Press Releases
Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Mark Weiner
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today released the following statement on the passing of Mark Weiner, a fixture in Rhode Island politics for decades: "Mark was active in Democratic politics for a generation, and he was a personal friend. It's safe to say he was Rhode Island's biggest Clinton fan, and I know how excited he was to see Hillary accept the Party's nomination at this convention. Sandra and I extend our sincere condolences to Mark's wife Susan and his entire family.… Continue Reading
07.22.16
Whitehouse Applauds Signing of Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Into Law
Washington, DC - Today the President signed into law legislation authored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to give those on the front lines of the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic in America better tools to combat it. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act establishes a range of policies to prevent and treat addiction to opioid drugs, including programs to increase education on drug use, to expand medication-assisted treatment, to improve prescription drug monitoring programs, and to pro… Continue Reading
07.22.16
Senators Hit Back in Letter to Denial Front Groups
Washington, D.C. - Responding to a letter by 22 organizations with strong ties to the Koch network and lengthy records of misleading the public about the scientific consensus surrounding climate change, Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Edward Markey (D-MA) called on the groups to disclose their secret backers and allow for an open dialogue a… Continue Reading
07.20.16
RI Delegation Announces Funding to Support College-Bound Students
Warwick, RI - In an effort to help more Rhode Island students stay in school and overcome barriers to higher education, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced a $476,854 federal Educational Talent Search grant for the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Educational Talent Search is a federally funded program designed to provide personalized services for educational success beyond high school. The program enc… Continue Reading
07.20.16
$300k in Federal Grants to Help RI Firefighters Purchase Needed Equipment
Lincoln, RI - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced over $300,000 in new federal funding for the Lime Rock Fire District, the Albion Fire Department, and the Rhode Island Fire Academy (RIFA) to purchase needed equipment. The funding is made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The Lime Rock Fire District is receiving a federal share of $82,440… Continue Reading
07.15.16
Senators Call Out Web of Denial Blocking Action on Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - Throughout the week on the Senate floor, Senate Democrats called out various trade associations, foundations, and organizations for perpetrating a sprawling web of misdirection and disinformation to block action on climate change. The Senators' remarks detailed the concerted campaign waged by the Koch brothers, major fossil fuel companies, identity-scrubbing groups like Donors Trust and Donors Capital, and their allies to manipulate the public's perception of the climate cris… Continue Reading
07.13.16
Whitehouse, Portman, Klobuchar, Ayotte Cheer Final Passage of Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
Washington, DC - Moments ago, the Senate adopted the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act conference report, giving final approval to legislation that addresses the addiction crisis unfolding throughout the country through new programs to prevent and treat addiction, and support those in recovery. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who authored the Senate version of the bill that passed in March, applauded the chamber's 92-… Continue Reading
07.13.16
RI Nets $17.8M Federal Grant to Help Fund Hiring Of 95 Firefighters
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today joined with Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung to announce $17,776,750 in federal funding to help Providence and Cranston hire and train new firefighters. This direct federal assistance, provided through the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, will help fill a total of 95 firefighter positio… Continue Reading
07.13.16
Whitehouse, Blumenthal Release GAO Report Detailing Federal Highway Administration’s Failure to Address Dangerous Guardrails
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) failure to properly address defective highway guardrails. Whitehouse and Blumenthal requested the report following accounts across the country that "ET-Plus" guardrails fail to absorb impact during a crash-and instead can spear through the vehicle and impale passengers. Approximately … Continue Reading
07.13.16
Whitehouse Introduces Carbon Capture and Utilization Bill
Washington, D.C. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and five Senate colleagues introduced today the Carbon Capture and Utilization Act of 2016 to spur investment in next-generation carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. The bill would provide tax credits for the capture and sequestration of carbon emissions from electricity generation facilities and industrial sources, and for carbon utilization-the conversion of carbon dioxide into useable products and fuels. As the United St… Continue Reading
07.08.16
Whitehouse Praises House Passage of Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act with Langevin, Cicilline Support
Washington, DC - Today, the House approved a House-Senate conference committee's version of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which will address the addiction crisis unfolding throughout the country. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, principal coauthor of the Senate version of the bill that passed in March, applauded the House's vote and praised Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline for supporting the measure. "This opioid crisis reaches into every corner of the nation, inflicting… Continue Reading
07.08.16
Whitehouse Issues Statement on Violence in Dallas, Louisiana, Minnesota
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has issued the following statement on the violence in Dallas, Louisiana, and Minnesota this week. "Law enforcement officers make a solemn choice each day to protect and serve our communities and face down danger in whatever form it takes. The vicious mass murder of officers in Dallas as they went about their duties is heartbreaking and horrifying. I have had the honor to work alongside the brave and selfless public servants in law enforcement, and I… Continue Reading
07.07.16
$1.3 Million in New Funding to Fight Homelessness in Rhode Island
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI), U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced today that the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and Social Finance is receiving nearly $1.3 million in new federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Pay for Success Permanent Supportive Housing Demonstration Program. "This grant will provide critical housing and support services to thousands of hom… Continue Reading
07.05.16
Reed, Whitehouse, Langevin Announce Ocean Observation Funding for URI
Providence, RI - Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin today announced that the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) has been awarded funding from the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to support the GSO's ocean monitoring contributions to the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS). "I commend URI and GSO for winning this federal grant… Continue Reading
07.01.16
RI Delegation Announces $500K for Providence-Cranston Partnership to Reduce Recidivism
Providence, RI - Rhode Island's federal delegation today announced a $499,672 federal grant to support a new partnership between the cities of Providence and Cranston and the correctional system to connect transitioning offenders with services to help them find employment and re-enter the community. "I am pleased that Providence and Cranston are taking the lead and working with the federal government to create new opportunities for people who have served their time and need help getting a new j… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Senators Introduce Legislation to Restore Educational Opportunity for Incarcerated Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act, a bill that would restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals in order to reduce recidivism rates, lower corrections spending, and improve safety. "Giving those in prison the opportunity to earn an education has not only proven to be a successful tool for reducing recidivism and crime, we also know it will save taxpayer money," said Senator Schatz. "The REAL Act will pro… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Congressional Delegation Announces Over $8 Million to Enhance RI Emergency Preparedness
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to ensure that Rhode Island's emergency responders and their federal partners are prepared to react to a range of crises and security challenges - from plane crashes to natural disasters to a mass-shooting - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the state will receive $8,066,145 in federal national preparedness funds. These federal funds, which are awarded by the U.S. Department… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Reed, Whitehouse Join Senators in Urging Senate Leadership to Support Funding for Gun Violence Prevention Research, Remove Anti-Gun Safety Riders from Appropriations Legislation
Washington, DC - As the Senate considers Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations legislation, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 20 other U.S. Senators in urging Senate leadership to remove from appropriations legislation any anti-gun violence prevention research riders, including a rider that is commonly known as the "Dickey amendment." A 1996 Republican appropriations rider authored by former Congressman Jay Dickey (R-AR) prohibits federal funds … Continue Reading
06.28.16
Authors of Bipartisan Senate Addiction Bill Call on Conferees to Adopt Comprehensive Approach
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) sent the letter below to the House and Senate conferees negotiating a joint House-Senate agreement on legislation to address the nation's opioid addiction crisis. The group of Senators worked together closely to craft the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which passed the Senate in March by a vote of 94-1 and is in the process of being merged with House addicti… Continue Reading
06.27.16
Whitehouse Lauds Supreme Court Decision Upholding Women’s Reproductive Rights
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today lauded the Supreme Court's ruling in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, which rejected Texas's efforts to interfere with a woman's constitutionally-protected right to make her own health care decisions. "Today's ruling by the Supreme Court is one of the most important for women's health care since Roe v. Wade," said Whitehouse. "This landmark decision strikes down barriers erected by politicians to block access to safe and legal abortion. As… Continue Reading
