Press Releases
Senate Passes Legislation to Combat Pirate Fishing
Washington, DC - Last night the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015. The bill, which implements the policies of a treaty that was first approved by the Senate last year, increases enforcement capabilities for a number of international fishery agreements that combat IUU (or pirate) fishing, to protect fisheries across the entire United States. It was supported by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and his fellow co-ch… Continue Reading
10.19.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on New Corporate Climate Commitments
Washington, DC - Today, the White House announced that more American companies are signing on to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, bringing the total number of committed companies to 81. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who has long encouraged stronger political engagement on climate change by corporations, released the statement below regarding the announcement: "While I appreciate these efforts from corporate America for a good outcome in Paris and to reduce their own carbo… Continue Reading
10.15.15
Sens. Reed and Whitehouse Call on Social Security to Recommend Changes to COLA Calculation
Providence, RI - Following an announcement today that Social Security recipients throughout the country will not receive a benefit increase in the coming year, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are asking the Social Security Administration for a formal review of the calculation used to determine annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). "As you know, the Social Security Administration (SSA) today announced there will be no increase in benefits in 2016, the third tim… Continue Reading
10.14.15
Sen. Whitehouse and Hasbro Celebrate Progress on Toxic Chemicals Law
Providence, RI - As the Senate nears consideration of a major reform to the law intended to protect consumers from toxic chemicals in everyday products, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today held a press conference with local stakeholders to provide an update. The event was held at Hasbro, Inc., in Providence, which has long called for improvements to the law. Whitehouse joined Hasbro, Inc. Chairman, President & CEO Brian Goldner to celebrate recent progress and discuss how this new… Continue Reading
10.13.15
Whitehouse Statement on Bugat Botnet Takedown
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice of the arrest of the administrator of the "Bugat" botnet and technical disruption of the malware: "I congratulate the Department of Justice, the FBI, and their partners on the arrest of botnet administrator Andrey Ghinkul and the disruption of the Bugat botnet. Advanced botnets like Bugat, which was designed to steal online banking credentials an… Continue Reading
10.06.15
Sens. Whitehouse and Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Transparency and Performance of Health IT Systems
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen accountability and improve transparency in health information technology (IT) systems. The Transparent Ratings on Usability and Security to Transform Information Technology (TRUST IT) Act of 2015 would help ensure that certified health IT systems are performing as promised in the field, and establish a rating system that will enable consumers to compare differen… Continue Reading
10.01.15
Whitehouse and Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Landmark Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015
Washington, DC - A bipartisan group of Senators, including Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), today is introducing comprehensive legislation aimed at recalibrating prison sentences for certain drug offenders, targeting violent criminals, and granting judges greater discretion at sentencing for lower-level drug crimes. The package also seeks to curb recidivism by helping prisoners successfully re-enter society-provisions that Whitehouse authored with Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas). The Sentencing Reform… Continue Reading
09.30.15
Thousands of Rhode Island Seniors Save Over $50 Million from Health Care Law’s “Doughnut Hole” Fix Since 2010
Washington, D.C. - Thousands of Rhode Island seniors have saved over $50 million since 2010 on prescription drugs because of the Affordable Care Act, according to federal data released last week. This year, more than 7,200 Rhode Islanders on Medicare saved over $5.8 million on their prescriptions through July, for an average savings of $814 per patient. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, thousands of Rhode Island seniors fell into the coverage gap known as the "doughnut ho… Continue Reading
09.28.15
Whitehouse & Rhode Island Business Leaders Discuss Need to Pass Highway Funding Bill
Providence, RI - With federal road and bridge funding set to expire at the end of October, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce hosted U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Rhode Island business leaders for a roundtable discussion today on the need to pass a long-term highway funding bill. "The message today from the U.S. Chamber and these Rhode Island businesses was clear: we need to fix our roads and bridges. I couldn't agree more," said Whitehouse, who pl… Continue Reading
09.25.15
Whitehouse Statement on US-China Cyber Agreements
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the cyber agreements announced today between the U.S. and China: "For far too long, China has stolen from American businesses and given our trade secrets to its own companies. Today's agreement, that 'neither country's government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property,' could prove to be a first step toward ending this practice and protecting American individua… Continue Reading
09.25.15
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Week
Providence, RI - Last night, the Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating the week of September 19 through September 26, 2015 as National Estuaries Week. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, recognizes the importance of coastal and estuarine regions to our national economy. It also reaffirms the Senate's continued support for protecting and restoring these vital resources. Estuarine regions of the United States contribute a great deal to the eco… Continue Reading
09.25.15
Senators to Obama: Just Say No to Arctic Oil Drilling
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Gary Peters (D-MI), today sent a letter urging the Obama Administration not to approve oil drilling off the coast of Alaska. Just two months after the Administration allowed Shell to drill two exploratory wells in Alaska's … Continue Reading
09.24.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Pope’s Address to Congress
Washington, DC - Today Pope Francis delivered an address to a joint session of Congress - the first Pope in history to do so. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) attended the address and released the following statement: "From combating climate change to rooting out economic and social injustice, Pope Francis today called on all of us to address the major issues facing our 'common home.' In giving voice to the moral urgency of caring for God's creation, His Holiness cut through the barrica… Continue Reading
09.18.15
Senators ask U.S. Chamber of Commerce board member companies about the Chamber's Climate Denial Efforts
Washington, DC - Today, United States Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Al Franken (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ed Markey (D-MA) sent letters to the CEOs of all 108 member companies of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors asking about their positions on the Chamber's efforts to undermine the Obama… Continue Reading
09.18.15
Reed & Whitehouse Want RI Voices Heard on Marine Monuments
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) say that creating a new, federally protected marine reserve in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island and southern New England presents a real opportunity, but they are urging the Obama administration to be transparent about the process and provide far more details about the proposed reserve's boundaries. After the White House signaled its intention to designate a vast area of the Atlantic Ocean off the co… Continue Reading
09.17.15
RI Delegation Announces $194,800 NOAA Grant to Remove Marine Debris from the Upper Narragansett Bay
Providence, RI - Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced a $194,800 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Middletown-based nonprofit Clean The Bay, Inc. to remove marine debris from the Seekonk and Providence rivers and Upper Narragansett Bay. For over 100 years, the Providence and Seekonk rivers and portions of the Upper Narragansett Bay have been dirtied by broken and abandoned piling… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Sen. Whitehouse Introduces Bill to Support RI Credit Unions and Boost Small Business Lending
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined forces with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to introduce the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act. This bipartisan legislation, which seeks to cut through red tape and encourage small business growth, would increase an arbitrary federal cap on credit union lending that has restricted lending to small businesses in recent years. The change is supported by the Credit Unions of Rhode Island, several of members of which met with Whiteho… Continue Reading
09.10.15
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Protect Oceans & Coastal Communities
Washington, DC - In the face of threats like stronger storms and rising sea levels, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today introduced legislation to provide a reliable stream of funding to help protect our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The National Oceans and Coastal Security Act would establish a Fund to support work that helps Americans understand and adapt to forces like sea level rise, severe storms, and ocean acidification, which threaten lives and economic prosperity in coastal communit… Continue Reading
09.08.15
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Nomination of Mary McElroy to the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today commended President Obama for nominating Rhode Island Public Defender Mary McElroy to the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island. Following an open and in-depth selection process, which included extensive interviews and careful deliberation, the Senators recommended Ms. McElroy's nomination to the President in July. "Mary McElroy is eminently qualified and will make an outstanding federal judge. She is a dedicated public serv… Continue Reading
08.19.15
RI Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $600K in Funds for Central Falls and Portsmouth Fire Departments
Providence, RI - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline announced new federal funding for the Central Falls Fire Department to hire new firefighters, and for both Central Falls and Portsmouth to purchase equipment. The funding is made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) program. The Central Falls Fire De… Continue Reading
