Press Releases
Whitehouse, Johnson, Blumenthal, Nadler, Quigley, Cicilline, Jones Introduce Legislation to Enforce Accountability, Transparency for Justices & Judges
BILL SUMMARY AND TEXT AVAILABLE HERE AND HERE Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressmen Hank Johnson (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), David Cicilline (D-RI), and Mondaire Jones (D-NY) introduced the Twenty-First Century Courts Act, a robust legislative plan to promote accountability and increase transparency in the federal courts. This legislation aims to restore Americans' trust in their justice system by directl… Continue Reading
04.05.22
Senators Unveil New Captured Courts Report Exposing the Judicial Crisis Network’s Central Role in a Scheme to Capture and Control the Supreme Court
Washington, DC - Senate Democrats, led by Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), released a new report in their Captured Courts series on the dark-money group the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN) and its role in right-wing donor interests' scheme to capture and control the Supreme Court. Even before President Biden picked his replacement for Justice Stephen Breyer, JCN laun… Continue Reading
04.05.22
Bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act Introduced in Senate
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) led colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act to help law enforcement respond more effectively to people suffering mental or behavioral health crises. The senators' bill would improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental or behavior health issues, including using alternatives to force and de-escalation tactics and working with mental… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Whitehouse, Johnson Call on Chief Justice Roberts to Ensure That Justice Clarence Thomas Recuses Himself from January 6th Cases
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Courts Subcommittees, wrote to Chief Justice John Roberts today calling on Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from any case related to the January 6th insurrection. The chairmen point to how the ardent advocacy to overturn the results of the 2020 election by Justice Thomas's wife Virginia (Ginni) would lead any reasonable person to call the justice's impartial… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Whitehouse Welcomes IPCC Report as Wake-up Call for Climate Action in Face of Fossil Fuel Obstruction
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and a Senate climate champion, issued the following statement on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's new report on the steps necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change. The IPCC notes that "pricing carbon has been one of the most widely used and effective options to reduce GHG emissions," but that "the power of incumbent fossil fuel i… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Whitehouse Statement on Judiciary Committee Vote to Advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Judiciary Committee's vote to advance Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson today: "Today, I voted to advance a highly qualified and accomplished nominee to the Court. Judge Jackson possesses a keen legal mind, the ideal judicial temperament, and more courtroom experience than any of the sitting justices at their confirmations. She arrived… Continue Reading
03.31.22
Whitehouse to Vote to Confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, announced his intention to vote for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. In remarks on the Senate floor, Whitehouse praised Judge Jackson's historic nomination, commended her depth of experience and judicial temperament, and called out his GOP colleagues' empty concerns over Judge Jackson's "judicial philosophy." This "judicial philosophy" talking poi… Continue Reading
03.30.22
Whitehouse, Warren Call on Treasury, SEC to Close Loophole Exempting the $11 Trillion Private Investment Industry from Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Requirements
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a member of the Senate Banking and Finance Committees, sent a letter calling on Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Gary Gensler to close the loophole that exempts the $11 trillion private investment industry from anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) obligations. The ex… Continue Reading
03.30.22
Whitehouse Invites RI Organizations to Apply for Grants from National Coastal Resilience Fund, Which Received Big Boost in Infrastructure Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today invited Rhode Island organizations to submit grant applications to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund. Whitehouse created the National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure that protects coastal communities, while safeguarding wildlife habitats. "Thanks to our infrastructure bill, this round of funding for the National Coastal Resilience Fund I created… Continue Reading
03.25.22
As Oil Companies Rake In Cash, Economists and Environmental Groups Endorse Whitehouse’s Windfall Profits Tax
Washington, D.C. - Economists and environmental groups are expressing support for the Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) earlier this month to curb profiteering by oil companies and provide Americans guaranteed relief from soaring prices at the gas pump. New reports have emerged that Big Oil companies are planning on using windfall profits to pay large dividends to shareholders and buy back billions of dollars of their own shares, … Continue Reading
03.24.22
Whitehouse Praises Ketanji Brown Jackson on Exemplary Performance in Confirmation Hearings
Washington, DC - At the close of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson today, senior Senate Judiciary Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement: "I am proud to have taken part in considering Judge Jackson's historic nomination. Judge Jackson set a new bar for patience, courtesy, and dignity from a Supreme Court nominee coming before the Judiciary Committee. Rhode Islander and Reagan First Circuit appointee Judge Bruce Selya was rig… Continue Reading
03.23.22
Whitehouse Calls out GOP Colleagues’ Empty Concern with “Judicial Philosophy” of Supreme Court Nominees
Washington, DC - Today, during the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took on Republicans' repeated concerns with Supreme Court nominees' "judicial philosophy." As Whitehouse pointed out, Republicans and their judicial nominees have adopted so-called judicial philosophies - like the doctrine of "originalism" - to advance the rights of corporations and powerful special interests at the expense of the American people. And then they fl… Continue Reading
03.21.22
Whitehouse: Long-Awaited Draft SEC Climate Rule Does Not Go Far Enough in Requiring Disclosure of Material Information
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a draft rule that would require companies to disclose some climate-related risks: "While it is good to see the Securities and Exchange Commission finally move forward with this proposal after years of delay across multiple administrations, today's proposal is disappointing in its omissions. "Without question, climate change poses serious fin… Continue Reading
03.21.22
Whitehouse Delivers Opening Statement for SCOTUS Hearing
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, delivered his opening statement for the nomination hearing of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Video of Whitehouse's remarks is available here; the hearing is livestreamed here. Full text of Whitehouse's as-delivered statement is below. ### Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Opening Statement ***AS-DELIVERED*** Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing March 21, 2022 Thank y… Continue Reading
03.17.22
Whitehouse, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address E-Waste National Security Threat, Grow Domestic Recycling Industry
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to stop the flow of electronic waste to China and other countries that counterfeit American technology. The Secure E-waste Export and Recycling Act (SEERA) would ensure that electronic waste, or e-waste, does not become the source of counterfeit products that reenter military and civilian electronics in the United States. The legislation would also help grow the domestic re… Continue Reading
03.17.22
Whitehouse, Padilla Introduce Bill to Grant Student Loan Forgiveness to Frontline Health Workers
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Student Debt Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act to forgive the student loan debt of frontline health professionals. The legislation honors the sacrifice of health care workers and the enormous burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We owe so much to our health care workers - something we grew to appreciate even more during the COVID-19 crisis," said Whitehouse. "This legislation honors the contributi… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Ahead of Expected SEC Climate Rule, Whitehouse Calls for Increased Climate Lobbying Disclosure Requirements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ed Markey (D-MA) today called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include a disclosure requirement for lobbying activities related to climate change in the agency's anticipated new climate rule so that investors can accurately gauge their risk exposure. The Senators' letter to t… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Whitehouse Cheers Launch of Multinational Task Force to Help Seize Assets from Putin and Oligarchs
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a Senate leader in the fight against kleptocracy and corruption abroad, applauded the launch today of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) multilateral task force to coordinate several rule-of-law nations' efforts to seize Russian President Vladimir Putin and his oligarchs' assets. The senator also cheered the Treasury Department's launch of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program, which offers reward payments for informatio… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Whitehouse Introduces Bills to Grant Student Loan Forgiveness to Frontline Health Workers and Teachers
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced a pair of bills to forgive the student loan debt of frontline health care workers and teachers. "We owe so much to our health care workers and teachers - something we grew to appreciate even more during the COVID-19 crisis," said Whitehouse. "This legislation honors the contributions of these public servants by helping them to wipe the slate clean of student loan debt." The Teacher Loan… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Senate Passes Whitehouse’s Bipartisan Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Washington, D.C. - Two days into Daylight Saving Time, the U.S. Senate has passed Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) legislation to make it permanent nationwide. Whitehouse joined fellow cosponsors of the Sunshine Protection Act on the Senate floor this afternoon to move the bill's passage. The Senate then passed the legislation by unanimous consent, sending it to the House of Representatives. "Resetting the clocks may soon be a thing of the past," said Whitehouse. "This is a bipartisan bill … Continue Reading
