Press Releases
Whitehouse Touts American Rescue Plan’s Provisions to Lift Families in RI
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today offered examples of how historic expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit included in the American Rescue Plan are poised to lift up hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders. The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden this afternoon, is the exact opposite of the Republican $1.9 trillion tax giveaway in whom it helps. "The America… Continue Reading
03.11.21
Doggett & Whitehouse Author Bill to End Offshore Corporate Tax Loopholes, Raise Billions in Revenue
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Finance Committee, introduced the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act to close egregious offshore tax loopholes that allow companies with armies of lawyers to avoid taxes by making profits earned here in America magically appear on the books in tax havens like the Cayman Islands. It would also crack down on the type of illegal tax evasion by the superric… Continue Reading
03.09.21
Whitehouse, Booker, Schatz Unveil Methane Fee to Clamp Down on Potent Driver of Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) today introduced new legislation to curb the potent methane emissions-especially from the oil and gas sector-that are responsible for about 25 percent of global warming. The Methane Emissions Reduction Act directs the Department of Treasury to assess a fee on methane emissions beginning in 2023. The Senators contend that an accurately assessed fee on the greenhouse gas would virtually end meth… Continue Reading
03.09.21
Significant Funding for Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment Heading to RI as Part of American Rescue Plan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the final version of the American Rescue Plan approved by the Senate over the weekend includes robust funding for mental and behavioral health care. Whitehouse advocated for the funding to address the growing overdose crisis in Rhode Island."Pandemic-related isolation and stress have presented new challenges for many Rhode Islanders, especially those walking the long, noble road of recovery," said Whitehouse. "I was pleased … Continue Reading
03.08.21
RI Delegation Secures Change to Federal Funding Formula to Boost Local Hospitals
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that they have secured a change to the federal reimbursement formula for hospitals that could provide around $28 million to Rhode Island health care institutions as they continue to battle the pandemic. The bill will reverse a Trump administration policy that unfairly disadvantaged Rhode Island hospitals beginning in 2018. The fix was included in the pandemic relief bi… Continue Reading
03.08.21
Whitehouse, Johnson Press Federal Courts to Strengthen Rules on Judicial Lobbying
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights-and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA)-Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet-released today a letter they wrote to the federal courts' Committee on Rule of Practice and Procedure calling for stronger disclosure requirements for funders of amicus curiae briefs. In the letter sent last… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Whitehouse Votes to Send Wide-Ranging Relief to Families and Small Businesses, Hasten Return to Normal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, which will inject $1.9 trillion into the national economy, provide direct relief to families and small businesses, build out a national vaccine distribution infrastructure, safely reopen schools and child care centers, and relieve the financial burden on state and local governments. "Help is on the way to Rhode Island. The need right now is enormous, and the American Rescue Plan meets the moment. Fr… Continue Reading
03.03.21
Reed & Whitehouse Reintroduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 41 Senate Democrats to reintroduce the Background Check Expansion Act, which would expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. This loophole gives people who are barred from purchasing or possessing firearms-because of felony o… Continue Reading
03.02.21
Whitehouse Cheers Solicitor General’s Reversal in SCOTUS Dark Money Case
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the brief filed by the Acting U.S. Solicitor General in Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Becerra, a First Amendment challenge before the Supreme Court: "I'm pleased the Solicitor General changed its position in this case. The Trump Justice Department predictably sided with the right-wing donors and their armada of anonymously funded amicus groups, who want to use … Continue Reading
03.02.21
Whitehouse Congratulates Raimondo on Senate Confirmation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today congratulated Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo on her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Raimondo was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a bipartisan 84-15 vote. "I wish Secretary Raimondo all the best as she takes on a significant role in President Biden's cabinet overseeing the national economic recovery. As an Ocean State native leading the Department of Oceans and Commerce, Raimondo will be an important partner in protec… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Whitehouse, Cicilline Introduce DISCLOSE Act to Repair Americans’ Faith in Democracy
BILL TEXT HERE Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) led 197 colleagues in both houses of Congress in introducing the DISCLOSE Act to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The bill would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, allowing the American people to see who is attempting to sway their elections and gain control over their government. "Americ… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Whitehouse, Judiciary Dems to FBI Director Wray: How Are You Responding to Ongoing Domestic Terrorism Threat?
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and several Judiciary Committee members in sending a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting information on the FBI's response to the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. The letter comes ahead of an FBI oversight hearing next Tuesday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Wray will testif… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Protect Nursing Home Residents and Workers
Washington, DC - With the COVID-19 pandemic having claimed the lives of more than 170,000 residents and workers in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing legislation to save lives and assist with vaccinations. The COVID-19 Nursing Home Protection Act would provide funding to ensure that nursing homes have the resources to kee… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Mourns 500,000 Americans Lost to COVID-19
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this evening released the following statement mourning the 500,000 Americans, including nearly 2,500 Rhode Islanders, lost to the COVID-19 pandemic: "The pandemic has taken so much from so many. It is hard to fathom that a half million Americans who were with us a year ago have been lost to COVID-19. We mourn each one of those 500,000 lives, and grieve for the families who have had to face tragedy in solitude. "There are hopeful signs in … Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Takes Helm of Judiciary and Finance Subcommittees
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that he has been selected to serve as Chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights and the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight for the 117th Congress. "Rhode Islanders' interests will be front and center as I set the agendas for key subcommittees on the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees," said Whitehouse. "With gavels in hand, … Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Statement on Garland Hearing
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, signaled his support for the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to serve as Attorney General after Garland's nomination hearing concluded today: "Judge Garland proved he's the right person to restore a battered Department of Justice after four troubled years under Donald Trump. We still don't know the extent of the damage Trump inflicted, but even our incomplete picture reveals sweeping harm.… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Proposes Expansion of Telehealth Services and More Funding to Fight Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - With opioid overdoses on the rise in Rhode Island and communities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have introduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act to support the expansion of telehealth services for substance use disorder treatment. The bill would build on previous steps taken by the federal government to temporarily waive regulatory restrictions for a… Continue Reading
02.18.21
Reed & Whitehouse Press Postmaster General to Restore On-Time Delivery and Stop Harmful Changes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and 31 colleagues in pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about persistent mail delays and what action he is taking to restore on-time mail delivery. Operational changes at the Postal Service ordered by Postmaster General DeJoy last summer resulted in compromised service in Rhode Island and across the country. While Congressional oversight efforts and public pressure helped ens… Continue Reading
02.17.21
Whitehouse, Graham Call on Federal Judiciary to Strengthen Judicial Ethics Standards
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released today a letter sent to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts calling on the Court to bring judicial financial disclosure requirements in line with other branches of government. Following passage of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, Congress and the executive branch implemented strong disclosure requirements for officials' outside income, gifts, and reimbursements. The judiciary, for its part, has adopted signi… Continue Reading
02.13.21
Whitehouse Statement on Final Vote in Second Trump Impeachment
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on his vote today to convict former president Donald Trump on the article of impeachment for incitement to insurrection: "The House managers did a masterful job. They presented a complete and vivid case that spanned Donald Trump's cultivation of his stolen election lie, the incitement of his mob, and the deadly harm his mob perpetrated. They recounted the bravery and pain of the people who defended us. They… Continue Reading
