Press Releases
Reed & Whitehouse Celebrate Legislative Fix to Restore Funding for RI Crime Victim Advocacy Organizations
Warwick, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined with organizations that help Rhode Islanders who have been victims of violent crimes to celebrate passage of bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund is funded. Both senators sponsored the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021, which will redirect monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into … Continue Reading
08.14.21
Senate-Passed Infrastructure Bill Would Launch Significant Expansion of Electric Vehicles and Clean Transit
Washington, D.C. - The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would bring Rhode Island millions of dollars to build out charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and to get more electric ferries and buses in service. "We're doing our part in the Senate to make driving a clean car much more convenient and to electrify the nation's public transit fleet. I'm particularly excited about the prospect of electric ferries carrying Rhode Islanders acro… Continue Reading
08.13.21
Whitehouse Calls on Select Committee to Investigate New Reports of Dark-Money Coordination behind January 6 Insurrection
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote to Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) today to urge the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol to examine the dark-money organizations and powerful donors who organized and funded efforts to undermine the 2020 election - efforts that contributed to the storming of the Capitol on January 6. Whitehouse points to new revelations in recent days that big-money … Continue Reading
08.12.21
Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passed by Senate Would Provide $275 Million to Launch Whitehouse-Created Recycling Fund
Washington, D.C. - The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would invest $275 million over five years in a new recycling grant program designed by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to prevent plastic debris from polluting marine environments and having adverse effects on human health and wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency's Post-Consumer Materials Management Infrastructure Grant Program will provide grants to states to improve local wast… Continue Reading
08.11.21
Senate-Approved Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Would Send $492 Million to Whitehouse’s Coastal Resilience Fund
Washington, D.C. - The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by the U.S. Senate yesterday would invest $492 million over five years in a climate resiliency grant fund designed by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Whitehouse created the National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure that protects coastal communities while safeguarding wildlife habitats. "Climate change is here, and I'm working hard to prepare Rhode Island homes and busines… Continue Reading
08.11.21
Whitehouse, Schumer Call on the Senate to Pass the DISCLOSE Act
Washington, DC - Earlier today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) requested that the Senate pass legislation to combat the flood of dark money in American politics. Senator Cruz objected to the request, blocking passage of the bill. "The fight isn't over. This started when Citizens United unleashed unlimited money into our politics and it will end with the passage of my DISCLOSE Act," said Whitehouse, who has introduced the bill in every Congress since 20… Continue Reading
08.10.21
Whitehouse Votes to Pass Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill That Will Invest $1.5 Billion in RI Roads and Bridges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today voted to approve a nearly $1 trillion investment in upgrading the nation's roads, bridges, transit systems, and water infrastructure. The infrastructure bill passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 69-30. The legislation will send more than $1.5 billion to Rhode Island for highway and bridge repairs over five years. Whitehouse helped secure the highway and bridge funding as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public W… Continue Reading
08.06.21
Whitehouse & Quigley Introduce Bills to Power Clean Energy Future
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) have introduced two bills aimed at improving the nation's power infrastructure and streamlining the regulatory process to help put the country on the path to a sustainable future. The Streamlining Interstate Transmission of Electricity (SITE) Act and the Advanced Energy Technologies and Grid Efficiency Act would create jobs, stimulate the economy, and advance the transition to clean energy. "Th… Continue Reading
08.06.21
Whitehouse Unveils REDUCE Act to Tackle Plastic Pollution
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of both the Senate Finance and Environment and Public Works Committees, has introduced legislation to create a powerful new incentive to recycle plastic, and to help end the flood of plastic waste that is overwhelming vital ecosystems and threatening public health. Whitehouse's Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems (REDUCE) Act would impose a 20-cent per pound fee on the sale of new, or "virgin", plastic u… Continue Reading
08.06.21
Whitehouse, Wicker Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Crack Down on State-Sponsored Doping
Washington, DC - Today, Helsinki Commissioner Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) along with Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Ranking Member Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) introduced the Guaranteeing Oversight and Litigation on Doping (GOLD) Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would enable a doping fraud violation of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act to also activate charges under the U.S. criminal anti-money laundering… Continue Reading
08.06.21
Whitehouse Joins President Biden for Signing of Executive Order Setting Ambitious Target for Electric Vehicle Transition
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, yesterday afternoon joined President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of an Executive Order setting an ambitious new target for getting vastly more electric vehicles on the road. The Executive Order aims to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emission vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles… Continue Reading
08.05.21
Reed & Whitehouse Outline Funds for RI in Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Senate is debating a bipartisan infrastructure bill this week that includes several key provisions championed and supported by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse to upgrade our transportation network, enhance public transit, invest in clean water and replace aging lead pipes and service lines. Overall, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes over $550 billion in new spending to repair, rebuild, and enhance roads, bridges, highways, w… Continue Reading
08.05.21
Whitehouse, Wyden Bill Ensures Private Equity Moguls Pay Fair Share in Taxes
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-O.R.) today introduced legislation to close the carried interest loophole and ensure hedge fund managers and private equity CEOs pay their fair share in taxes. Unlike other bills, the senators' bill would close the entire carried interest loophole-re-characterization of income from wage-like income to lower-taxed investment income and deferral of tax payments. Previously introduced bills address… Continue Reading
08.03.21
Senate Clears Whitehouse-Cornyn Bill to Fight Substance Use in Jails & Prisons, Support Inmates upon Release
Washington, DC - The Senate has passed the bipartisan Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act of 2021 by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX). The bill will expand access to substance use treatment in jails and prisons around the country, and help those exiting correctional facilities continue their treatment in the community. The bill's passage follows Whitehouse and Cornyn's success in passing federal corrections reforms in 2018. "Senator Cornyn and I are making … Continue Reading
07.29.21
Whitehouse Statement on Vote to Proceed to Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today applauded the Senate's bipartisan vote to proceed to consideration of a major investment in upgrading the nation's infrastructure. "I've long been a champion for upgrading Rhode Island's highways, bridges, and water infrastructure, and creating good jobs and growing our economy in the process. Enough Republicans joined us in support of those priorities tonight… Continue Reading
07.27.21
RI Delegation Announces $1.15 Million Grant for Rhode Island Wind Energy Company
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that Arctura Inc. in South Kingstown will be receiving a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop an innovative wind turbine blade coating to reduce damage caused by lightning. Lightning damage to wind turbines is one of the largest expenses for wind farm operators. An innovative blade coating is being developed in this project to reduce bla… Continue Reading
07.27.21
Whitehouse Supports Creation of New Rebate Program For Electric Home Appliances
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in introducing the Zero-Emission Homes Act to provide rebates for the purchase and installation of electric appliances and equipment in homes across the country, with additional support for low- and moderate- income households. "The economic, health, and environmental benefits of electric home appliances are widely known," said Whitehouse. "Our Zero-Emission Homes Program would help cove… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Drug-Free Communities Programs in Portsmouth, Lincoln, and Warren Get Federal Boost
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that three programs in Rhode Island received a total of $375,000 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy's Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The Portsmouth School Department and the towns of Lincoln and Warren each received $125,000 to fund substance use prevention strategies amid the worsening nationwide drug abuse crisis. "These grants will help preve… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Reed & Whitehouse Announce Selection Process for Judgeship on First Circuit
PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today outlined the process for ensuring there are highly-qualified applicants to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (First Circuit) that was created by Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson announcing her plan to take senior status. Judge Thompson will continue hearing cases, but on a more limited basis. As Reed and Whitehouse commence their search for a new judge to sit on the First Circuit, they say the goal… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Whitehouse Introduces the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act to Make Higher Education More Affordable
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act to help students take full advantage of higher education tax credits and Pell Grants to pursue a college education. Currently, our tax code prevents many qualifying students from reaping the full benefits of the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Pell Grant program. … Continue Reading
