Press Releases
Senate Panel Approves $4.5 Million for Rhode Island in Labor-HHS Spending Plan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that the Appropriations Committee has approved legislation including $2.75 million in funding for Rhode Island health care initiatives they requested as part of the 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education spending bill. The bill also includes $1.75 million that Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured for key education and workforce training programs throughout the state. "… Continue Reading
06.27.08
Whitehouse Votes to Pass New G.I. Bill for Iraq Veterans
Washington, D.C. - In an historic step forward for Americans who have served our country in uniform since September 11th, the Senate yesterday passed landmark legislation that includes giving these veterans the same opportunities for higher education and job training available to the G.I.s of World War II. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded the Senate's 92 to 6 vote, which sends the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act to the President's desk as part of an emer… Continue Reading
06.27.08
Congress Passes Kerry-Corker Legislation To Remove Nelson Mandela from Terror Watch List
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sens. John Kerry, Bob Corker, and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the passage of their legislation to remove former South African President Nelson Mandela from the terror watch list. The bill grants the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the authority to waive U.S. travel restrictions on President Mandela and other members of the African National Congress (ANC.) Mandela and his fellow ANC members remain on the list fo… Continue Reading
06.26.08
Senators, Representatives Call for an End to Oil/Gas Market Manipulation and Excessive Speculation
WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Bill Nelson (D-FL), were joined by Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI-01) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-08) and representatives from the airline and farming industries, and labor urging swift Congressional action to close loopholes that may be responsible for market manipulation of the oil and gas markets and/or excessive speculation. Earlier this week, Cantwell introduced the P… Continue Reading
06.25.08
Whitehouse Statement on Intelligence Assessment on Security Risks of Global Warming
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a statement today about a National Intelligence Assessment on the security implications of global climate change: "The intelligence community has found that global warming threatens the security of nations and peoples around the world. Changing weather patterns, rising seas, and warming temperatures are projected to, among othe… Continue Reading
06.24.08
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
