Press Releases
Whitehouse Joins Biden for Signing of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation will invest more than $2.5 billion in Rhode Island's aging infrastructure, creating jobs and retooling the American economy for the twenty-first century as the nation continues to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. "It is an honor to join President Biden on this historic occasion," said Whitehouse… Continue Reading
11.15.21
Reed, Whitehouse, and Langevin Highlight Life-Changing Benefits of Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments for 173K RI Kids
Cranston, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin today joined local advocates and parents of young children at the Pastore Youth Center in Cranston to highlight the more than $200 million provided to local families through the expanded Child Tax Credit included in the American Rescue Plan. The Rhode Island delegation is strongly advocating for a continuation of the expanded Child Tax Credit program to be included in Democrats' pending Build Back Better l… Continue Reading
11.12.21
Whitehouse Calls on FinCEN to Expand, Make Permanent a Vital Weapon in the Fight against Kleptocrats, Corruption, & Crime
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, a member of the Helsinki Commission, and a national leader in the fight against international corruption and kleptocracy-called on the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to expand and make permanent the use of Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs). The orders help law enforcement crack down on money laundering and oth… Continue Reading
11.10.21
Whitehouse & Johnson Hit Back at U.S. Chamber over Judicial Lobbying Transparency Requirements
READ THE FULL FILING HERE Washington, DC - Today, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Courts Subcommittees, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Hank Johnson (D-GA), sent a letter to the federal courts' Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure hitting back at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's efforts to keep secret the identities of special interests behind amicus curiae briefs. The Chairmen also called on the Committee to adopt a proposal by its subcommittee for amicus… Continue Reading
11.08.21
Whitehouse Slams U.S. Corporate Trade Associations at COP26 for Failure to Act on Climate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse delivered a stern message to U.S. corporate trade associations at COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland: trade associations are undercutting the work of "climate-friendly" CEOs. "We'd have made much greater progress in Congress if corporate trade associations weren't absent or obstacles," said Whitehouse. "When the American Petroleum Institute has engaged more on carbon pricing than just about any trade association, that's a powerful signal … Continue Reading
11.06.21
Whitehouse Cheers House Passage of Historic Infrastructure Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Working across the aisle, I was proud to deliver funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to upgrade Rhode Island's aging roads and bridges and to create good union jobs and grow our economy in the process. I am thrilled to see the bill pass the House, and I look forward to getting shovels in the ground and cranes in th… Continue Reading
11.05.21
Whitehouse Renews Call to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Washington, D.C. - As Daylight Saving Time ends and Americans prepare to set their clocks back an hour, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. "Each November, the practice of 'falling back' an hour disrupts our lives and robs us of daylight hours to enjoy ourselves," said Whitehouse. "It's time for Congress to take up this bipartisan legislation to make Daylight Saving Time pe… Continue Reading
11.04.21
Whitehouse Heads to COP26 to Send Message that America is Back at the Table on Climate
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will set off for Glasgow, Scotland to join heads of state and environmental leaders from around the globe at the U.N.'s 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and send the message that America is ready to recommit to the urgent task of tackling the climate crisis. Whitehouse is one of the Senate's leading voices on climate change and has been fighting to include ambitious climate provisions in Democrats' pending Build … Continue Reading
11.04.21
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Zachary A. Cunha to be Next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Whitehouse serves, approved by voice vote the nomination of current Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha to be the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island. Mr. Cunha currently serves as chief of the civil division for the U.S. Attorney's office in Rhode Island. "We are very pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Mr. Cunha's nomination. We look forward… Continue Reading
11.03.21
Whitehouse Condemns Republican Blockade of John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today on Senate Republicans' refusal to advance the bipartisan John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021: "From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the halls of Congress, John Lewis devoted his life to defending the most fundamental of American rights-the vote. The Senate could have moved today to consider bipartisan legislation to carry forward Congressman L… Continue Reading
11.03.21
Whitehouse, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Address Supply Chain Disruptions and Support Made In America Production
Washington, D.C. - As ongoing pandemic-related supply chain disruptions affect businesses and consumers, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing new legislation to support the flow of commerce. The Supply Chain Resiliency Act will alleviate current supply chain bottlenecks and prevent future disruptions by investing in American companies to reduce reliance on long supply chains and ensure that essential products are made in America. "We… Continue Reading
11.02.21
Whitehouse & Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fight Foreign Corruption
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), both members of the Helsinki Commission, today introduced the bipartisan Foreign Extortion Prevention Act to combat kleptocracy and corruption by criminalizing bribery demands by foreign officials. "Kleptocrats and criminals will seize on any opportunity to extort American businesses, enrich themselves, and undermine our national security," said Whitehouse. "It's illegal for an American business to pay a bribe abroad; t… Continue Reading
11.01.21
Whitehouse Statement on SCOTUS Oral Arguments in Texas Abortion Cases
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court's oral arguments today in two cases related to the Texas abortion law, S.B.8. "Big Republican donors built the Court's 6-3 majority to deliver on unpopular right-wing priorities, like striking down women's constitutional right to abortion. The abortion cases before the Court this fall offer the Justices a clear opportunity to accomplish … Continue Reading
10.29.21
New Build Back Better Bill Includes Key Whitehouse Tax Priorities
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, applauded new legislation to deliver on President Biden's Build Back Better agenda that includes a number of Whitehouse's tax priorities. Over a quarter of the revenue generated by the bill - roughly $520 billion - comes from provisions based on Whitehouse tax proposals. A version of Whitehouse's fee on harmful methane pollution is also in the bill. So too are other key Whi… Continue Reading
10.28.21
Whitehouse Applauds Job-Creating Investments in RI Families Included in Build Back Better Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today applauded the Build Back Better Act released today, citing $1.85 trillion in job-creating investments that will make a difference in the lives of everyday Rhode Island families. Whitehouse issued the following statement: "Rhode Islanders will quickly see real improvements in their lives once Democrats pass the Build Back Better Act. Our bill will: Support working parents and kids by providing free universal preschool, preserving the re… Continue Reading
10.26.21
Yale Law Journal Publishes Whitehouse Essay on Flood of Briefs Influencing Supreme Court in Favor of Special Interests
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE Washington, DC - The Yale Law Journal has published an essay by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, on anonymous special interests' use of amicus curiae - or "friend of the court" - briefs to lobby the courts for their preferred judicial outcomes. The article shows how the Supreme Court and other appellate courts' funding-disclosure rules for filers of amicus briefs undermine basic fairness, and discusses potential imp… Continue Reading
10.26.21
Senate Democrats Release New Captured Courts Report on One-Year Anniversary of Barrett Confirmation Showing String of Wins for Right-Wing Donor Interests
READ THE NEW REPORT HERE Washington, DC - Senate Democrats - led by Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - released a new Captured Courts report examining the record of the new 6-3 Republican-appointed majority on the Supreme Court. In the year since Senate Republicans rushed Justice Amy Coney Barrett onto the Court while voting w… Continue Reading
10.25.21
Whitehouse Encourages Eligible Rhode Islanders to Apply for Revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is inviting Rhode Islanders eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program - including teachers, veterans, firefighters, and nonprofit employees - to contact his office for assistance navigating new changes to the program. "While the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program was well-intentioned, the federal government's poor execution amounts to a broken promise to thousands of Rhode Islanders," said Whitehouse. "Under Presiden… Continue Reading
10.20.21
Whitehouse Blasts Republican Vote to Protect Dark Money, Restrict Voting Rights
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, author of the DISCLOSE Act to rid American democracy of anonymous dark-money influence, released the following statement on Senate Republicans' vote moments ago to block Senate debate on the Freedom to Vote Act-a bill containing the DISCLOSE Act and a range of important voter protections. "Today, Republicans had a shot to rid our politics of the dark-money influence that Americans hate, and to stand up for basic voting rights. Instead, they again sid… Continue Reading
10.19.21
Whitehouse Introduces Resolution Declaring October 2021 ‘National Youth Justice Action Month’
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced in the Senate today a bicameral, bipartisan resolution declaring October 2021 "National Youth Justice Action Month." The resolution acknowledges the possible collateral consequences that youth under 18 face when they are treated like adults, and encourages the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement fully Whitehouse's Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018. Representatives Tony Cá… Continue Reading
