Press Releases
Sens. Whitehouse, Cornyn Introduce Prison Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today announced their plans to introduce the Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers in Our National System (CORRECTIONS) Act. The bill, which would improve public safety and save taxpayer money by requiring lower-risk prisoners to participate in recidivism reduction programs to earn up to 25 percent of their sentence in prerelease custody, is based off reform efforts in both … Continue Reading
02.05.15
Whitehouse to Attend the Munich Security Conference with John McCain
Washington, DC - This weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will lead a bipartisan delegation of Members of Congress at the annual Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany. Whitehouse and McCain have traveled together regularly in recent years, including to last year's Munich Security Conference. While at the conference, Whitehouse is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion entitled "Are We Losing the War on Terror?" The discussion wi… Continue Reading
02.04.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on FCC Net Neutrality Proposal
Washington, DC - Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced new proposed rules to preserve a free and open internet by reclassifying internet service providers as a public utility. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who signed a letter to the FCC last year urging it to adopt such changes, released the statement below regarding the proposal: "The rules proposed today by the FCC will help ensure the preservation of a free and open internet that functions equally for all u… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds EPA Comments on Keystone XL
Washington, DC - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released formal comments to the State Department regarding its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) on the Keystone XL pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline project, released the statement below regarding EPA's comments: "EPA's comments reaffirm the State Department's finding that: the additional carbon pollution from the Keystone XL pipeline would be equival… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on President’s Budget
Washington, DC - Today President Obama released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2016. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the statement below applauding the President's proposal: "The President's budget would take significant steps toward a fairer tax system while also making major investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure. This is particularly important in Rhode Island, where we have some of the oldest roads and bridge… Continue Reading
01.30.15
Sen. Whitehouse Urges Obama to Qualify Millions for Overtime Time
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is joining a group of lawmakers calling on President Barack Obama to boost wages for millions of salaried workers by setting a new income limit for overtime pay. In a letter sent this week to the President, Whitehouse and other Senators contend that overtime protections should be expanded to cover all workers who make up to $1,090 per week ($56,680 per year) and indexed to inflation. "Current regulations fail to protect the majority of the workf… Continue Reading
01.29.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Keystone Vote
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline who voted no on the bill, released the statement below regarding the vote: "Now that we have burned through three weeks of the Senate's time, Senate Republicans have succeeded in passing their first piece of legislation: a gift for Big Oil that the President has already said he will veto. I'm glad the President will … Continue Reading
01.28.15
Senate Republicans Vote to Protect Secret Spending by Big Oil
Washington, DC - As the Senate continues into its fourth week of debate on the Keystone XL pipeline legislation, Senators today voted on an amendment by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to shine a light on the special interest money that is influencing the debate. Whitehouse's amendment would have required companies or individuals who hold leases or stand to make more than $1 million from tar sands development - such as the Koch brothers - to disclose their political spending. Republican Senator… Continue Reading
01.27.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Offshore Oil Drilling Expansion
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced a proposal to allow offshore oil and gas drilling on the East Coast from Virginia to Georgia. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the announcement: "I'm disappointed that the Administration is proposing to allow offshore oil and gas drilling on the East Coast. Our coastal economies, from fishing to tourism to recreation, rely on clean and safe beaches and vibrant ocean habitats. Offshore drill… Continue Reading
01.26.15
New Obama Administration Goals for Medicare Mirror Sen. Whitehouse Recommendations
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced that it is setting clear goals and a specific timeline for reforming the way doctors and hospitals are reimbursed when treating Medicare patients. The goals announced today come after U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been urging the Administration for years to set clear targets for health care delivery system reforms, arguing as early as 2011 that, "we can and must have a clear challenge to strive toward." In 2013 Whitehouse c… Continue Reading
01.26.15
With Winter Storm Juno Approaching, Delegation Requests Federal Emergency Declaration for RI
PROVIDENCE, RI - With Winter Storm Juno approaching and threatening to blast New England with high winds and a significant amount of snow, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are urging President Obama to make federal assistance available to Rhode Island, if requested, to support emergency operations and recovery due to the blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the entire state of … Continue Reading
01.23.15
Senate Republicans Shut Down Debate on Disclosure Provision that would Affect Koch Bros.; Leave Town for Koch Forum
Washington, DC - Last night, after promising an open amendment process on the Keystone XL pipeline bill, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shut down debate and moved to table a number of Democratic amendments. Among the tabled amendments was a provision by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would have required companies or individuals who hold leases or stand to make more than $1 million from tar sands development -- such as the Koch Brothers -- to disclose their political spending. After deb… Continue Reading
01.22.15
Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Neal Introduce Retirement Savings Bill
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) introduced legislation today that would dramatically enhance the retirement security of millions of Americans. According to most financial planners, the United States is at the precipice of an impending retirement crisis. Many Americans are simply not saving enough to be financially secure in retirement. It is estimated that 75 million workers have no employer-provided retirement plan or other opportunity t… Continue Reading
01.21.15
Senators Reintroduce DISCLOSE Act on Anniversary of Citizens United Decision
Washington, DC - Five years ago today, the Supreme Court issued its disastrous Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates for unlimited, secret spending in American elections. Today, to mark this anniversary, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) reintroduced the DISCLOSE Act, legislation that would crack down on so-called "dark money" by requiring organizations that spend money to influence elections to disclose their spending as well as their major sources of funding in a timely m… Continue Reading
01.21.15
Whitehouse Puts Republicans on Record about Climate Change for First Time Since Citizens United Decision
Washington, DC - Today, after years of ducking questions about climate change, Republican Senators were put on record about whether they believe climate change is real. The U.S. Senate voted on a resolution offered by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) as an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill, which stated simply: Climate change is real and not a hoax. The resolution was approved by a vote of 98-1. Today's vote marked the first time that Senate Republicans have gone on record about the re… Continue Reading
01.20.15
Sen. Whitehouse Reaction to State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below reacting to President Obama's State of the Union Address: "The proposals outlined by the President tonight would be a big help to families in the Ocean State. I'm fighting to make sure our improving economy benefits hard-working Rhode Islanders, not just billionaires and big corporations. From asking wealthy investors to pay a fair share in taxes, to investing in the middle class by making college more afford… Continue Reading
01.20.15
Whitehouse Meets with Cuban Cardinal
Washington, DC - During his visit to Cuba this past weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) met with Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana, and thanked him for the pivotal role he played in the recent agreement to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba and free an imprisoned American aid worker. Whitehouse was visiting as part of the first Congressional Delegation to travel to Cuba since the Obama Administration announced the historic U.S.-Cuba agreement in De… Continue Reading
01.15.15
Sen. Whitehouse to Bring Elizabeth Roberts to State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that his guest for President Obama's State of the Union address will be Elizabeth Roberts, the current nominee for Secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services and former Lieutenant Governor, who has been a leading voice on health care reform in Rhode Island. Roberts will travel to Washington, DC for the address and will have a seat in the visitor's gallery in the House Chamber. "Rhode Islan… Continue Reading
01.15.15
Whitehouse and Manchin Urge DOE and EPA to Support Carbon Capture Efforts
Washington, DC - Last year, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) pledged to work together to find common ground on energy and environmental issues. Today, building on that pledge, the Senators are urging the Obama Administration to support carbon capture and utilization (CCU) efforts. "As Senators from different states, we don't always agree," the Senators wrote in a letter to Ernest Moniz, Secretary of the Department of Energy, and Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the… Continue Reading
01.14.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Administration’s Methane Emissions Plan
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced a series of steps to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the announcement: "The plan announced by the Administration today is an important step forward in reducing methane pollution, a potent greenhouse gas that harms public health and contributes to climate change, from its most significant industrial source - the oil and gas sector. I comm… Continue Reading
