Press Releases
RI to Receive Over $1 Million to Support the Arts & Expand Cultural Education Opportunities
PROVIDENCE - In an effort to support community arts programs and enhance the state's creative and cultural assets, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the City of Providence, FirstWorks, Community Musicworks, WaterFire, RiverzEdge, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum, and Island Moving Company will share $1,084,500 in federal grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These federal grants will help s… Continue Reading
05.06.16
Whitehouse Releases Statement on Administration’s Incorporation Transparency and Anti-Corruption Measures
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement on efforts announced by President Obama to promote financial transparency and clamp down on tax evasion and other criminal activities: "The Panama Papers show the United States has become a top destination for criminals looking to hide illicit assets and dodge taxes. I'm glad to see the Obama Administration begin to give law enforcement access to the real owners of shell corporations. As the Senate sponsor of … Continue Reading
05.06.16
RI Health Centers Receive Nearly $3 Million to Expand Services
PROVIDENCE, RI - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that three Rhode Island health centers will receive $2,988,180 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for facility renovation and expansion, increasing access to health care for a projected 11,250 additional patients. Comprehensive Community Action in Cranston and Blackstone Valley Community Health Care in Pawtucket will receive $1 million each and the Providence Community Health Centers in Providence w… Continue Reading
05.05.16
Whitehouse Cheers CFPB Proposed Ban of Class Action Waivers
Washington, DC - Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule banning class action waivers in financial services contracts, which are clauses that force consumers of financial products-including credit cards, bank accounts, and private student loans-to use binding arbitration to settle disputes, effectively barring access to courts. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who supported the legislation that created the CFPB, applauded the new rule: "Class action waivers and forced … Continue Reading
04.29.16
Reed, Whitehouse Urge Department of Education to Give Protection and Relief to Student Borrowers Who Fall Victim to Unlawful and Unfair Practices in Higher Education
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined with 28 Senate Democrats to write to Secretary of Education Dr. John King urging him to create strong protections and a streamlined path to debt relief for student loan borrowers in the Department's forthcoming "borrower defense" rule. The letter reinforces the need to ban mandatory arbitration-which limits students' legal rights-in school enrollment agreements, and to provide debt relief for students who are victims of … Continue Reading
04.29.16
Whitehouse Issues Statement on President’s Gun Violence Executive Actions
Providence, RI - Today, President Obama announced executive actions to promote gun safety technology, track the mental health of prospective gun buyers, and engage with state and local leaders to promote gun safety and violence prevention. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, released the following statement on the announcement: "I applaud the President for continuing to take the sensible steps he can to address the epidemic of… Continue Reading
04.29.16
Whitehouse Highlights Bill to Close Corporate Loopholes Exposed by Panama Papers
Scituate, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local law enforcement officials and members of the legal community at the headquarters of the Rhode Island State Police to highlight his legislation that would make it more difficult for criminals to hide assets from tax authorities and law enforcement, addressing corporate transparency loopholes exposed in the recent Panama Papers leak. "The Panama Papers show that a criminal no longer needs a Swiss bank account or to book a trip… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act Expands Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - The bipartisan authors of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123) today announced revisions to the legislation to broaden bipartisan support for criminal justice reform. The bill is led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, and Senators Mike Lee and Sheldon Whitehouse. The revised bill is now cosponsored by a bipartisan grou… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Committee Clears Water Resources Bill with Rhode Island Priorities
Washington, D.C. - Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, which includes provisions that will promote improvements to our drinking water infrastructure and support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Rhode Island championed by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The bill now moves to the full Senate. Whitehouse is a member of EPW and helped draft the bill in Committee. He also joined Senator Jack Reed in making … Continue Reading
04.27.16
Following Panama Papers Release, Whitehouse Urges Action on the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act
Washington, DC - With the Panama Papers showing the United States to be an increasingly attractive place to form shell corporations, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse delivered remarks on the Senate floor today calling on his colleagues to support and pass the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act-Whitehouse's legislation to track the true owners of American shell corporations, which can be used for money laundering, financial fraud, and terrorist financing. A transcript of the… Continue Reading
04.25.16
Delegation Announces $100,000 to Help Young Ex-Offenders in Providence Find Housing, Work
Washington, D.C. - Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program (JRAP) to help the Providence Housing Authority pave the way for young people with criminal or juvenile records to find jobs, affordable housing, and educational opportunities. "By ensuring young people who've paid their debt to society… Continue Reading
04.25.16
Reed, Whitehouse Join Fellow Senate Democrats Urging Secretary of Education to Hold College Accreditors Accountable, Protect Taxpayers, and Give All Students a Fair Shot At a Quality Education
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to protect student borrowers from abusive financial practices by for-profit colleges, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined with 22 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Education John King to ensure that college accreditors -- the gatekeepers to the $150 billion dollars in federal financial aid revenue that flows to colleges and universities each year -- are held accountable. The letter was sent in… Continue Reading
04.21.16
Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Energy Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety held a hearing on advanced nuclear reactors and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) bipartisan Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) today. Whitehouse introduced NEIMA last week with Senators James Inhofe (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Mike Crapo (R-ID). The bill would overhaul licensing of advanced reactors, which have the potential to produce reliable, emission-free ener… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Whitehouse Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision in Favor of Victims of Iran-Sponsored Terrorism
Washington, DC - Today, the Supreme Court issued a decision in favor of the victims of Iran-sponsored terrorist attacks - including the families of nine Rhode Islanders who perished in the bombing of a Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 - in an appeal by Iran's central bank challenging monetary judgments the victims had won in federal court. The Court's 6-2 decision clears the way for victims to collect roughly $2 billion from the Iranian bank. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who filed a "… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senate Passes Bipartisan Energy Bill Containing Whitehouse Priorities
Washington, DC - Today the Senate passed the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which includes Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) bipartisan legislation to promote the development of advanced nuclear reactor technology and an amendment Whitehouse supported to promote carbon capture technology. The bill was sponsored by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). "We need to chart a new course for… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senate Democrats Introduce “True LEADership Act” to Remove Lead from Pipes and Invest More in America’s Crumbling Water Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), today introduced the Testing, Removal and Updated Evaluations of Lead Everywhere in America for Dramatic Enhancements that Restore Safety to Homes, Infrastructure and Pipes Act of 2016, or True LEADership Act (S.2821), a comprehensive plan that recommits the federal government to a critical role in water infrastructure investment, lead remediation and the strong drinking water protections provided by the Environmental Protect… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senate Democrats Host Roundtable Discussion with Leading Oceans Experts
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senate Democrats convened a group of leading oceans experts at the U.S. Capitol today for a roundtable discussion on some of the major challenges facing our oceans and coasts-such as sea level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather linked to climate change-as well as the need for increased investments in coastal resiliency and ocean exploration and research. Whitehouse, a co-Chair and co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus, and Sen… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Federal Delegation Announces Museum & Library Awards in RI
Providence, RI - Rhode Island's federal delegation today announced the Tomaquag Museum has been awarded a prestigious 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Science by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The delegation also announced today that the Providence Public Library has been awarded a $530,000 matching grant from the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries program to develop and implement LibraryU, a teen workforce development program model. "I commend Tomaq… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senate Passes Whitehouse Drones Bill as Part of FAA Reauthorization
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's Drone Operator Safety Act passed the Senate today as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. Whitehouse's legislation would make it a criminal offense to interfere with the operation of a manned aircraft using a drone and would prohibit flying a drone near active runways. Violators would be subject to a fine, prison time, or both. "I'm glad the Senate has passed the Drone Operator Safety Act," said Whitehouse. "Most… Continue Reading
04.18.16
Ayotte, Murray, Whitehouse, Franken: Report Shows Need for Trained Forensic Examiners for Survivors of Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON, D.C. - US Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Al Franken (D-MN) today responded to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report they requested that details several concerning issues related to the availability of trained sexual assault forensic examiners to sexual assault survivors. The report found that while data on the number of examiners nationwide and in states is limited, the number of trained examiners does not meet the need for… Continue Reading
