Press Releases
Reed & Whitehouse Help Introduce U.S. Senate Resolution Recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month
WASHINGTON, DC - As millions of Americans celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month during June, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse teamed up with their Democratic Senate colleagues to offer a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The senators' resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LG… Continue Reading
06.02.22
Whitehouse Introduces Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced the Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow Americans to refinance their federal student loans at a zero percent interest rate. The bill would help borrowers pay down the principal on their loans more rapidly and ease a massive burden on tens of millions of people carrying student debt. Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) has also introduced the bill in the House. "Big student loan interest payments can create … Continue Reading
06.01.22
Whitehouse, Merkley Introduce Bill to Simplify, Strengthen the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) unveiled today the Simplifying and Strengthening PSLF Act, to streamline and improve the troubled federal program to help Americans pursuing careers in public service - like firefighters, teachers, police officers, and those working for nonprofits - have their student loan debt forgiven. "The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program promised loan relief to Americans willing to pursue a career in public service. Instead,… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Whitehouse, Khanna, Colleagues Urge Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer to Bring Big Oil Windfall Profit Tax to the Floor
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), Representative DeFazio (D-OR), and Representative Bowman (D-NY) along with over 30 members of the House and Senate sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer calling on them to bring windfall profit tax legislation to the floor to stop Big Oil's wartime profiteering and deliver gas price relief for Americans. Last week, the House voted to pass the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, introduced b… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Reed, Whitehouse Back Expedited NATO Application Process for Sweden and Finland
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined a bipartisan group of 82 U.S. Senators in sending a letter the White House to expedite the Administration's process to advance Sweden and Finland's applications for NATO membership. In the letter, the senators noted that NATO's expansion will send a clear message to Vladimir Putin and authoritarian leaders across the globe that the free world stands… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Whitehouse Introduces First Circuit Nominee Lara Montecalvo Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today introduced U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit nominee Lara E. Montecalvo before a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Montecalvo's nomination was announced by the White House last month after Whitehouse and U.S. Senator Jack Reed jointly made their recommendations for the seat to the President. Montecalvo currently leads the office of the Rhode Island Public Defender. "Ms. Montecalvo's record and commitment to the law shi… Continue Reading
05.24.22
Whitehouse Statement on Uvalde School Shooting
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on the mass shooting today at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas: "Today, we sustained another mass murder of innocent children. My heart breaks for the families of those killed, and for the community of Uvalde. I wish them comfort. "We are all too familiar with this kind of tragedy in America. Uvalde joins a long list of American communities torn apart by gun violence in our schools. The slaughter of … Continue Reading
05.20.22
Whitehouse, Coons introduce legislation to accelerate carbon dioxide removal
WASHINGTON - This week, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced legislation to reduce emissions by accelerating U.S. global leadership in carbon dioxide removal technologies and help tackle climate change. "We will fail to meet our climate safety targets through emissions reduction, so carbon removal is a necessary part of safety planning for the future. Our bill would help position the U.S. as a world leader in pioneering carbon dioxide removal technology," said… Continue Reading
05.19.22
Whitehouse, Cornyn Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act Clears Senate Judiciary Committee during Police Week
Washington, DC - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved bipartisan legislation, co-authored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), to improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental health, behavioral health, and substance use issues. The Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act advanced among a slate of law enforcement-related bills during National Police Week-a time to honor the officers keeping our communities safe. "Pol… Continue Reading
05.19.22
Whitehouse Wins Nearly $100 million to Disrupt Dirty Russian Financing & Hold Putin & His Oligarchs Accountable for the War in Ukraine
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) cheered the Senate's passage today of nearly $100 million in funding he requested for the fight against Vladimir Putin's corruption and kleptocracy. Whitehouse's provisions passed as part of Congress's supplemental funding measure to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The bill now heads to President Biden to be signed into law. "This funding will boost some of the most effective enforcement tools available to hold Vladi… Continue Reading
05.18.22
RI Delegation Helps Land Another $7.3M for Airport Upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) has been awarded over $7.3 million in federal funding for upgrades to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport and Quonset State Airport. The Congressional delegation helped land the federal U.S. Department of Transportation grants, which will be administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to supp… Continue Reading
05.17.22
Whitehouse, Grassley Lead Senators in Call to Fully Fund FinCEN’s Anti-Money Laundering Operations
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have sent Senate appropriators a bipartisan request for the maximum possible funding for the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to support implementation and enforcement of key anti-money laundering and anti-corruption reforms. "Senator Grassley and I fought for years for new authority to tackle money laundering by international criminals, drug traffickers, terrorists, and kleptocr… Continue Reading
05.17.22
Senate Unanimously Passes Whitehouse, Cotton Resolution to Designate May as ALS Awareness Month
Washington, DC - Last night, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Mike Braun (R-IN) to designate May 2022 as ALS Awareness Month. "It takes tremendous courage from patients, families, and friends to cope with an ALS diagnosis - a relentless and debilitating disease," said Whitehouse. "It's my hope that, by passing this ALS Awareness Month resolution, we will draw attention to those aff… Continue Reading
05.16.22
Whitehouse Slams SCOTUS Decision in FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee and the sponsor of the DISCLOSE Act to address dark-money influence in politics, released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision today in FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate. The Court's decision strikes down a key portion of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (or "McCain-Feingold"). "This is another victory for right-wing donors in their assault on our campaign finance system, and … Continue Reading
05.16.22
Advocates Hail Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act as Bill Gains Steam in Congress
Washington, DC - As polling shows Americans' confidence in the Supreme Court dropping to worrying new lows, leading advocates are lining up to support bicameral legislation to boost transparency and accountability at the Court and throughout the federal judiciary. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee cleared the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act to set the stage for a vote of the full House in the coming days, while Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led colleagues to intro… Continue Reading
05.13.22
Reed, Whitehouse Urge Infant Formula Manufacturers to Step Up & Help Ease Shortage
President Biden announced new steps to help get more formula on shelves Senators: "We are calling on you and your member companies to take immediate action and ensure that infant formula manufacturers are making every effort to mitigate this dangerous shortage and get children the nourishment they need." WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined with 30 of their Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Mardi Mountford, President of the Infant Nutrition … Continue Reading
05.12.22
Whitehouse Leads Charge to End Harmful Dark-Money Riders
Washington, DC - Today, Senate Finance Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led 19 senators in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to end years of harmful Republican appropriations riders that block the IRS from setting clear rules for 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups that spend dark money in our politics. In recent years, Republicans have attached the riders to must-pass funding measures in an effort to defend unlimited secret spending in our politics… Continue Reading
05.12.22
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Hirono, Leahy, Feinstein, Schatz, Booker Introduce Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, & Transparency Act
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have introduced a new version of the Twenty-First Century Courts Act to promote accountability and increase transparency in the federal courts. The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act was marked up in the House Judiciary Committee last night, teeing it up for a vote in the full House in the… Continue Reading
05.11.22
Whitehouse Votes to Codify Roe, Slams Republican Obstruction following Supreme Court Attack on Women’s Constitutional Rights
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on today's vote on the Women's Health Protection Act-legislation to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into law and uphold a woman's constitutional right to abortion. The bill did not achieve the 60 votes necessary to advance in the Senate due to Republican obstruction. "Today, I cast my vote to protect access to abortion nationwide, and to stand up to a Supreme Court intent on tearing down a constitutional … Continue Reading
05.10.22
Whitehouse & Eshoo Introduce Bill to Stop Excessively Loud Commercials on TV and Streaming Services
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Modernization Act, bicameral legislation that would update the CALM Act, a law enacted in 2010 to limit the loudness of TV ads. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is an original cosponsor of the legislation in the Senate and Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) is an original cosponsor of the legislation in the House. The CALM Modernizatio… Continue Reading
