Press Releases
Justice Department IG Report Shows “Deliberate Effort” to Taint Hiring Processes, Whitehouse Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a former U.S. Attorney who helped lead the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation into widespread political interference at the Department of Justice, commented today on the report by the Inspector General's office looking into hiring practices in the Department's Honors Program: "Today's report confirms that the Bush Administration was engaged in a deliberate effort to inject partisan politics into the administration of justice. A… Continue Reading
06.23.08
Senate Panel Approves Over $7.8 Million for Rhode Island in Commerce, Justice, and Science Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that the Appropriations Committee has approved legislation including $3.604 million in funding for Rhode Island public safety and anti-drug initiatives and $3.2 million for environmental programs they requested as part of the 2009 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill. The bill also includes $1 million that Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured to restore and prot… Continue Reading
06.17.08
Jobless Rhode Islanders Need Federal Aid, Whitehouse Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took Senate Republicans to task today for blocking legislation that would extend unemployment insurance benefits for millions of out-of-work Americans, including a former law clerk from Rhode Island who has applied for 65 positions since losing his job in January. The bill would give extra help to several states with the highest unemployment rates, including Rhode Island, whose unemployment rate now hovers around 6 percent. "These are d… Continue Reading
06.12.08
Whitehouse Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision Upholding Right of Habeas Corpus for Detainees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees and a former Rhode Island U.S. Attorney and Attorney General, commented today on the Supreme Court's decision allowing detainees held at Guantanamo Bay to challenge their detention in U.S. courts: "The Court made the right decision today, and for the third straight time has rejected this Administration's arguments that its authority is unlimited and that its powers are uncheck… Continue Reading
05.21.08
Senate Judiciary Committee Hears from Oil Companies About Rising Costs at the Pump
Washington, D.C. - As crude oil prices reached a new all-time high of $132.08 per barrel and Rhode Islanders paid more than $3.85 a gallon at the pump, the Senate Judiciary Committee today heard testimony from top executives of America's biggest oil companies in an effort to get an explanation for record-breaking oil prices. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse helped to chair the hearing. Executives of BP America Inc., Shell Oil Company, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips Company, and Exxon Mobil… Continue Reading
05.21.08
Reed, Whitehouse, and Kennedy Applaud Coast Guard’s Final Determination that Weaver's Cove LNG Plan is Unsafe
PROVIDENCE, RI - The U.S. Coast Guard today announced that it has denied Weaver's Cove Energy's appeal and affirmed that the waterway is navigationally unsuitable for LNG shipments. This ruling upholds a Coast Guard decision handed down last fall, effectively blocking the proposed Liquified Natural Gas terminal proposed for Weaver's Cove in Fall River. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), who have been working t… Continue Reading
05.21.08
Senate Committee Approves Bill to Let Rhode Island Move Forward on Emissions Cuts
Washington, D.C. - Rhode Island's push to set tough new standards restricting greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks took a step forward today as legislation to override the Bush Administration's objections gained the approval of a key Senate committee. The move comes amidst an intensifying Congressional investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s decision to reject a request by California, Rhode Island, and several other states to implement the stronger restrictions. … Continue Reading
05.21.08
Whitehouse Votes to Reject Bush Appointee for Top Legal Job at EPA
Washington, D.C. - In an expression of strong concern over the infiltration of politics into environmental regulation and policy, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined a majority of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today to reject President Bush's nominee to serve as general counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Committee's vote was 10 - 9 against David Hill, who now serves as general counsel of the Department of Energy. Whitehouse said Hill's… Continue Reading
05.20.08
Senators Join Cantwell in Calling for Justice Department Oil and Gas Market Fraud Task Force
Washington, DC - As Americans continue to struggle under record high oil and gas prices, and the summer driving season is about to start, today U.S. Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in calling for the creation of an Oil and Gas Market Fraud Task Force to examine possible fraud and manipulation in oil and gas markets. The President's Interagency Corporate Fraud Task Force should aggressively investigate allegations of oil and gas market fra… Continue Reading
05.19.08
Reed, Whitehouse, Kennedy Secure Over $1 Million for Save The Bay's Explore The Bay Program
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to educate Rhode Islanders about Narragansett Bay and preserve it for future generations, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) today joined Curt Spalding, Executive Director of Save The Bay, and local students to announce $1,081,000 in federal funding they secured for Save The Bay's Explore the Bay Marine Education program. Reed and Whitehouse secured $893,000 and Kennedy secured $188,0… Continue Reading
05.19.08
Whitehouse: Johnson Should Make Full Disclosure on Political Involvement in California Waiver Decision
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson to make a full disclosure of the facts surrounding his decision to reject a request by California, Rhode Island, and several other states to set tough restrictions on vehicle tailpipe emissions, so the American people can determine whether and to what extent White House officials … Continue Reading
05.16.08
Dominican American Leadership Organization Honors Whitehouse
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a member of the Senate Hispanic Task Force, was honored by the Dominican American National Roundtable this week at its 6th Annual "Dominicans on the Hill Day." Whitehouse was recognized for his efforts to push the Census Bureau to allow Dominicans to register their identity during the 2010 Census. "In Rhode Island we are proud of the great contributions Dominicans have made to our economy and our culture," Whitehouse said. … Continue Reading
05.15.08
Whitehouse Hears From O'Connor, Gingrich at Senate Hearing on Alzheimer's
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, participated in a hearing yesterday on Alzheimer's, a disease that now affects more than five million Americans. Whitehouse and other Committee members heard testimony from former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, speaking publicly for the first time about her husband's struggle with Alzheimer's. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who, like O'Connor, is a mem… Continue Reading
05.13.08
Boxer, Whitehouse Seek Answers from EPA on Mary Gade Resignation
Washington, D.C. - Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for answers about the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Mary Gade, formerly EPA's regional administrator for the Midwest. "As you know, Congress and the American people expect EPA to enforce vigorously our public health protections - and to preserve the integrity of the enforcement program… Continue Reading
05.13.08
Whitehouse Applauds Senate Vote to Suspend Oil Purchases for Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded action by the U.S. Senate today to stabilize gas prices and give Rhode Islanders some relief at the gas pump. The Senate voted 97 to 1 in favor of suspending oil purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "Rhode Islanders have told me they are desperate for relief from steadily rising fuel prices, and this is an important first step," said Whitehouse, a cosponsor of the measure. "Putting more oil on the market wi… Continue Reading
05.07.08
Whitehouse Chairs Senate Hearing Investigating Political Influence at EPA
Washington, D.C. - At a hearing this morning chaired by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a top Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official refused to respond to concerns raised by scientists and policymakers that political considerations have dictated decision-making at the agency. "What I see is an EPA that has systemically and deliberately exposed itself to political influence," Whitehouse said. At the hearing, before the Oversight Subcommittee of the Senate Environment… Continue Reading
05.01.08
Senate Intelligence Committee Passes Feinstein-Whitehouse Measures to Ban Torture, End Secret Detentions
Washington, DC - The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has approved several measures to prohibit treatment of detainees that do not conform with America's values and international law, including torture and secret detentions, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) announced today. The measures were approved as amendments to the Fiscal 2009 Intelligence Authorization Act. The Committee specifically approved: · An amendment introduced by Senat… Continue Reading
05.01.08
Dismissed GSA Administrator Carried on Bush Administration Tradition of Politics Before Public Service, Whitehouse Says
Washington, D.C. - The former head of the federal General Services Administration (GSA) displayed serious errors in judgment that more than warranted her dismissal, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said today. Lurita Doan was asked to resign as administrator of GSA, which acts as the landlord and procurement agency for the federal government. "Lurita Doan is the latest in a long line of Bush Administration appointees who put winning elections and helping friends and cronies bef… Continue Reading
05.01.08
New Senate Bill Supports Investments in Safer Rhode Island Communities
Washington, D.C. - A national program that transforms distressed communities in Rhode Island and across the country through more affordable housing and crime prevention would get much-needed support with new Senate legislation introduced today. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a bill that would authorize federal funding for the Community Safety Initiative (CSI), a program of the Local … Continue Reading
05.01.08
Reed, Whitehouse Announce Nearly $1,000,000 in Federal Funding for Rhode Island Arts Organizations
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to support the arts and promote art education and community art programs throughout Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that ten arts organizations will receive $946,000 in federal grants through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). "Rhode Island's art community has enriched our state's cultural heritage and had an immensely positive impact on our communities," said Reed, a member of the Senate… Continue Reading
