Press Releases
Whitehouse, Brown, Warren Call for IRS to Justify Billions in Coal Tax Credits Based on Questionable Pollution Data
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on the IRS to justify allowing major coal refiners to claim roughly $1 billion annually in tax credits for alleged reductions in dangerous pollution when new analysis shows the burning of their coal may fail to meet the credits' minimum pollution reduction standards. The senators' request for the data that the IRS used to justify the tax credits comes as the group Resources for the Futu… Continue Reading
06.08.19
Senate Recognizes Contributions of Senior Corps Volunteers
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate earlier this week passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recognizing the contributions of the more than 220,000 senior volunteers across the country who serve in the Senior Corps. "To the hundreds of thousands of Senior Corps volunteers who are so giving of their time and talents, we say thank you," said Whitehouse. "It's important that Congress continue making bipartisan investments in national s… Continue Reading
06.06.19
Disaster Relief Bill Provides $50 Million for Whitehouse’s Coastal Resiliency Fund
Washington, D.C. - A disaster relief bill that includes $50 million for the National Coastal Resilience Fund was signed into law today by President Donald Trump. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse created the National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure that protects coastal communities while safeguarding wildlife habitats. "I'm fighting every day in the Senate to prepare Rhode Island homes and businesses for the growing threat of sea level rise caused by… Continue Reading
06.06.19
In Normandy, Whitehouse and Langevin Honor RI WWII Veterans on 75th D-Day Anniversary
Normandy, France - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin today attended an official ceremony in Normandy, France to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron also took part in the ceremony at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer. At the event, Whitehouse and Langevin met with World War II veterans from Rhode Island and across the United States who made the trip for the special occasion. Members of the… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Whitehouse Introduces ‘Buffett Rule’ to Ensure Wealthiest Americans Pay Fair Share in Taxes
Washington, DC - With income inequality soaring to a level not experienced in America since prior to the Great Depression, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to prevent America's top earners from paying lower tax rates than middle-class families. The Paying a Fair Share Act, also known as the "Buffett Rule," would ensure that multi-million-dollar earners pay at least a 30 percent effective federal tax rate. The measure would reduce the federal deficit by an est… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Langevin, Whitehouse Reintroduce Bill to Fix Rhode Island’s Aging Bridges
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have reintroduced the Strengthen and Fortify Existing (SAFE) Bridges Act, which would create a new federal grant program to repair and replace bridges in poor condition. In its 2019 Bridge Report, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) identified more than 47,000 bridges as being "structurally deficient". The report finds that Rhode Island has a higher proportion of structurally… Continue Reading
06.04.19
Senator Whitehouse, Rep. Grijalva Introduce Success in the Middle Act to Increase Funding for Middle Grade Education
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today introduced the Success in the Middle Act to increase funding for middle grade education. The legislation would create a grant program to support middle schools' efforts to identify and implement best practices for improving student outcomes and increasing high school graduation rates. "Teachers know that getting kids on a strong path in middle school can make all the difference for… Continue Reading
05.24.19
$50 Million for Whitehouse’s Coastal Resiliency Fund Included in Disaster Relief Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the disaster relief bill passed by the Senate yesterday evening includes $50 million for the National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure that protects coastal communities while safeguarding wildlife habitats. Whitehouse wrote the legislation that created the fund, which was originally authorized as the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund. "I'm fighting every day in the Senate… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Whitehouse, Reed, Sullivan Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Military’s Energy Security
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today introduced legislation to improve the U.S. military's energy security and reduce carbon emissions. The Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership (SEA FUEL) Act would direct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to pioneer new technologies that will capture carbon dioxide from air and seawater and convert it to clean fuels or other useful products. This … Continue Reading
05.23.19
Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls Passes Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered Senate passage of legislation he cosponsored to crack down on disruptive illegal robocalls. In a 97-1 vote, the Senate approved the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act, which is sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Thune (R-SD). "In addition to being a persistent nuisance, robocalls can lead to data theft and financial fraud," said Whitehouse. "I'm pleased that this legislati… Continue Reading
05.20.19
Senators Keep Pressure on Treasury to Issue Carbon Capture Tax Credit Guidance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today led a bipartisan group of colleagues in requesting guidance from the Department of Treasury for the implementation of the carbon capture utilization and storage tax credit program. The Senators were lead sponsors of the bipartisan FUTURE Act, which will encourage technological innovation in carbon capture utilization and storage while reducing carbon pollution. The FUTURE Act… Continue Reading
05.20.19
Whitehouse Cosponsors Green Bank Act to Create Jobs, Reclaim American Clean Energy Leadership
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in introducing the Green Bank Act, which would support job creation in Rhode Island's clean energy sector and fight climate change by incentivizing large-scale investment in green projects. The bill would create a National Green Bank to provide financing for regional, state, and municipal green banks, including the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. "A national green infrastructure bank would … Continue Reading
05.16.19
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Whitehouse, Blumenthal, & Graham Bill to Prevent Cyberattacks on Voting Machines
Washington, DC - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to improve election security. The Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act would make it a federal crime to hack any voting systems used in a federal election. "Russia and other hostile actors are constantly bombarding the cyber defenses of American voting systems and other critical infrastructure i… Continue Reading
05.16.19
Whitehouse, Cartwright Introduce Bill to Protect Natural Resources from Climate Change Amid New Warning from UN
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) today introduced a bill to protect natural resources and wildlife from extreme weather and climate change. Whitehouse and Cartwright's Safeguarding America's Future and Environment (SAFE) Act would build on existing federal, state, and local efforts to establish an integrated national approach for environmental protection. An alarming new report released by the United Nations earlier this month indicat… Continue Reading
05.16.19
Whitehouse, Cotton, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Support Victims of Iranian Terrorism
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Doug Jones (D-Alabama), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) today introduced legislation to help American terror victims and their families collect financial judgments against Iran. Representatives Greg Pence (R-Indiana) and Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) introduced companion legislation in the Hou… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Hirono Introduce AMICUS Act to Bring Transparency to Judicial Lobbying
Washington, D.C. - Senate Judiciary Committee members Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) today introduced the Assessing Monetary Influence in the Courts of the United States (AMICUS) Act to bring transparency to amicus-based judicial lobbying for the first time. "It defies reason that the branch of the federal government with the least direct accountability to the public is not subject to even the most basic lobbying disclosures… Continue Reading
05.07.19
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, and Graham Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Cyberattacks on Voting Machines
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve election security. The Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act would make it a federal crime to hack any voting systems used in a federal election. The bill is scheduled to be considered by the Judiciary Committee. "Russia and other hostile actors are continuously bombarding the cyber defenses of our critical infrastructure in an attem… Continue Reading
05.07.19
Whitehouse, Udall, Cardin Lead Call to Keep Appropriations Bills Free of Anti-Environmental Riders
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee calling for FY 2020 appropriations bills to be free of unrelated policy riders that would harm public health and the environment. The letter was signed by 41 Senate Democrats, signaling that there is no path for anti-environmental riders in the Senate. "Pointless anti-environmental riders can only lead to gridlock and brinkmanship," said… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Whitehouse, Wyden, and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Overhaul Energy Tax Code, Combat Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 25 colleagues today introduced legislation to overhaul the federal tax code to support an innovative, low carbon economy. The Clean Energy for America Act would consolidate the current 44 energy incentives into three technology-neutral provisions that encourage clean electricity, clean transportation and energy efficiency. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Maria C… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Coastal New England Senators Introduce Bipartisan Offshore Drilling Ban
Washington, D.C. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today led a bipartisan group of New England Senators in reintroducing legislation to bar oil and gas drilling off the region's shoreline. While the Trump administration has stalled on releasing the next draft of its 5-year offshore leasing plan, it has not fully abandoned efforts to open areas of the Atlantic continental shelf to offshore drilling. Oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic puts vital coastline at risk, threatening a central ec… Continue Reading
