Conrad, Whitehouse Call for GAO Health Reform Study
Washington, D.C. - With health care reform among Americans' highest priorities for the next Congress, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study best practices used by states, hospitals, and other countries to reduce health care costs and improve quality. This year, Americans will spend $2.4 trillion on health care, and are expected to spend $4.3 trillion by 2017. In the next decad… Continue Reading
11.21.08
“Green” Product Label May Be Misleading, Whitehouse Warns
Washington, D.C. - Over the past few years, many Americans have begun turning to "green" or organic products, often out of concern for the environment or a desire for better quality. Amidst shrinking family budgets and a record drop in personal spending, consumers who choose environmentally sensitive food or household supplies need to know that they're getting what they're paying for - but too often, those products simply don't live up to their labels. One 2008 survey showed that 39 percent of… Continue Reading
11.20.08
Snowe, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Strengthen FBI Investigations of White-Collar Crimes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have introduced legislation to strengthen the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) financial crime investigation unit by hiring 1,000 new agents dedicated to white-collar crimes. The "FBI Priorities Act", which authorizes $150 million in each of the next five years for the expansion, mirrors the steps taken by the FBI following the September 11th terrorist attacks in which approximately 1,000 agents wer… Continue Reading
11.11.08
Whitehouse Travels to Afghanistan, Pakistan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan over the weekend to assess local and U.S. security efforts, meet with military and government officials, and visit American troops serving there. "This is, and has been, a key battleground of the war on terror," said Whitehouse. "While the Bush Administration waged war in Iraq, al Qaeda and the Taliban grew stronger in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we became less secure. As America prepares for a ne… Continue Reading
10.31.08
Reed and Whitehouse Announce $1.29 Million to Help Rhode Islanders Save on Energy Bills
WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help more Rhode Islanders save money on their energy bills this winter, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that Rhode Island will receive an immediate infusion of $1.29 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This federal funding will help Rhode Islanders take simple steps to conserve energy in their homes by installing insulation, repairing outdated heating systems, or sealing up drafty old doors and windows.… Continue Reading
10.29.08
Whitehouse to Treasury, Fed Leaders: Struggling Homeowners Should Be Able to Modify Mortgage Terms
Washington, D.C. - As the federal government considers proposals to stem the tide of home foreclosures - including nearly 1,600 filings in Rhode Island in the third quarter of this year, up 33 percent from last year - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is pushing the Administration to adopt straightforward, commonsense reform that would assist homeowners at no cost to taxpayers. Whitehouse wrote today to the leaders of the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation… Continue Reading
10.24.08
As Ocean State Faces Soaring Unemployment, Whitehouse Urges New Stimulus Bill to Create Jobs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) wrote to Senate leaders today asking that any new economic stimulus legislation include funding for road, bridge, school, and water infrastructure construction projects that would create jobs immediately in our distressed economy. Rhode Island's unemployment rate in September was 8.8 percent, the highest in the nation. "People are suffering, and we understand that Congress must act to stimulate the sagging economy. I believe that the b… Continue Reading
10.23.08
Whitehouse Earns Perfect Score from National Civil Rights Group
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has received the highest possible rating from the national civil rights organization Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for his record of supporting legislation that combats discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. HRC's annual Congressional Scorecard rates Members of Congress on a scale from 0 to 100 percent, measuring their voting and legislative records on issues that matter to lesbian, gay, bisexual,… Continue Reading
10.20.08
Whitehouse to Co-Chair Organization Promoting Conservation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that he will become a co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), a partnership that promotes stronger American leadership in efforts to conserve natural resources around the world. "Coming from the Ocean State of Rhode Island, I feel the importance of protecting our natural resources so that our children can enjoy them as we have," said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Wo… Continue Reading
10.17.08
Reed, Whitehouse Earn Perfect Records on Environmental Scorecard
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have received perfect scores of 100 percent from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) on its National Environmental Scorecard for 2008. LCV, a non-profit organization, has published its environmental scorecard every Congress since 1970. The National Environmental Scorecard is an analysis of key votes during a session of Congress as decided by experts from 20 environmental and conservation organizations. "It is i… Continue Reading
10.15.08
Whitehouse: IRS Says Rhode Islanders Can Still File for Rebates
Washington, D.C. - The Internal Revenue Service will still accept claims for federal stimulus checks after the October 15 deadline, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) reported today. Concerned that nearly 18,000 Rhode Islanders had yet to file paperwork to receive a rebate, many of them seniors and veterans with disabilities, Whitehouse wrote Douglas Shulman, Commissioner of the IRS, last Friday asking that the deadline be extended to November 15. Stimulus checks yet to be claimed by Rhode… Continue Reading
10.14.08
Whitehouse Honored for Commitment to Estuary Restoration
Providence, R.I. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) was recognized today by Restore America's Estuaries for his work to focus attention on the needs of coastal and estuarine habitats. The nonprofit organization gave Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, its 2008 "Coastal Habitat Restoration Champion Award." According to the group, the award "recognizes an individual or organization who plays a leading role in helping to establish coastal and es… Continue Reading
10.11.08
Whitehouse Asks IRS to Extend Rebate Filing Deadline
Providence, R.I. - With the deadline to claim federal stimulus checks just days away and thousands of Rhode Islanders yet to file, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has urged the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to push the deadline back a month, until November 15, 2008. "With gas prices near $4 per gallon and the stock market at a five-year low, the $300 stimulus rebate can be crucial to veterans and seniors living off of fixed incomes," Whitehouse wrote IRS Commissioner… Continue Reading
10.08.08
Boxer, Whitehouse Release Justice Department Investigation Letter on Testimony by EPA Administrator, Stephen Johnson
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) provided transcripts to the Justice Department for consideration in its preliminary investigation into whether Mr. Johnson provided false, misleading, or intentionally incomplete statements in his sworn testimony before the committee. Recent testimony by a senior Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official pr… Continue Reading
10.08.08
Reed & Whitehouse Announce $500,000 for Rhode Island Nurse-Family Partnership Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to improve prenatal and infant care and prevent child abuse and neglect, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and its partners will receive a $500,000 federal grant to launch the Rhode Island Nurse-Family Partnership Initiative. This program helps at-risk, first-time mothers and fathers transition into parenthood by providing home visits from a trained registered nurse. During these periodic visits, which beg… Continue Reading
10.01.08
Senate Passes Whitehouse-Championed Bill Strengthening Copyright Protections for Newport Boat Builders
Washington, D.C. - The Senate has unanimously adopted a bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) aimed at strengthening copyright protections for boat designers in Newport and across the country. The legislation, which passed the House in August, was also introduced in the Senate by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The Senate last year unanimously approved similar legislation, and the updated bill passed today provides additional clarification for the… Continue Reading
10.01.08
Whitehouse: Passage of Financial Recovery Bill an Important Step Forward for America
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement following the Senate's passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. "The Senate tonight took an important step toward stabilizing our financial markets and economy. The legislation that we have passed, while not perfect, will help to put the brakes on our downward economic spiral - and will give worried Rhode Island families a measure of assurance that they have not been forgotten in this… Continue Reading
09.30.08
Whitehouse to Mukasey: Unanswered Questions Linger in DOJ Report
Washington, D.C. - In response to a Justice Department report on its internal investigation into the firing of several United States Attorneys in late 2006, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today asked Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to explain how it is that the White House was allowed not to cooperate with the investigation, and what authority will be vested in Nora Dannehy, the prosecutor named to continue the inquiry. The report, released Monday morning, was written by the Justice… Continue Reading
