Press Releases
Whitehouse Presses Mine Safety Head on Coal Baron’s ‘Action Plan’
Washington, DC - Following the release of an "action plan" for the Trump administration from coal baron Robert Murray last month - a plan Murray has boasted the administration is completing quickly - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) pressed the head of the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), David Zatezalo, on whether he would execute the several items in the Murray plan that would weaken vital miner safety protections. In a letter sent today, Whitehouse asks wheth… Continue Reading
02.22.18
Senators Push Interior Secretary to Restart Key Study of Offshore Drilling Safety Enforcement
Washington, DC - Today, 19 Senators, led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), urged Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to resume a study of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's inspection program for offshore oil and gas development. The study, which was being conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, has already cost taxpayers $100,000 and has been underway since 2016. The final report would include recommendations for how best to minimize risks a… Continue Reading
02.20.18
Whitehouse Statement on 2018 Munich Security Conference
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is back on American soil after traveling to Munich, Germany to join more than 500 world leaders and international security decision-makers at the Munich Security Conference, which is the major global forum for the discussion of security policy. Whitehouse has served as the Democratic lead for the bipartisan Congressional delegation to the annual conference at the invitation of Senator John McCain (R-AZ) since 2013. Cindy McCain traveled to Mun… Continue Reading
02.16.18
Whitehouse Statement on Mueller Indictment of Russians
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the indictment today of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in relation to meddling in the 2016 election: "Special Counsel Mueller's indictment today underscores just how serious, far-reaching, and successful Russia's 2016 interference campaign was. Despite the president's continued, strange denials, the administration's… Continue Reading
02.16.18
Whitehouse Co-Chairs Bipartisan Delegation to 2018 Munich Security Conference
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this morning touched down in Munich, Germany to join more than 500 world leaders and international security decision-makers at the annual Munich Security Conference. "The American people and their representatives in Congress are becoming all too familiar with the threat that disguised foreign influence can pose to our democratic institutions," said Whitehouse. "I am eager to speak with our allies and partners about the work we must do together… Continue Reading
02.15.18
Whitehouse Joins Schatz, Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Expand Education for Incarcerated Individuals, Improve Public Safety
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and more than a dozen Democratic senators to introduce the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act, a bill to restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals, which would reduce recidivism, save taxpayer money, and protect the public's safety. "No one would understand better than Senator Pell that former prisoners, who don't have a chance to earn the skills or education they n… Continue Reading
02.15.18
Whitehouse Statement on Failed Vote on Relief for Dreamers
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the failure of a procedural vote in the Senate today on legislation to protect Dreamers: "After asking for a bipartisan compromise, President Trump fired twin torpedoes into the DACA bipartisan compromise today with his veto threat and the 'poisonous' letter from his DHS Secretary. He is fully responsible for this failure." ###… Continue Reading
02.15.18
Whitehouse Cheers Passage of Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) cheered passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee today of the bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. The bill contains prison reform legislation authored by Whitehouse and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), which they based on successful steps taken in Rhode Island and Texas to lower recidivism rates, reduce crime, and save taxpayer dollars. "This bill recognizes that the toughest penalties should go to the worst offenders, and that longe… Continue Reading
02.15.18
Whitehouse, Markey Welcome FERC Energy Storage Rule
Washington, DC - Senate Environment and Public Works Committee members Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) cheered completion by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of a rule to help incorporate cutting-edge energy storage technology into America's electric grids. The rule, which Whitehouse and Markey have urged FERC to finalize, will require regional grid operators to update rules for battery systems to allow renewable energy like wind and solar to better meet con… Continue Reading
02.12.18
Whitehouse Statement on Trump Budget Proposal
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on President Donald Trump's budget proposal: "This budget revives zombie proposals even Republicans rejected, like repealing the Affordable Care Act, slashing Medicaid, and cutting off home heating help for people in states like Rhode Island. And during so-called 'infrastructure week,' it passes on any real investments in roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. "It'… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Whitehouse Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Carbon Capture Technology Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that the FUTURE Act, his bipartisan bill to encourage technological innovation in carbon capture utilization and storage while reducing carbon pollution, passed both the Senate and House of Representatives as part of the bipartisan budget deal and was signed into law. The bill was also sponsored by U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and John Barrasso (R-WY). "This is a big win for our clim… Continue Reading
02.09.18
New Federal Budget Includes Whitehouse Priorities for Health Care in RI
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the two-year budget approved by Congress this morning includes significant investments in Whitehouse's longtime priorities to improve the quality of health care while lowering costs for Rhode Island patients. "I am working every day in Washington to make first-rate health care available to every Rhode Islander at a lower cost, and this budget marks significant progress toward that goal," said Whitehouse. "Our budget will … Continue Reading
02.09.18
Whitehouse Reinforces Feinstein Analysis of Steele Referral
Washington, DC - Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today released a minority view analysis on behalf all Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee of the Christopher Steele criminal referral sent last month by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement underscoring the points in Feinstein's analysis: The release by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and Senator Linds… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Whitehouse Cheers Passage of Agreement Ending Cycle of Budget Showdowns & Unlocking $6 Billion in Opioid Funding
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) hailed passage of a bipartisan budget agreement that ends the cycle of stopgap funding measures of recent months and paves the way to fund our military and boost investment in key priorities for Rhode Island. The agreement comes with a commitment for a $6 billion increase in funding to fight the ongoing opioid and mental health crises. It will also boost medical research, improve key tax credits to help limit carbon pollution, and inves… Continue Reading
02.07.18
Whitehouse Applauds Opioid Addiction Treatment Funding in Budget Deal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today applauded the significant federal investment to combat the opioid addiction crisis included in a tentative deal to fund the federal government. The budget proposal announced this afternoon includes an agreement to provide $6 billion in federal funding for programs to stem the addiction epidemic. Whitehouse is a lead author of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), sweeping bipartisan legislation designed to curb the public … Continue Reading
02.07.18
Senators Call for Scott Pruitt to Recuse Himself from all Clean Power Plan-Related Rulemaking
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) have submitted an official comment in the docket for the repeal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), in which they called for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to recuse himself from all aspects of the rulemaking process. As Attorney General of Oklahoma, Pruitt launched numerous legal challenges to the plan, the 2015 EPA rule to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from American power pl… Continue Reading
02.06.18
Whitehouse to Lead Judiciary Committee Hearing on Fighting Crime and Corruption Aided by Shell Corporations
Washington, DC - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on countering illicit international financial networks, including instilling greater transparency in forming corporate entities that can facilitate crime or corruption. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, will join Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) to preside over the hearing. Whitehouse and Grassley are the lead sponsors of the True … Continue Reading
02.05.18
Whitehouse, Schatz, Blumenauer, Cicilline Introduce Updated American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and David Cicilline (D-RI) reintroduced their legislation to place a price on the carbon pollution driving global climate change and putting Americans' health and safety at risk. The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act, which has been updated to reflect recent changes in the tax code, would significantly lower the nation's greenhouse gas emissions while generating substant… Continue Reading
02.02.18
Whitehouse Statement on Release of Nunes Memo
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, released the following statement on House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Republicans' release of a memo containing sensitive information on FBI intelligence gathering and alleging abuses of power by the FBI in the Russia investigation: "This memo doesn't come close to making a case against the hard work and integrity of the FBI, as even those in the White H… Continue Reading
01.31.18
Whitehouse Calls for Investigation Into Trump Administration’s Inaction on Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and fourteen other senators to request a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the actions taken by President Trump's administration to address the opioid epidemic since he declared it a public health emergency. On October 26, 2017, when President Trump directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare the opioid crisis a public health… Continue Reading
