Press Releases
AMICUS Act Introduced to Ensure Transparency in Judicial Lobbying
Washington, D.C. - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Mondaire Jones (D-NY) today introduced the Assessing Monetary Influence in the Courts of the United States (AMICUS) Act to bring transparency to the lobbying of federal judges by big special interests. The bill would re… Continue Reading
12.13.21
Whitehouse, Cassidy, Colleagues Welcome GAO Trade-Based Money Laundering Report
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlining the need for better information sharing and collaboration to combat Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML), the system criminal organizations use to hijack international trade markets to launder money through rule-of-law countries. The practice involves transferring funds through thousands… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Whitehouse Issues Statement on Supreme Court Commission Report
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Courts and a leading critic of special interest influence over the federal judiciary, released the following statement on the draft final report of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, which voted to adopt the draft report on Tuesday: "The final report includes discussion of the weaknesses in transparency and ethics requirements for the justices. I'm … Continue Reading
12.06.21
Whitehouse Cheers Biden Anti-Corruption Strategy with Emphasis on the Fight against Kleptocracy & Illicit Finance
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a leading voice in Washington in the fight against kleptocracy and foreign corruption, welcomed the Biden White House's first-ever United States Strategy on Countering Corruption, which was unveiled on Monday: "The United States is engaged in an escalating clash of civilizations between rule-of-law nations and those governed by kleptocrats and criminals. Corrupt adversaries pillage their own people to enrich themselves, and scheme to undermine… Continue Reading
12.06.21
ICYMI: Whitehouse Publishes Op-Ed Calling for U.S. & Global Partners to Mount a Common Defense against Kleptocracy & Corruption
Washington, DC - With President Biden's Summit for Democracy slated for this week, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) published an op-ed in The Boston Globe today on the need for rule-of-law nations like the United States to mount a common defense against the kleptocrats, autocrats, and criminal networks that threaten democracy. Senator Whitehouse is a recognized leader in the fight against kleptocracy and international corruption. He is the Chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics … Continue Reading
12.03.21
Whitehouse Calls on Financial Action Task Force to Strengthen Key Anti-Money Laundering Proposal
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a leading voice in Washington in the fight against kleptocracy and foreign corruption, urged the Financial Action Task Force to strengthen its proposal to gather important data in the fight against money laundering-a central tool for kleptocrats, autocrats, and criminals in stowing their ill-gotten gains. Whitehouse calls on the intergovernmental anti-money laundering organization to require countries to establish central registries for benefic… Continue Reading
12.01.21
Save Our Seas 2.0 Lead Sponsors Welcome New Academy of Sciences Report on Marine Debris Crisis
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska)-champions of the 2020 Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever-today welcomed a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled "Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste." The report, mandated by the SOS 2.0 Act and sponsored by … Continue Reading
12.01.21
Whitehouse Issues Statement on Oral Arguments in Major Challenge to Abortion Rights
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, released the following statement on oral arguments before the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a direct challenge to women's right to decide whether to continue their pregnancy prior to viability: "Right-wing donors know there's no chance of stripping women's constitutional right to abortion through Congress or the executive branch. That's why… Continue Reading
11.22.21
RIPTA Gets $900,000 Federal Grant to Develop & Advance Transit Solutions for ‘Band of Demand’ Corridor from Central Falls to Warwick
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to improve mass transit in Rhode Island, plan for the future, and support the development of the Metro Providence High-Capacity Transit Corridor, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline secured a new $900,000 federal grant to help the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) develop plans for a transit corridor to connect Central Falls to Warwick via Providence. This High-Capacity Transit Corridor initiat… Continue Reading
11.22.21
Whitehouse Statement on Federal Reserve Selections
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Biden's selection today of Jerome Powell and Lael Brainard to be the Federal Reserve's Chair and Vice Chair respectively. "The Federal Reserve faces the colossal task of guarding our financial system and economy from the systemic financial and economic risks posed by climate change. Myriad financial experts warn that the economic losses stemming from climate change could dwarf the losses of the hous… Continue Reading
11.22.21
Whitehouse and Murkowski Introduce Bill Focused on Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Washington, D.C. - Senate Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have reintroduced the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, legislation focused on conserving, restoring, and understanding coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Blue carbon ecosystems-which include mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrasses, and kelp forests-provide a buffer from storm- or wave-driven coastal erosion, improve water quality, and serve as habitat for juvenile fish while also removin… Continue Reading
11.19.21
Whitehouse Cheers House Passage of Build Back Better Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Build Back Better Act. Democrats' signature legislation will make a historic investment in working American families and tackle the climate crisis. "Today's action by the House is an important milestone for Democrats' historic Build Back Better legislation. From here, the Senate will continue to fine tune the bill in consultation with the House so that we can swiftly arriv… Continue Reading
11.19.21
Whitehouse-Merkley Joint Statement Regarding Fed Nominee
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement today regarding the next nominee to chair the Federal Reserve: "Jerome Powell refuses to recognize climate change as an urgent and systemic economic threat. During his tenure, Chair Powell first ignored climate change and then resisted calls for the Fed to use its tools to fight it, arguing that climate change 'is really an issue that is assigned to lots of other government agencies, not… Continue Reading
11.18.21
ICYMI: Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control Holds Hearing on the Nexus between the Illicit Drug Trade and Corruption
Washington, DC - In case you missed it, the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing on Wednesday entitled, "The Nexus between the Illicit Drug Trade and Corruption." The hearing, led by Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Co-Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), examined the role and effectiveness of U.S. drug control agencies in addressing corruption associated with the illicit drug trade. For video of the proceedings and prepared witness testimony, click here. Senator Whi… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse Applauds International Tax Agreement Following Treasury Secretary Briefing
Washington, DC - After Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's briefing for Senate Finance Committee members this afternoon, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), released the following statement applauding the international agreement establishing a global corporate minimum tax rate that the Biden administration negotiated last month, and called for passage of the Build Back Better Act to reform the U.S. international tax regime to de… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse & Warren Call for Investigation Into U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Lobbying Disclosure Failures Amid Build Back Better Lobbying Blitz
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are calling on Secretary of the Senate Sonceria Ann Berry and Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson to investigate whether the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-the nation's largest lobbying force on behalf of big corporations-is avoiding its responsibility to disclose which member companies direct and pay for its influence machine. Whitehouse and Warren are calling attention to the Chamber's apparent failure to comply wit… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Hirono, Johnson Call on Biden Court Commission to Grapple with Special Interest Influence over SCOTUS
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) are calling on the Biden Supreme Court Commission to reckon with the massive campaign by right-wing donor interests to remake and control the Supreme Court. In its preliminary report from mid-October, the Commission ignored the dark-money influence campaign surrounding the Court, as well as that campaign's record of delivering policy wins for big Republican … Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse Announces $491K to Launch Mentorship Program for RI Youth Involved in Juvenile Justice System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that MENTOR Rhode Island has been awarded a $491,332 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to support the launch of a new mentorship program aimed at improving outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Whitehouse advocated for the grant with the Department of Justice. "Kids who end up in the juvenile … Continue Reading
11.17.21
ICYMI: Whitehouse Op-Ed on How Russian Hackers Helped Expose the Right-Wing Dark Money Corrupting Our Courts
Washington, DC - In case you missed it, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) published an op-ed in The Daily Beast on how anonymously funded amicus - or "friend of the court" - briefs help big-money donors influence decisions by the Supreme Court, including how Russian hackers unearthed a ploy by the NRA to boost its influence in a major 2nd Amendment case. Read the full piece in The Daily Beast. ___________________________________________________________________________ How Russian Hackers Help… Continue Reading
11.16.21
Whitehouse, Hassan Introduce NARCO Act to Fight Drug Financing Schemes
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced as an amendment to the national defense bill the Not Allowing Revenue for Criminal Organizations (NARCO) Act. The legislation would take a number of steps to strengthen and coordinate the federal government's response to drug financing schemes, and authorize assistance to states to tackle money laundering related to the illicit nar… Continue Reading
