Press Releases
Reed and Whitehouse Share RI Stories with Congressional Leaders
Washington, DC - Last month, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse hosted a roundtable discussion in Providence to hear how the indiscriminate cuts in federal spending, known as the sequester, are affecting Rhode Island families and the state's economy. Today, the two Senators are sharing some of the stories they heard with Senate leaders, and pushing to replace the sequester with a balanced approach to deficit reduction. "The current across-the-board budget cuts are hurting families … Continue Reading
09.18.13
Sen. Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Improve Mental Health Care
Washington, DC - In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) made an unprecedented investment in our medical infrastructure, providing almost $20 billion in incentive funds for health information technology. However, an important group of health care providers were excluded from these incentives: behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment professionals and facilities. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Behavioral Health Information … Continue Reading
09.17.13
RI Congressional Delegation announces $949,593 in Federal Funding to Support Drug-Free Communities in Rhode Island
Providence, RI - The Rhode Island Congressional delegation today announced $949,593 in federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grants for towns across the state to combat substance abuse, particularly among RI youths. The grants, which are administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's Drug-Free Communities Support Program, have been awarded to communities and organizations in Providence, Barrington, Tiverton, Middletown, Woonsocket, Westerly, and North Kingstown. They incl… Continue Reading
09.16.13
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Susan Farmer Passing
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the death of former Rhode Island Secretary of State, Susan Farmer: "Susan Farmer was a courageous and kind person. As the first woman to hold statewide office in Rhode Island, as an indomitable cancer patient, as the successful head of our public television station, she set a shining example for all of us in public service, and she did so with great generosity of spirit. She prevailed in tough environ… Continue Reading
09.16.13
RI Congressional Delegation Announces $300K for Sojourner House’s Transitional Housing Program
Providence, RI - The Rhode Island Congressional delegation today announced a $300,000 federal grant for Sojourner House, a local advocacy and resource center for victims of domestic abuse. The grant was awarded by the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women and will help fund Sojourner House's transitional housing program, which provides aid to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. The progra… Continue Reading
09.11.13
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Anniversary of 9/11
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding the twelve-year anniversary of September 11, 2001: "On the twelfth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of that day's attacks and their families. We will never forget those lost. Nor will we forget the selfless first responders who heeded the call to action, or our servicemembers who continue to protect Americans at home and abroad. … Continue Reading
09.10.13
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on President’s Syria Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below following President Obama's speech to the nation on the situation in Syria: "Our national debate over a military strike in Syria has prompted a change in Russian attitude that the President has rightly pledged to explore, as he takes his case to the American people. There will be a pause before a vote on targeted military strikes, and I'm encouraged by this development. I hope an agreement can be reached to s… Continue Reading
09.05.13
RI Wins $10 Million Federal TIGER Grant for Improvements to Apponaug Circulator in Warwick
WARWICK, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative James Langevin today joined Governor Lincoln Chafee to announce a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for the Apponaug Circulator Long-Term Improvements Project in Warwick. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is scheduled to begin construction on the project next spring. For years, Warwick's Apponaug Business District has suffered from high traffic c… Continue Reading
08.31.13
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Syria
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the statement below today regarding President Obama's announcement that he will seek Congressional approval before taking action in Syria: "Seeking Congressional approval before taking action against the Syrian regime is the right thing to do in this situation. After a decade of war, I share the concerns of many Rhode Islanders about further military engagement. But I also share their horror over the atrocities occurring in Syria. As this deb… Continue Reading
08.28.13
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on 50th Anniversary of March on Washington
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech: "On August 28, 1963, the March on Washington and the words of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. captured the conscience of our nation. Today, Dr. King's children, for whom he dreamed of a better America, joined with thousands of others to hear our nation's first African Amer… Continue Reading
08.27.13
Sens. Whitehouse and McCain Honor Rhode Island Marine Serving in China
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse returned to the U.S. today after a trip with Senator John McCain that took him to China, Mongolia, and South Korea to meet with Asian leaders and advance American interests in the region. In China, the two Senators met with Marine Corporal Angel Madera of Providence, RI to congratulate him on receiving an award for meritorious service. "Corporal Madera has earned the pride of our state and our nation, and I was honored to offer him my congratul… Continue Reading
08.15.13
Sen. Whitehouse Renews Focus on the “Greater” Scandal at IRS
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a leading advocate for campaign finance reform, renewed his call today for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate organizations that abuse non-profit 501(c)(4) status by misleading the IRS about their political activity. The Senator made his case in a letter today to Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel. 501(c)(4) status allows groups to collect unlimited, undisclosed donations, but places limitations on how much political ac… Continue Reading
08.12.13
Sen. Whitehouse Praises AG Holder’s Proposed Reforms for Drug Crimes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, released the statement below regarding the new series of initiatives announced today by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to give federal prosecutors greater flexibility when prosecuting low-level drug crimes: "The policies outlined by Attorney General Holder today will allow federal prosecutors to use their limited resources more effectively by prioritizing high-level drug of… Continue Reading
08.06.13
Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Releases Recommendations for the Department of Energy
WASHINGTON, DC- Today the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change released a white paper recommending 20 concrete steps the Department of Energy should take in carrying out the President's Climate Action Plan. The recommendations include strengthening specific energy efficiency standards, accelerating the development and deployment of low-carbon energy technologies, expanding the use of energy savings performance contracts to save energy at federal facilities, encouraging reforms in state buildi… Continue Reading
08.01.13
Senators Urge Obama to Set Target for Health Care Cost Savings
Washington, DC - As the Obama Administration continues working to implement the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today led a letter calling on President Obama to set a specific cost-savings target to help focus federal efforts and to give the general public a clearer sense of the savings potential. The Senators write, "With so many voices in Washington calling for cuts to Medicare and Medica… Continue Reading
07.31.13
Reed and Whitehouse Congratulate RI on Completion of Wind Energy Auction
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today recognized the important role the State of Rhode Island has played leading to the successful completion of the nation's first competitive auction for offshore wind energy development. Deepwater Wind won the auction, securing the rights to construct commercial wind energy farms in federal waters off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. "There are still many steps involved in this project becoming a reality, and throug… Continue Reading
07.30.13
Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Hosts Climate and Wildfire Forum
Video: Highlights from the Climate and Wildfire Forum Washington, DC - On Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Congressional Meeting Room South, the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change convened a Climate and Wildfires Forum with Firefighters, State Foresters, and the U.S. Forest Service. The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, founded in January 2013, focuses on drawing congressional and public attention to climate change and developing effective… Continue Reading
07.29.13
Whitehouse and Graham Working to Crack Down on Economic Espionage
Washington, DC - Today, as American companies work to protect trade secrets from criminals and nation-states committed to stealing intellectual property, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a "discussion draft" of legislation to help prosecutors crack down on economic espionage and trade-secret theft. The Senators, who serve as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee's Crime and Terrorism Subcommittee, also announced that they intend to … Continue Reading
07.24.13
Whitehouse Statement on Student Loan Vote
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate approved legislation intended to address the recent spike in student loan interest rates. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who voted against the bill, released the statement below regarding the vote: "I have heard from so many Rhode Islanders concerned about the rising cost of college and the recent hike in student loan rates, and I've been proud to stand with Senator Reed in seeking a fair solution. Senator Reed's plan would have lowered rates f… Continue Reading
07.23.13
Reed & Whitehouse Announce $2.2 Million to Help Preserve and Protect Rhode Island's Coastal Waters
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help protect Rhode Island's coastal resources, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced over $2.2 million in federal funding for two Ocean State conservation programs. The Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) will receive $1.268 million to help administer Rhode Island's Coastal Management Program, which works to balance the economic, environmental, and recreational demands on Rhode Island's coastal areas. The Rhode Isl… Continue Reading
