Press Releases
Whitehouse, Isakson Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing ‘National Mentoring Month’
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution recognizing January 2019 as "National Mentoring Month" to raise awareness of the power of mentors to help young people determine their goals and reach their full potential. "Mentors are a vital presence in the lives of many young people. They set an important example, pass down wisdom and knowledge, and serve as steady, caring friends. I am proud to join Senator I… Continue Reading
01.16.19
Whitehouse Statement on Wheeler Confirmation Hearing
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the confirmation hearing today of nominee for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler: "Andrew Wheeler has had his thumb, wrist, forearm, and elbow on the scale in favor of polluters - like the coal barons he lobbied for not long ago. Indeed, over and over again today he played fast and loose with facts to greenwash r… Continue Reading
01.16.19
Whitehouse Lauds SCOTUS Decision Upholding Americans’ Right to Their Day in Court
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira to uphold Americans' constitutional right to a civil jury. Whitehouse filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case arguing for this outcome. "The Founding Fathers believed firmly in protecting Americans' right to a civil jury, which is why they enshrined that right three times in our Const… Continue Reading
01.14.19
Whitehouse Releases Key Lines of Questioning for Barr
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released today a letter he hand-delivered to attorney general nominee William Barr at their meeting Thursday, which contains detailed questions he may pose during Barr's nomination hearing tomorrow. Whitehouse's lines of questioning cover (1) Barr's contacts with the Trump administration about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation; (2) whether Barr would be prepared to enter an agreement to … Continue Reading
01.14.19
Congressional Delegation Joins Unpaid Federal Employees to Call for End to Trump Shutdown
Warwick, RI - U.S. Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline and U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined federal employees at T.F. Green Airport today to call on President Trump to immediately reopen the federal government. Since the shutdown began 24 days ago, an estimated 800,000 federal workers - including hundreds of TSA agents and air traffic controllers at T.F. Green - have either been furloughed or required to work without a paycheck. "We rely on TSA agents and air traff… Continue Reading
01.11.19
On Eve of Barr Hearings, Senate Democrats Call for Comprehensive Review of Justice Department Ethics Rules
Washington, DC - Senate Judiciary Committee members are calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General to perform a complete review of its ethics processes and procedures following revelations of disregard for vital ethics rules by Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. Department ethics review is about to be tested again as attorney general nominee William Barr comes before the Senate, the senators add. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is leading the request, and is joined b… Continue Reading
01.11.19
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, and Hirono Oppose DOJ Motion to Delay Court Action in their Lawsuit Against Acting Attorney General Whitaker due to the Government Shutdown
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) filed a brief opposing the Trump Administration's attempt to delay the lawsuit the Senators brought challenging the unconstitutional appointment of Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General. The Administration filed a motion asking the Court to stay the case in light of the ongoing government shutdown. In their brief opposing that motion, the Senators told the Court that "The adm… Continue Reading
01.11.19
Reed, Whitehouse Offer Prescription for Lower Rx Drug Prices for Seniors
Washington, DC - In an effort to protect consumers and get seniors a better deal on prescription drug costs, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined with Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to lower prescription drug prices. Reed and Whitehouse unveiled a trio of bills this week that would make expensive prescription medications more affordable for Rhode Island families. The Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act would allow Medicare … Continue Reading
01.10.19
Senators Press Wheeler on Questionable Payment to Pruitt Legal Defense Fund
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler today to press for details on a sizable payment from a Wisconsin billionaire to former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's legal defense fund. The $50,000 payment made by Diane Hendricks, owner of a major Wisconsin-based conglomerate, to Pruitt's fund would need to have cleared EPA ethics review. Al… Continue Reading
01.09.19
Whitehouse, Blunt Introduce Bipartisan Budget Reform Bill
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced bipartisan legislation today to reform the congressional budget process, to encourage working across the aisle, and to create a path to sustainable debt levels. The bill continues the work the two senators did on the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform last Congress. "It was an honor to work with members of both chambers from both parties toward long-overdue budget reform. Now, I… Continue Reading
01.08.19
Whitehouse Statement on President Trump’s Immigration Address
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this evening released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's address to the nation: "This President does not have a lot of credibility when it comes to identifying crises. The most pressing crisis facing America tonight is that of the many hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are trying to figure out how they're going to pay for food, rent, and health care. The top priority of President Trump and Leader McConnell n… Continue Reading
01.03.19
Whitehouse Sworn In for Third Term in U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - As the 116th Congress gaveled into session today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was sworn in for a third term representing the people of Rhode Island in the United States Senate. "It is an honor to serve as a voice for Rhode Islanders in the Senate," said Whitehouse. "I'm going to keep working hard to build on the progress we've made improving health care and investing in the Ocean State. With a Democratic House, the new Congress promises much-needed oversight, and opportuniti… Continue Reading
12.29.18
Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Bishop Mulvee
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today released the following statement on the passing of former Providence Bishop Robert Mulvee: "Bishop Mulvee was quite involved in community policing issues during my years in law enforcement, and we came to know and trust each other. He was always a wise, patient and kindly voice, and in all our personal dealings he was warm, honorable and sincere. I am saddened by his passing." ###… Continue Reading
12.21.18
Whitehouse Statement on Partial Government Shutdown
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement on the looming shutdown of parts of the federal government following President Donald Trump's rejection of the stopgap spending bill passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate: "The American people want leaders to do their jobs and govern with a steady hand. But President Trump has upended the agreement he reached with his own party, threatening the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of Americans less tha… Continue Reading
12.21.18
Milestone Whitehouse Bills to Overhaul Criminal Justice and Juvenile Justice Systems Become Law
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today attended a ceremony at the White House for the signing of two landmark bills to improve the federal criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. Whitehouse has worked for years on the First Step Act and the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act, which both passed Congress in recent days with significant bipartisan support. "Rhode Island's success improving outcomes for youth offenders and adults in the crimina… Continue Reading
12.21.18
Whitehouse Attends Signing of Landmark Criminal Justice Reform Bill
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senate Judiciary Committee member and long-time criminal justice reform champion, attended the signing at the White House today of the First Step Act to improve the federal criminal justice system. Whitehouse's landmark criminal justice reform bill is now law. "Years of bipartisan work, and the contributions of countless Americans fighting to reform our criminal justice system, brought us to this moment. I am proud to be part of it," said Wh… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Whitehouse Statement on Resignation of Defense Secretary Mattis
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement on the announcement of the resignation of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis: "As Trump drives away the grownups in the room, there is cause for genuine concern. I thank and honor Secretary Mattis for a lifetime of service. We should mark his closing words about respect for allies, clear-eyed awareness about adversaries and competitors, and the value of an international order that supports our security, prospe… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Senate Passes Whitehouse, Alexander, Murray, Gardner Bill That Allows Families to Answer 22 FAFSA Questions With Just One Click
Washington, DC - The United States Senate last night passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) that will allow the nearly 20 million students that complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to answer at least 11 and up to 22 questions on the form with just one click. The bill will allow student… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Whitehouse, Portman, Udall, Burr, and Coons Praise Senate Passage of DELTA Act to Protect the Okavango River Delta
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE) today praised the Senate passage, by unanimous consent, of the Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals (DELTA) Act, legislation that encourages the U.S. to develop a strategy to protect the Okavango River Delta in southern Africa. The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill earlier this year. The legislation will now head to the pre… Continue Reading
12.19.18
Whitehouse Statement on Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on Senate passage tonight of legislation to fund the federal government through February 8 and avert a partial government shutdown: "Democrats gave President Trump not one, but multiple options for funding the government through the entire year. All the Republicans could come up with after pointless brinksmanship is a seven-week plan. But the American people want their government open. We just passed a bill t… Continue Reading
