Press Releases
Whitehouse, Markey, and Welch Introduce Legislation to Apply Surcharges on Private Jets and First and Business Class Tickets
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) yesterday introduced the Assessing International Requirements to Fuel Aviation’s Impact Reduction (AIR FAIR) Act, which would apply a system of surcharges on luxury aviation, including private jets and first and business class tickets, to curb wasteful greenhouse gas emissions. “Luxury air travel generates a disproportionate share of aviation-related car… Continue Reading
07.28.23
Whitehouse, Reed & Magaziner Announce $915,000 for Wastewater Management Upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced that two Rhode Island municipalities are receiving a total of $915,000 in federal funding to upgrade wastewater management systems, decrease pollution, and boost drinking water quality. These two federal grants for the towns of Glocester and North Kingston are funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Southeast New England Program (SNEP). Gloc… Continue Reading
07.28.23
Senate Passes Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Bill from Whitehouse, Capito, Carper
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes legislation led by Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and a bipartisan group of their colleagues that reasserts America’s position as the undisputed international leader for nuclear energy technologies. The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced… Continue Reading
07.28.23
Cornyn, Whitehouse, Tillis, Coons Introduce Bill to Equip Law Enforcement with Trauma Kits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE) released the following statements on introduction of their American Law Enforcement Sustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources (SAVER) Act, which would equip law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call: "Law enforcement officers are often the first on the scene of … Continue Reading
07.26.23
Whitehouse Joins Biden-Harris Administration for Inaugural White House Methane Summit
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement following his participation in the inaugural White House Methane Summit: "I was happy to be invited by the White House to participate in what I call the White House's 'Methane Enforcement Day.' As the author of the original methane fee proposal that was negotiated into the Inflation Reduction Act and passed into law, and as a former federal and state prosecutor, a Methane Enforcement Day is music to … Continue Reading
07.26.23
Whitehouse Introduces Bill to Eliminate Tax Breaks for Defamation Payments by Giant Corporations Like Fox News
Washington, D.C. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today introduced the Denying Expenditures for False Accusations with Malicious Effect (DEFAME) Act, legislation that would prohibit corporations with more than $10 billion in revenue from taking an income tax deduction for certain defamation payments totaling more than $500 million. "Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for multi-billion-dollar companies like Fox News when they get caught selling… Continue Reading
07.24.23
Planting Seeds of Change: Officials Celebrate $500,000 Federal Grant to Help Urban Renewal Blossom at What Cheer Flower Farm
PROVIDENCE, RI - Every garden has a story and reflects the type of care it gets. Founded in 2017, What Cheer Flower Farm is a flourishing nonprofit that grows, rescues, and gives away over 100,000 cut flowers annually to hospitals, hospices, food pantries, senior services, recovery centers, shelters, and people who could use a lift. Beyond botanical gifts, the organization also offers a variety of community-driven educational, cultural, mentorship, and job training programs. After planting se… Continue Reading
07.24.23
Whitehouse Presents Military Medals to 98-Year-Old World War II Veteran in Bristol
Bristol, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today presented 98-year-old World War II veteran Francis Marshall with a full re-issue of military medals honoring his service in the U.S. Army. Dozens of family members and friends joined attended today's ceremony at Silver Creek Manor in Bristol. "It is an honor to present Mr. Marshall with the military medals he courageously earned during World War II," said Whitehouse. "So few of the men who were part of that important time in world history ar… Continue Reading
07.21.23
Accelerating Improvements: $25M RAISE Grant for RIDOT Paves Way for Third Phase of Route 37 Work
WARWICK, RI - Members of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today gathered with Governor Dan McKee, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, and transportation officials to celebrate a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to fund multimodal improvements and infrastructure upgrades along Route 37. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner secured the $25 million in federal funds to advance the third and fi… Continue Reading
07.20.23
Durbin, Whitehouse Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Supreme Court Ethics Reform Bill to Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 to the full Senate. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, released the following statement on the vote: "Public support of the Supreme Court is at an all-time low fol… Continue Reading
07.20.23
Whitehouse Calls for Passage of Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act in Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee markup of his comprehensive Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act. Whitehouse's SCERT Act would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws, improve disclosure and transparency when a justice has… Continue Reading
07.19.23
As Senate Judiciary Committee Prepares to Take Up Whitehouse’s Supreme Court Ethics Bill, New Episode of “Making the Case” Podcast Examines Major Ethics Violations by Supreme Court Justices
Episode five available now on Spotify and Apple Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today released episode five of his podcast, Making the Case. In the new episode, Whitehouse is joined by Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), Fix the Court Executive Director Gabe Roth, and Campaign Legal Center Senior Director of Ethics Kedric Payne to break down the Supreme Court's self-inflicted ethics crisis and discuss ways to strengthen … Continue Reading
07.18.23
Whitehouse, Tillis, Jackson Lee, and Wilson Lead Introduction of Bipartisan Bill to Fight Foreign Corruption
Washington, DC – Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), together with Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Joe Wilson (R-SC), today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Foreign Extortion Prevention Act to 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 o… Continue Reading
07.13.23
New Episode of Whitehouse’s “Making the Case” Podcast Examines Special Interest Victories Delivered By Captured Supreme Court
Episode four available now on Spotify and Apple Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today released episode four of his podcast, Making the Case, exploring decisions in which the captured Supreme Court has delivered big for special interests at the expense of the American people. The fourth episode of Making the Case is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms. "The Citizens United decision is ju… Continue Reading
07.12.23
Whitehouse, Durbin Ask Leonard Leo and Right-Wing Billionaires for Full Accounting of Gifts to Supreme Court Justices
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that they sent three letters seeking information from Leonard Leo and two right-wing billionaires implicated in recent reporting on the Supreme Court's ethics crisis. The senators are seeking to identify the full extent of payments or gifts of travel and lodging given to Supreme Court j… Continue Reading
07.12.23
Reed & Whitehouse Announce Selection Process for Federal Judgeship
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. District Court for the District of Rhode Island that will be created when Judge William E. Smith takes senior status, effective January 1, 2025. Judge Smith 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 District Court, they say the goal i… Continue Reading
07.10.23
Durbin, Whitehouse Announce July 20 Vote in Senate Judiciary Committee on Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will mark up and vote on Whitehouse's Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act on Thursday, July 20. The bill would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, c… Continue Reading
06.30.23
Whitehouse Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Major First Amendment Case
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis: "The Court that dark money built handed down a major setback to human rights today. By granting companies a First Amendment right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, the Supreme Court has set a dangerous precedent. We must continue to fight for equality for all Americans."… Continue Reading
06.30.23
Whitehouse Slams Supreme Court’s Decision Blocking Biden Student Loan Program
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision today in Biden v. Nebraska, which blocked the implementation of the Biden administration's student debt forgiveness plan: "To no one's surprise, the Supreme Court's right-wing majority has sided once again with big Republican special interests at the expense of working families in Rhode Island and across the country. Student loan debt forgiveness would free up thousands of R… Continue Reading
06.28.23
Reed & Whitehouse Statement on District Court Judge William E. Smith Taking Senior Status
PROVIDENCE, RI - Today, after Judge William E. Smith, 63, announced his intention to take "senior status" on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, starting January 1, 2025, upon the confirmation of his successor, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse congratulated him on his years of service on the federal bench. Senior status allows federal judges who have reached certain age and years of service requirements to voluntarily take a reduced number of cases. Judge Sm… Continue Reading
