Press Releases
EPW Members to Focus on Global Warming Provisions in Budget
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today made the following remarks regarding the role of EPW Committee Members who also serve on the Budget Committee: Senator Boxer said: "I have asked my EPW colleagues who serve on the Budget Committee to take the lead on this portion of the Budget that deals with cap and trade, and I am pleased that they have agreed to play that role." Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders… Continue Reading
02.26.09
President’s Budget Sets the Right Course, Whitehouse Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, commented today on President Obama's first budget proposal, for Fiscal Year 2010: "When Rhode Island families set their budgets every year, they have to make tough, honest choices - and this year, the federal government has finally done the same. "President Obama's budget sets the right course as we weather economic crisis, and makes responsible down payments on our future. This plan invests in… Continue Reading
02.24.09
Whitehouse Applauds President’s Plan to Rebuild Economy, Reform Health Care System
Washington, D.C. - Responding to President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress tonight, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) expressed confidence in the President's plan: "Over and over again, I've heard from Rhode Islanders worried about their jobs, their retirement, their stressed family budgets, or how they'll afford it if a child or an elderly parent gets sick. For eight years, the Bush Administration turned a deaf ear. But tonight, for families all across this country who lo… Continue Reading
02.23.09
Whitehouse’s Call for Health Care Stories Draws Statewide Response
Washington, D.C. - Just days after U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) unveiled an online Health Care Storyboard for Rhode Islanders to share their stories about our broken health care system, more than 60 responses have already come in from all across the Ocean State. Reflecting a broad spectrum of ages and backgrounds, the stories are a powerful testament to the urgent need for reform. Today, Whitehouse took to the Senate floor to read some of these messages, making these Rhode Islanders'… Continue Reading
02.20.09
Rhode Island Medical Student Who Struggled to Find Health Care Will Join Whitehouse at Obama’s First Address to Congress
Washington, D.C. - A Rhode Island medical student living with Crohn's disease - and who faces challenges finding affordable health care in the future - will attend President Barack Obama's first address to Congress Tuesday evening as the guest of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Lauren Goddard, a medical student at Brown University, will watch President Obama's speech Tuesday from the Visitor's Gallery of the House of Representatives. The President has pledged to make affordable, access… Continue Reading
02.16.09
Durbin, Whitehouse Seek Status of Report on Torture Authorizations at the Department of Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter today to H. Marshall Jarrett, head of the Department of Justice's Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR), asking about the status of OPR's investigation of Justice Department attorneys who provided legal advice regarding waterboarding and other abusive interrogation techniques. "Our intelligence professionals should be able to rely in good faith on the Justice Department's legal advice. This g… Continue Reading
02.13.09
Whitehouse Joins Congressional Trip to Israel, Syria
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will leave this evening for an official congressional delegation visit to Israel, Syria, and Austria from February 13-21. While overseas, Whitehouse will meet with U.S. and foreign leaders and attend the 8th Annual Winter Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)'s Parliamentary Assembly. "For decades, the conflict in the Middle East has been among America's most difficult foreign policy challenges," said… Continue Reading
02.12.09
Whitehouse Authors Bill to Recoup Billions in Bailed-Out Banks’ Executive Pay
Washington, D.C. - As the Obama Administration unveiled stricter limits on future executive compensation as part of its plan to shore up the nation's shaky financial sector, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation to help taxpayers recoup billions of dollars in deferred compensation already on the books at banks that receive, or have already received, taxpayer assistance under the federal bailout program. The Wall Street Journal estimated that banks receiving bailout funds… Continue Reading
02.12.09
Whitehouse to Lead Judiciary, Environment Oversight Subcommittees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will chair subcommittees focusing on oversight in both the Judiciary and Environment and Public Works Committees in the 111th Congress. Whitehouse, who played an active role in Congressional inquiries into politicization at the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush Administration, expects to leverage his new positions to better understand the damage of the last eight years and help the Obama Adminis… Continue Reading
02.11.09
Whitehouse Meets with Actor and Oceans Advocate Ted Danson
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) met today with Ted Danson, the award-winning film and television actor and member of the Board of Directors of Oceana, to discuss Danson's work with Oceana to limit offshore drilling and support sustainable fishing. "It was good to hear Ted's thoughts on ways we can protect our precious coastlines from the risks that come when oil and gas rigs sprout up offshore," said Whitehouse, a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Commit… Continue Reading
02.11.09
Whitehouse: Economic Recovery Bill is a Promise Kept to American People
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released this statement today on the announcement that an agreement has been reached on a House-Senate compromise on economic stimulus legislation: "This bill is a promise kept to the American people. I'm glad my colleagues were able to quickly reach an agreement to get this bill to President Obama's desk and help get our economy moving again. "Like the bill the Senate passed, this measure isn't perfect - but it is a start to create job… Continue Reading
02.10.09
Economic Recovery Bill Will Create Jobs and Support Families in Rhode Island, Whitehouse Says
Washington, D.C. - Economic recovery legislation passed by the U.S. Senate today will create thousands of Rhode Island jobs, cut taxes for working families, and make critical investments in our state's future, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said today. Whitehouse worked to include provisions to boost Social Security payments to seniors and disabled Americans and invest in health information technology. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will create or save 13,000 Rhode … Continue Reading
02.10.09
Whitehouse: Health IT Investments in Economic Recovery Legislation Will Save Money and Save Lives
Washington, D.C. - Economic recovery legislation passed today by the U.S. Senate will significantly improve the quality and efficiency of health care in America, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said today. As part of the measure, Whitehouse spearheaded an effort to establish resource centers to help doctors implement new health information technology systems. "Supporting doctors who use health IT to improve patient outcomes will create jobs and help us bring down the spiraling health ca… Continue Reading
02.09.09
Whitehouse Applauds Leahy’s Call for “Truth and Reconciliation” Commission
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) praised a proposal today by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to create a "truth and reconciliation" commission to look into certain actions by the Bush Administration: "Chairman Leahy today summed up a belief shared by millions of Americans: that we need to 'get the truth out' about the damage done to this country under the Bush Administration, and what we now must do to repair it. "He understands that the trust … Continue Reading
02.08.09
Whitehouse Asks Rhode Islanders to Share Health Care Stories
Warwick, R.I. - As Congress and the Obama Administration embark on efforts to reform our broken health care system, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today launched a new online communications tool to get Rhode Islanders involved. At a community dinner in Warwick this evening, Whitehouse unveiled his Health Care Storyboard, a new web page featuring personal stories from Rhode Islanders who have struggled to find affordable health insurance for themselves or their families, or who have foun… Continue Reading
02.06.09
By The Numbers: What the Economic Recovery Plan Could Mean for Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, DC -- The White House today released a fact sheet offering state-specific details on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which will create and save jobs in the near future and make important investments in laying the foundation for a strong economic future. Among the many benefits Rhode Island will receive from this economic recovery package: Creating or saving 13,000 jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health… Continue Reading
02.06.09
Obama EPA Begins Review of Emissions Limits
Washington, D.C. - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today it would formally begin revisiting the Bush Administration's decision to deny a request by California, Rhode Island and other states to set restrictions on tailpipe pollution from vehicles sold within their borders. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee who cosponsored a measure that would have approved the states' request legislatively, commended the move… Continue Reading
02.03.09
Whitehouse Praises Senate Confirmation of Eric Holder as Attorney General
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse issued the following statement applauding the Senate's vote to confirm Eric Holder as the next Attorney General of the United States. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island, served in the Clinton Administration with Holder. "With Eric Holder as Attorney General, Americans can at last have faith again in the Department of Justice as our guardian of civil liberties … Continue Reading
02.02.09
Reed and Whitehouse Push for Local Jobs and Investment as Part of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan
North Providence, RI - Stressing the urgent need to pass President Obama's economic recovery plan to create jobs, aid Rhode Island's struggling cities and towns, and make critical investments in America's future, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today called for passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which will be debated in the Senate this week. At an event in North Providence with Mayor Charles Lombardi, the Senators pledged to deliver feder… Continue Reading
01.30.09
Whitehouse Takes on Lavish Pay for Bailed-Out Banks’ Executives
Washington, D.C. - In a hard-hitting speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sharply criticized Wall Street firms that retained lavish compensation packages for high-ranking executives and spent huge sums on luxury items while at the same time receiving billions of dollars of taxpayer-funded assistance. This week alone saw reports that Citigroup, one of the recipients of federal money, planned to purchase a $50 million private jet; that executives at Merrill Ly… Continue Reading
