Press Releases
Whitehouse and Doggett Urge EPA to Strengthen Ozone Smog Standards
Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and 49 Democratic lawmakers today released a bicameral letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly finalize more robust National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant and the main ingredient of smog. “We commend EPA’s commitment to address pollution and its health-related impacts and appreciate the important steps it has ta… Continue Reading
08.09.23
Whitehouse, Union Officials, and Retirees Call for Passage of New Legislation to Buoy Social Security and Medicare
North Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this morning joined labor officials and retirees from Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO and senior advocates to call for passage of Whitehouse’s legislation to protect the solvency of Social Security and Medicare by making the nation’s highest earners contribute a fairer share. AFSCME has endorsed Whitehouse’s legislation, and today̵… Continue Reading
08.08.23
Whitehouse Welcomes New Class of U.S. Naval War College Students
Newport, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today welcomed a new class of more than 500 graduate students to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport. Whitehouse underscored the security risks posed by the climate crisis and kleptocratic threats to the rule of law around the world. “Make no mistake: climate risk is a security risk, and democracy risk is a security risk,” said Whitehouse. “The next generation of military leaders will need… Continue Reading
08.03.23
Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Welcome $1.4M in Federal Support for Local Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help local communities and fire departments improve operations and safety, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced $1,392,552 to help firefighters in Cranston, Lincoln, Newport, Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth and other communities purchase new equipment and support advanced training programs. The federal funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Man… Continue Reading
08.03.23
Reed, Whitehouse, and Magaziner Call for Funding to Prevent Child Care Facility Closures
Providence, RI – This week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI) joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and a bicameral group of colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to support needed funding to prevent a national wave of child care closures. Congress secured historic funding in the American Rescue Plan to stabilize child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that relief funding… Continue Reading
08.01.23
Whitehouse Statement on the Third Indictment of Former President Trump
Providence, RI – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this evening issued the following statement after Donald Trump was indicted in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election: “There are few more serious crimes a president can be charged with than attempting to subvert the will of the American people to stay in power. This proceeding needs to play out peacefully and fairly in the justice system, and I hope our democracy will emerge stronge… Continue Reading
07.28.23
Whitehouse, Tillis Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Foreign Extortion Prevention Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today applauded Senate passage of the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Foreign Extortion Prevent Act would 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 our … Continue Reading
07.28.23
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
