Press Releases
Reed, Whitehouse & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Allow Commonsense Regulation of Fracking
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined nine of their Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act in an effort to increase environmental protections for communities located near where natural gas drilling takes place. "Fracking" is shorthand for high-pressure, high-volume horizontal fracturing, and involves a process that injects a mixture of large quantities of pressurized fluid, gas, sand,… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Whitehouse Statement on Military Strikes in Syria
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Trump's authorization of military strikes in Syria Thursday night: "We have witnessed yet another atrocious act by the Assad regime against its own people, and we are called to conscience. Last night's military action in Syria met my standards for responding to atrocity: a limited action; with a clear objective; that is not the beginning of American 'boots on the ground' military operations." … Continue Reading
04.06.17
Whitehouse and Cicilline Introduce Bill to End Tax Incentive for Offshoring Jobs
Washington, DC - Today Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced a bill to keep jobs in America. Their Offshoring Prevention Act would eliminate a tax break for companies that send jobs overseas, level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers, and reduce the budget deficit by billions of dollars. "Companies shouldn't receive a tax benefit for sending jobs overseas and putting Rhode Island manufacturers at a disadvantage," said Whitehouse, who first int… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Whitehouse Statement on Republicans’ Use of ‘Nuclear Option’
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Senate Republicans' decision to change longstanding Senate rules to pave the way for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch: "The President set the Senate on this unfortunate path when he selected a Supreme Court nominee off a list put together by conservative special-interest front groups, instead of a bipartisan nominee in line with the beliefs o… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Whitehouse Bill Would Deliver $170 Million to Repair Bridges, Create Jobs in RI
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Angus King (I-ME) in introducing legislation that would deliver up to $170 million to repair Rhode Island's crumbling bridges and create construction jobs. The Strengthen and Fortify Existing Bridges Act (SAFE Bridges) would establish a program to provide funding specifically dedicated to repairing and replacing the more than 56,000 bridges across the country… Continue Reading
04.05.17
Bipartisan Save Our Seas Act Advances from Commerce Committee
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) thanked the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today for unanimously passing their bipartisan Save Our Seas Act, which would help address the global marine debris crisis affecting coastal ecosystems and communities in Rhode Island and across the country. Upon approval of the bill in the Commerce Committee, Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse sat down to discuss the ramifications of ocean debris for Rhod… Continue Reading
04.05.17
Whitehouse, Doggett Introduce Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, introduced legislation to limit the ways corporations can game our tax system by moving jobs and assets abroad. The bill would close a number of tax loopholes, eliminate incentives for U.S. companies to move assets and operations offshore, and make it harder for companies to shirk their tax bill… Continue Reading
04.04.17
On Equal Pay Day, Murray, Reed, & Whitehouse Introduce Paycheck Fairness Act of 2017
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to protect Americans from wage discrimination and eliminate the gender gap in U.S. workers' pay, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act. This legislation would help strengthen federal pay equity laws and ensure equal pay for equal work. Today is the national observance of Equal Pay Day - the point in the year when an average American woman would have… Continue Reading
04.03.17
Whitehouse Votes ‘No’ on Gorsuch, Urges Consensus Supreme Court Nominee
Washington, DC - Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) voted against reporting to the full Senate the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and called on the President and Senate Republicans to find a nominee who can win broad, bipartisan support. The Committee voted 11-9, along party lines, to advance Gorsuch's nomination. Whitehouse also implored the Majority to avoid changing long-standing Senate rules to confirm such a controversial nomi… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Senator Whitehouse Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
Washington, DC - As the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to vote on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch on Monday, Judiciary Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) delivers the Weekly Democratic Address on what we have learned about Gorsuch - and what we have not. Whitehouse discusses the effect of unlimited, secret political spending-or "dark money"-on our political system since the 2010 Citizens United decision, and how this dark money has propped up Gorsu… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Reed, Whitehouse Seek to Rescind President Trump’s Anti-Climate Executive Order
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to mitigate potentially devastating effects of climate change, preserve clean energy jobs, reduce pollution, and decrease dependence on foreign energy sources, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined with Michael Bennet (D-CO) and more than 30 of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to rescind President Trump's executive order to dismantle the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and reverse several landmark U.S. initiatives to reduc… Continue Reading
03.31.17
As Health Care Debate Shifts, Senators Reed and Whitehouse Join New Effort to Bring Down Prescription Drug Prices
Washington, DC - In the wake of Congressional Republicans' failed attempt to rip health coverage away from millions of Americans, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined Al Franken (D-Minn.) and a key group of Senate Democrats to launch a major push to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by bringing down the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs. "Prescription drug costs are out of control," said Senator Reed. "Too many Rhode Islanders tell me they can't a… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Whitehouse, Feinstein, Durbin, Franken, Blumenthal, Hirono Call on Gorsuch and Dark Money Group to Disclose Secretive Backers
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) wrote to Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and the dark money group backing his nomination, the Judicial Crisis Network, calling on them to reveal who has spent $17 million on Gorsuch's nomination fight. The Senators want answers before Gorsuch's confirmation vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. "Because t… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Senators Form Bipartisan Alliance to Address Marine Debris Crisis
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have introduced the bipartisan Save our Seas (SOS) Act to help address the marine debris epidemic affecting America's ocean shorelines and inland waterways, as well as other coasts across the globe. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) also co-sponsored the bill. "Stopping the flow of plastic garbage that fills our oce… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Whitehouse Calls on Trump, Congress to Support $1 Trillion Investment That Would Boost Infrastructure, Create Jobs in RI
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today took to the Senate floor to call on the Trump administration and Congress to support Senate Democrats' $1 trillion infrastructure blueprint, which would rebuild and reinforce infrastructure while creating jobs in Rhode Island and across the country. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of deficient bridges of any state, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. "Let's get to work," said Whitehouse. "President Trump has s… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Whitehouse Statement on Trump Climate Executive Order
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety and Co-Chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, released the following statement on President Trump's executive order to begin dismantling the Clean Power Plan and other climate protections: "Just a few years ago, Donald Trump and his children supported 'meaningful and effective measures' to fight climate change, calling it 'scie… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Whitehouse Vows to Protect National Service from Trump Cuts
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today committed to fighting to protect National Service programs that are making a difference in Rhode Island. President Trump's budget proposal released earlier this month would eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which provides funding for AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs in Rhode Island and across the country. "Every day, thousands of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members head to work in classrooms and commu… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Whitehouse Delivers Meal to Warwick Senior, Pledges Support for Meals on Wheels
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today delivered a meal to Becky Yates, a Warwick senior citizen, as part of Meals on Wheels' March for Meals campaign. March for Meals is a month-long national effort to raise awareness for senior hunger and the benefit of programs like Meals on Wheels. "After visiting with Becky today, I was reminded once again of the incredible difference Meals on Wheels makes here in Rhode Island by providing homebound seniors with nutritious meals and a conn… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Senators Turn to Icahn to Explain Role in Administration
Washington, D.C. - Today, after several ignored requests for information, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) asked investor and special advisor to the President Carl Icahn directly to explain what he is doing in the Trump Administration. Senators have repeatedly asked top Administration officials to explain the billionaire investor's role as a "special advi… Continue Reading
03.24.17
Whitehouse Statement on Trumpcare Failure
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement on Speaker Paul Ryan's decision today to withdraw from consideration the American Health Care Act, House Republicans' bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: "Trumpcare was such a mess even Republicans couldn't support it. Now we can move on. I hope to work with my colleagues - Democrats and Republicans alike - on ways we can strengthen and improve our health care system." ###… Continue Reading
