Press Releases
Whitehouse, Brown Cheer New Public Option Push
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the announcement today by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) of plans to develop a bill to establish a public option for health coverage. Whitehouse and Brown led efforts to include a public option in the Affordable Care Act, and have introduced public option legislation in every Congre… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Whitehouse Innovation, Aviation Fuel Amendments Included in Major Clean Energy Tax Bill
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded inclusion of two of his amendments in the Clean Energy for America Act, which the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance today. One Whitehouse proposal is based in bipartisan legislation by Whitehouse and Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) to encourage innovation in the clean energy sector, and the other is a tax incentive for the use of clean aviation fuel. "My amendments will help to encourage the clean energy inv… Continue Reading
05.24.21
Whitehouse Announces New Series of Speeches to Reveal the Special-Interest Scheme to Capture the Supreme Court
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, announced a series of Senate floor speeches exposing the scheme by right-wing donor interests to capture the U.S. Supreme Court and achieve through the Court's power what they cannot through other branches of government. Whitehouse will trace the decades-long roots of the scheme, its development and funding, and its coming to fruition under Donald Trump with the installation of a six-jus… Continue Reading
05.20.21
Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Former Mayor Joseph Solomon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today issued the following statement on the passing of former Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon: "I am very sad to hear that former Mayor Joe Solomon passed away this morning. Joe dedicated much of his life to serving the people of Warwick, moving up through the ranks on the City Council and eventually into the Mayor's Office. Joe had a warm smile and was always quick to offer a kind word. I send heartfelt condolences to his wife, Cynthia, and their… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Whitehouse Urges Biden SCOTUS Commission to Address Special-Interest Assault on the Supreme Court
Washington, DC - Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released a letter he sent today to members of President Biden's Commission on the Supreme Court highlighting key questions about special-interest influence over the Court. Whitehouse has made clear the Commission cannot achieve meaningful reform, nor restore Americans' faith in the Court's integrity, without fully investigating and understanding the question of dark money's efforts to capture the Court. Sen… Continue Reading
05.17.21
On Tax Day, Whitehouse Introduces ‘Buffett Rule’ Bill to Ensure the Wealthiest Americans Pay a Fair Share in Taxes
Washington, DC - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has said he pays a lower percentage of his income in taxes than his secretary. As millions of Americans file their taxes today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, introduced his legislation to fix this problem. Whitehouse's Paying a Fair Share Act would ensure multi-millionaire and billionaire taxpayers like Warren Buffett pay at least a 30 percent effective tax rate. "Ou… Continue Reading
05.14.21
Senate Judiciary Dems Press DOJ to Not Appeal Federal Court Decision Ordering Release of Key OLC Memo Related to Mueller Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights; and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; today led Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland expressing serious concerns about the Trump-era Department of Justice's (DOJ) apparent misrepresentations to a federal court regarding an … Continue Reading
05.13.21
Whitehouse Calls for Swift Action on Climate Following Release of New EPA Climate Data
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the new data released by the EPA showing dramatic effects of climate change in the United States. "The data doesn't lie: the EPA's new report shows society pushing nature to its limit. Either we act now, or we risk failing the critical test of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming and lock in ever-worsening threats. Against this backdrop, Congres… Continue Reading
05.13.21
New Whitehouse Bill Would Decarbonize Emissions-Heavy Aviation Sector
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act, ambitious new legislation to decarbonize the emissions-heavy aviation sector and curb climate change. The legislation sets a goal of achieving net 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050 in the U.S. aviation sector, and charts a path for reaching those benchmarks. U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is cosponsoring the legislation. "Air t… Continue Reading
05.13.21
Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans and Coasts Advances Out of Committee with Bipartisan Support
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have announced that their legislation to advance data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate tech… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Recommendation of Zachary A. Cunha to be the Next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced they have recommended that President Joe Biden nominate current Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, chief of the civil division for the United States Attorney's office, to be the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island. "Zachary Cunha is an experienced prosecutor with an exemplary record of service in the U.S. Attorney's office. He is an outstanding candidate to take on this new role and has solid relationships wi… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Tax Gap & Offshoring Hearing Sheds New Light on Trillions in U.S. Income Stowed Abroad
Washington, DC - During today's hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, a top IRS official testified that the amount of U.S. money held in offshore accounts - and therefore harder for American tax enforcement officials to track - is double what had been previously estimated. In response to a question from Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), IRS Acting Chief of Research and Analytics Officer Barry Johnson told the subcommittee that U.S. households ho… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Whitehouse Lays Out Plans as Chair of the Senate International Narcotics Control Caucus in New Op-Ed
READ FULL OP-ED HERE Washington, DC - In a new op-ed for Just Security, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) lays out his plans as Chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, including a focus on the dark economy servicing the narcotics market and the "clash of civilizations" that forms its backdrop. Whitehouse also discusses the need to battle substance use in America and build on the success of bipartisan legislation to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Est… Continue Reading
05.05.21
Gavel in Hand, Whitehouse Presses OPM for Leonard Leo Documents
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, sent a letter today to the Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) following up on requests for records related to dark-money activist Leonard Leo's role advising the Trump administration on the selection and confirmation of judicial nominees. Over a year ago, Whitehouse led colleagues in requesting documents related to Leo's work leading and advising the Trump administratio… Continue Reading
05.05.21
RI Delegation Invites Local Restaurants to Apply for Aid from Newly Launched Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Providence, RI - Members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation today joined with hospitality industry representatives to invite owners of local dining establishments to apply for aid from the newly opened Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The delegation pushed for the $28.6-billion restaurant relief fund to be included in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law in March. Today's event was held at The District, a popular restaurant in Providence's Jewelry District. "I'… Continue Reading
05.05.21
Whitehouse, Wyden, Grassley, Rubio Urge Strong Implementation of Anti-Money Laundering Reform
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a bipartisan comment to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) encouraging the efficient, effective implementation of a beneficial ownership reporting system, as required by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The senators have long championed greater transparency in the United States's incorporation laws to crack down on shell companies used to facilitate… Continue Reading
05.03.21
Senator Whitehouse and Representative Malinowski Urge Biden Administration to Take Aggressive Executive Action Against International Corruption and Kleptocracy
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led a bicameral letter to United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, urging the Department to take early action to combat international corruption and kleptocracy. The lawmakers urged Secretary Yellen to expand anti-money laundering reporting obligations to private equity and hedge fund advisors, and recommended other specific actions the Secretary can immediately take under current auth… Continue Reading
04.30.21
Whitehouse Votes to Deliver Major Upgrades for Water Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has joined colleagues from both sides of aisle in voting to approve the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, legislation to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, improve the health of families across the nation, and address environmental justice. As a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Whitehouse has long been active in pushing for water infrastructure investments and helped craft th… Continue Reading
04.29.21
With Major Infrastructure Legislation on the Horizon, Whitehouse, Schumer, Cohen, and McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Tax Credit to Protect Children From Home Lead Hazards
Washington, D.C. - With lead hazards lurking in about 3.6 million homes of families with young children nationwide, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), and Representative David McKinley (R-WV-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes. The Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2021 would significantly broaden the national response to t… Continue Reading
04.29.21
Whitehouse Statement on Biden Address to Congress
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Biden's joint address to Congress tonight marking Biden's first 100 days in office: "Tonight, the president delivered a hopeful report on the great progress we've made during his first 100 days in office, and charted an equally hopeful path for a lasting, fair economic recovery after the pandemic. "I'm pleased to see the president follow the success of his COVID relief bill with two important propo… Continue Reading
