Press Releases
Whitehouse Encourages Rhode Islanders to Apply for Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, D.C. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has launched a process for federal student loan borrowers to be reconsidered for loan forgiveness under a temporary expansion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The $350 million temporary loan forgiveness program was created based on a Whitehouse provision that became law in March. The new law offers an opportunity for student loan relief for eligible Rhode Islanders working … Continue Reading
05.24.18
Senators Ask Rosenstein if Criminal Evidence from Trump-DOJ-FBI Meeting is Being Protected
Washington, DC - In a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein today, Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee ask if the Department of Justice and the FBI are complying with longstanding Department policies and properly handling potential evidence of obstruction of justice stemming from Rosenstein and intelligence officials' meeting with President Donald Trump earlier this week. In a tweet last Sunday, Trump demanded the meeting to examine whether "FBI/DOJ infiltrated or su… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Durbin Introduce Stop Secret Foreign Interference in Elections Act
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced new legislation today to detect and deter foreign nationals and governments' use of dark money organizations to interfere in American elections. The Stop Secret Foreign Interference in Elections Act would shine a light on foreign money flowing into American political organizations and hold campaigns accountable for keeping foreign funds out of their coffers. The bill's introduction… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Whitehouse Reacts to Extension of Comment Period for Rule Favoring Industry-Backed Science
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) responded to an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will extend the comment period and hold a public hearing for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's proposed rule to shrink dramatically the body of scientific knowledge the agency can use in crafting public health and environmental protections. Whitehouse led a group of 20 Senators in requesting the comment period be extended. "An all-out attack on this type of legiti… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Whitehouse, Markey Lead Senators in Urging Action on Key FERC Renewables Rule
Washington, DC - Sixteen Senators, led by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to finish work on a rule to pave the way for Americans to connect their rooftop solar, wind, and energy storage devices to the electrical grid. Allowing these distributed energy resources (DER) better access to America's power distribution system would help to grow a more flexible and resilient grid and lower prices for consumers, the Senato… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Election Spending by Foreign Nationals Using Shell Companies
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Shell Company Abuse Act to impose tough criminal penalties on those who use or help set up shell companies to hide foreign nationals' political activities in the U.S. "Shell companies are a perfect tool for a foreign agent looking to stir trouble in our elections. Not only do they offer total anonymity, they are quick and … Continue Reading
05.23.18
Trump Tax Scam Sends Billions to Oil Companies as Gas Prices Skyrocket
Washington, D.C. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has joined Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), to release a Senate Finance Committee report outlining the massive Trump tax breaks for Big Oil companies, as gas prices rise across the country. Gas prices in Rhode Island have increased by $.59 per gallon, or 25 percent, over the past year under President Trump. "The GOP tax scam was bill… Continue Reading
05.23.18
Whitehouse Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Treatment for Babies Exposed to Opioids
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Dean Heller (D-NV), and Bob Casey (D-PA) to introduce bipartisan legislation to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee that would help newborns suffering from withdrawal recover in the best care setting and provide support for their families. "Earlier this year, I visited Women & Infants Hospital where the… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Senate Water Infrastructure Bill Includes RI Priorities
Washington, D.C. - The Environment and Public Works Committee this morning unanimously voted to clear the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which authorizes important civil works and flood control projects and policies for the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill includes a number of provisions championed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed that will benefit Rhode Island's coastal and water infrastructure, and promote investments in the local economy. Senator Whitehouse is… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Whitehouse Joins Democratic Leaders to Unveil A Better Deal For Our Democracy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) yesterday afternoon joined Senate and House Democrats on the steps of the United States Capitol to unveil the newest plank of their bold economic agenda, A Better Deal for Our Democracy, to fix Washington's broken political system and return to a government of, by and for the American people. The new plank of Democrats' A Better Deal agenda focuses on taking back the power from special interests and getting rid of the pay-to-play culture… Continue Reading
05.21.18
RI Delegation Announces $7.4 Million in Homeland Security Grants for RI
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that the state is scheduled to receive $7,380,473 in federal funding to help emergency responders and their partners prepare for and react to a range of crises and security challenges - including natural disasters. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the state will receive the federal national preparedness funds, which are awarded by … Continue Reading
05.18.18
Reed, Whitehouse Join Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urging Trump Administration To Combat Anti-Semitism, Appoint Special Envoy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have joined Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and a bipartisan group of 39 U.S. Senators urging President Donald Trump to appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. Department of State, a position that has now remained vacant for over 15 months. In a letter to President Trump, the senators emphasized the importance of the United States leading with action to … Continue Reading
05.17.18
Whitehouse Marks National Police Week with Salute to RI Law Enforcement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today marked National Police Week with the following statement honoring the contributions of Rhode Island's law enforcement community, which will appear in the Congressional record: "National Police Week pays special honor to the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of our citizens and communities. I am proud to cosponsor the resolution designating National Police Week as we recog… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Senator Whitehouse Commemorates Heroism of Hmong and Lao Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) honored Lao- and Hmong-American veterans who aided the United States during the Vietnam War at a wreath-laying ceremony before Arlington Cemetery's Lao Veterans Monument today. In remarks, Whitehouse offered a remembrance of the heroism of Hmong and Lao soldiers during the Vietnam War, which claimed tens of thousands of lives in Laos. Whitehouse was joined by several Lao and Hmong veterans and their families, including a large contingent from … Continue Reading
05.15.18
EPW Democrats Request Pruitt Appear before Committee on Ethics and Travel Issues
Washington, DC - Following months of reports of ethical and managerial lapses at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), six members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee released a letter they sent to EPW Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) calling for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to testify before the committee. Pruitt testified recently that profligate spending on luxury travel abroad and to his hometown, pay raises for top Pruitt aides, absenteeism among senior staff, an… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Twenty Senators Urge Extension of Comment Period on Pruitt Rule to Favor Industry-Backed Science
Washington, DC - Twenty Senators are asking Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to extend the deadline for weighing in on a proposed rule that would dramatically shrink the body of scientific knowledge the EPA can use in crafting public health and environmental protections. Pruitt's proposal would apply new "transparency" standards to block medical studies, clinical reports, and other rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific research based on health-related data that cann… Continue Reading
05.14.18
Inspector General Contradicts Pruitt Testimony about Threats
Washington, DC - In a letter sent to Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General called into question EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's testimony during two House hearings on April 26 that threats against him have been "unprecedented in terms of quantity and type." Carper and Whitehouse had written to the Inspector General on May 2 asking for an explanation for whether the EPA's internal watchdog has formally signed … Continue Reading
05.11.18
Whitehouse Bestows Bronze Star on Vietnam Hero
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse conferred a Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" device upon William Balzano of Charlestown for his actions in Vietnam as a member of the United States Marine Corps. The ceremony took place in the Ballroom at the Providence G before dozens of Balzano's family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. "I am honored to bestow this long-overdue honor on Lance Corporal Balzano," said Whitehouse. "His actions in Vietnam are a study in bravery and selflessn… Continue Reading
05.08.18
Whitehouse Statement on Trump Decision to Withdraw from Iran Nuclear Deal
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Donald Trump's decision to back out of the Iran nuclear deal: "This is a reckless - and, it appears, reflexive - decision. The President's refusal to waive sanctions puts the United States in violation of the nuclear agreement, moves the United States away from our allies, and reopens a path for Iran to obtain the nuclear arms it seeks. It also undermines our efforts to build international pressur… Continue Reading
05.08.18
Whitehouse-Portman Behavioral Health IT Bill Clears Senate
Washington, DC - The Senate has passed the bipartisan Improving Access to Behavioral Health Information Technology Act to help behavioral health care providers - like psychologists and psychiatric hospitals - adopt electronic health records. The bill was introduced in August by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and is cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The legislation would authorize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to… Continue Reading
