Press Releases
Reed & Whitehouse Secure $500K to Strengthen RI Childcare Facilities
PROVIDENCE, RI - Research shows that high-quality, affordable child care is a significant factor in family well-being and economic stability. And high-quality child care programs in safe, quality facilities that are staffed with skilled educators are a critical part of the state’s early learning system, helping children learn and develop skills necessary to succeed in school and life. In an effort to ensure Rhode Island’s child care and early learning facilities are high-quality centers that e… Continue Reading
09.13.23
RI Delegation Announces Over $6.6M to Support Survivors of Violent Crime & Enhance Forensic Science
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to provide essential services to victims of violent crimes and survivors of sexual assault and bolster the state’s ability to process DNA evidence, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced new federal funding totaling $6,632,629 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and Sojourner House. The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety is receiving two federal grants … Continue Reading
09.05.23
Whitehouse Lodges Ethics Complaint Against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today wrote a letter Chief Justice John Roberts to lodge an ethics complaint against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for violating several canons of judicial ethics. Whitehouse’s formal complaint follows revelations that Justice Alito accepted but did not disclose gifts of luxury travel and exclusive lodging from right-wing billionaires, one with business before the Court. Justi… Continue Reading
08.31.23
On International Overdose Awareness Day, RI Delegation Announces $500,000 to Prevent Youth Substance Use in Communities Across Rhode Island
Providence, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner announced today that four Rhode Island Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalitions have been awarded a total of $500,000 from the White House Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) to combat the overdose epidemic and prevent youth substance use. Whitehouse, Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control and a Senate leader on addiction recovery issues, helped secure more than $109 million… Continue Reading
08.29.23
Whitehouse Announces Federal Funding to Support and Expand Youth Music Education
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined students and representatives of Community MusicWorks and the Newport String Project to celebrate $300,000 in federal funding to support and expand music education and mentoring services for students from urban communities in Rhode Island. After announcing the funding, the Senator met with students in the program and listened to performances from program participants and resident musicians. “Community MusicWorks and the Newport Strin… Continue Reading
08.26.23
RI Delegation Announces $642,000 to Support Victims of Crime
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to provide essential services to victims of violent crimes and survivors of sexual assault and to strengthen the state’s support systems for people who have experienced trauma resulting from these crimes, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced $642,000 in new federal funding for the Victim Compensation Formula Grant program, which is funded by the Crime Victims Fund. The federal funds, which will be administere… Continue Reading
08.23.23
Whitehouse and Langevin Cheer Funding for Creation of Cross Mills Volunteer Firefighters Memorial Park in Charlestown
Charlestown, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and former U.S. Representative Jim Langevin joined Charlestown Town Council President Deb Carney and Charlestown Fire District officials this afternoon to celebrate $610,000 in federal funding to support the development of the Cross Mills Volunteer Firefighters Memorial Park. “On one of the last days of his historic tenure, Congressman Langevin and I teamed up to secure this federal funding to support the creation of Charlestown’s new Cross Mill… Continue Reading
08.17.23
Reed & Whitehouse Deliver $4.37 Million to Modernize Warwick’s Wastewater Infrastructure and Improve Beach Water Quality
Warwick, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, and City officials at Oakland Beach to celebrate $4.37 million in federal funds to modernize local water infrastructure and improve beach water quality for Rhode Islanders. The three Congressionally Directed Spending awards approved for the Warwick Sewer Authority are part of an ongoing effort to upgrade Warwick’s wastewater treatment fa… Continue Reading
08.16.23
Whitehouse Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act
Barrington, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today celebrated the one year anniversary of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law with dozens of seniors at the Barrington Senior Center. Whitehouse highlighted the major savings for people on Medicare along with the consumer-facing clean energy incentives and tax fairness improvements included in the law, which passed without a single Republican vote in Congress. “Democrats’ historic Inflation … Continue Reading
08.15.23
Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Deliver $728K to Bolster Safety & Strengthen Training for Local Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to boost public safety and ensure Rhode Island firefighters have the equipment and training needed to stay safe while responding to emergencies, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced $728,919 to help firefighters in Lincoln, Narragansett, and Woonsocket purchase new equipment and implement new training programs. The federal funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’… Continue Reading
08.15.23
Whitehouse and Johnson Urge Judicial Conference to Consider Breadth of Secret Billionaire-Funded Gifts to Justice Thomas as Support for Referral to Attorney General
Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) today released a letter alerting the Judicial Conference to the latest bombshell reporting published by ProPublica, which brought to light previously undisclosed billionaire-funded gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Whitehouse and Johnson’s letter asks the Judicial Conference to take these latest revelations into account as the Conference considers referring Justice … Continue Reading
08.11.23
Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Deliver $286K Grant to Improve Drinking Water on Block Island
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to clean, reliable drinking water, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced a $286,000 federal grant to improve access to and resilience of drinking water for residents of Block Island. This federal grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) office of Rural Development through the Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program. These f… Continue Reading
08.10.23
Whitehouse Responds to Newest ProPublica Report Detailing Breadth of Secret Billionaire-Funded Gifts to Justice Thomas
Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today released the following statement after another bombshell report published by ProPublica further exposed the breadth of undisclosed billionaire-funded gifts to Justice Thomas: “Clearly there is a lot more we still don’t know about the extent to which right-wing billionaires have underwritten Justice Thomas’s billionaire-like lifestyle over the years. … Continue Reading
08.09.23
Whitehouse and Doggett Urge EPA to Strengthen Ozone Smog Standards
Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and 49 Democratic lawmakers today released a bicameral letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly finalize more robust National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant and the main ingredient of smog. “We commend EPA’s commitment to address pollution and its health-related impacts and appreciate the important steps it has ta… Continue Reading
08.09.23
Whitehouse, Union Officials, and Retirees Call for Passage of New Legislation to Buoy Social Security and Medicare
North Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this morning joined labor officials and retirees from Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO and senior advocates to call for passage of Whitehouse’s legislation to protect the solvency of Social Security and Medicare by making the nation’s highest earners contribute a fairer share. AFSCME has endorsed Whitehouse’s legislation, and today̵… Continue Reading
08.08.23
Whitehouse Welcomes New Class of U.S. Naval War College Students
Newport, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today welcomed a new class of more than 500 graduate students to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport. Whitehouse underscored the security risks posed by the climate crisis and kleptocratic threats to the rule of law around the world. “Make no mistake: climate risk is a security risk, and democracy risk is a security risk,” said Whitehouse. “The next generation of military leaders will need… Continue Reading
08.03.23
Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Welcome $1.4M in Federal Support for Local Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help local communities and fire departments improve operations and safety, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced $1,392,552 to help firefighters in Cranston, Lincoln, Newport, Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth and other communities purchase new equipment and support advanced training programs. The federal funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Man… Continue Reading
08.03.23
Reed, Whitehouse, and Magaziner Call for Funding to Prevent Child Care Facility Closures
Providence, RI – This week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI) joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and a bicameral group of colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to support needed funding to prevent a national wave of child care closures. Congress secured historic funding in the American Rescue Plan to stabilize child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that relief funding… Continue Reading
08.01.23
Whitehouse Statement on the Third Indictment of Former President Trump
Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this evening issued the following statement after Donald Trump was indicted in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election: “There are few more serious crimes a president can be charged with than attempting to subvert the will of the American people to stay in power. This proceeding needs to play out peacefully and fairly in the justice system, and I hope our democracy will emerge stronge… Continue Reading
07.28.23
Whitehouse, Tillis Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Foreign Extortion Prevention Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today applauded Senate passage of the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Foreign Extortion Prevent Act would combat kleptocracy and corruption by criminalizing bribery demands by foreign officials. "America is in a clash of civilizations with international kleptocrats and criminals seizing any and every opportunity to extort American businesses and undermine our … Continue Reading
