Press Releases
Whitehouse Explores Protections for Congressional Oversight Staff
Washington, DC - In a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism today, Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) explored whether congressional staff engaged in oversight activity are sufficiently insulated from retaliatory criminal referrals initiated by the Executive Branch. Senator Whitehouse confronted this issue during his time on the Senate Intelligence Committee and in the years after, when Committee staff engaged in oversight of the Central Intelligence Agency's… Continue Reading
12.01.16
Senators to Trump: Drain the Swamp at EPA, DOE, DOI
Washington, DC - A group of 10 Senators sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump today calling on him to remove members of his team with deep ties to the fossil fuel industry who are managing his Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Department of the Interior transitions. By installing insiders with strong ties to major polluters at agencies charged with regulating those polluters, the Senators write, Trump is abandoning his campaign promise to "drain the swamp" of s… Continue Reading
12.01.16
Grassley, Whitehouse Speak Out Against Blocking of Bill to Protect Children in Juvenile Justice System
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) requested that the Senate pass bipartisan legislation to protect and improve the lives of young people involved with our juvenile and criminal justice systems. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) objected to the request, blocking passage of the bill. Grassley and Whitehouse released the following statements regarding the action on the Senate floor. "Ever since Senator Whitehouse and I began working on our ju… Continue Reading
11.30.16
RI TO RECEIVE $6 MILLION FOR EARLY EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, announced today that Rhode Island preschool programs will receive $6,043,131 from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through the Preschool Development Grant Program. Rhode Island is one of 18 states awarded funds to expand access to preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families. "Early childhood education programs benefit families, comm… Continue Reading
11.29.16
Whitehouse Delivers 150th “Time to Wake Up” Climate Speech
Washington, DC - Today, for the 150th time, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took to the Senate floor to deliver his weekly "Time to Wake Up" speech about the urgent need to act on climate change. Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and a Co-Chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, has spoken about the climate crisis every week the Senate has been in session since April 2012. In his remarks, Whitehouse called on President-elect Donald Trump to … Continue Reading
11.18.16
Whitehouse Statement on Nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the announcement of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General: "The Attorney General of the United States is entrusted with vital responsibilities: to defend the civil liberties and personal safety of all Americans without regard to race, religion, or sexual orientation; to set aside ideology to enforce the … Continue Reading
11.18.16
Whitehouse Statement on Surgeon General Addiction Report
This week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued the "Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health," the first comprehensive study compiled by the federal government's top public health spokesman examining the toll of substance misuse in America and the best available knowledge to address it. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who authored comprehensive addiction and recovery legislation that was signed into law this year, released the following statement on the report: "For too lon… Continue Reading
11.17.16
Senate Democrats to President-Elect Trump: Make Good on Promises to “Drain the Swamp” of Corporate Special Interests in Washington
Washington, D.C. - Today, 19 U.S. Senators sent a letter urging President-elect Donald Trump to increase transparency during his transition and keep his promises to reduce the influence of lobbyists and corporate special interests during his transition and in his administration. Despite a pledge announced last night to limit lobbying by members of the Trump administration, corporate lobbyists and Washington insiders have filled many prominent posts within the Trump transition team so far. The … Continue Reading
11.17.16
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Week
Washington, DC - Today, the Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating the week of September 17 through September 24, 2016 as National Estuaries Week. Sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and 26 others, the bipartisan legislation 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… Continue Reading
11.09.16
Whitehouse Statement on 2016 Presidential Election Outcome
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today released the following statement on the outcome of the 2016 presidential election: "Like many Rhode Islanders, I am stunned and disappointed by the election outcome, but to paraphrase Mr. Trump, I pledge to work with him if he's willing to work with us. I also pledge to work to assure that the teachings of science and the dignity of all people are not lost in a Trump presidency. Finally, I am grateful to Secretary Clinton for her ded… Continue Reading
11.07.16
Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno: "Janet Reno blazed a trail as the first woman to serve as Attorney General of the United States, and I was fortunate to work for her as Rhode Island's U.S Attorney. On the eve of an election that promises to shatter the highest glass ceiling, I'll be thinking of Janet's legacy and of the Reno family."… Continue Reading
11.03.16
Whitehouse Statement on the Appointment of Colonel Ann Assumpico
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today released the following statement regarding the appointment of Colonel Ann Assumpico as Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police: "Congratulations to Colonel Ann Assumpico on being selected to lead the Rhode Island State Police. She joins a long tradition of leaders who have helped shape the Rhode Island State Police into one of the most well-respected police forces in the nation. Rhode Island has a superb law enforcement community,… Continue Reading
11.02.16
Reed, Whitehouse Have New Questions for Mylan About EpiPen Price Hike, Pricing Strategy
Providence, RI - In a letter sent yesterday to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Mylan, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined 14 of their colleagues requesting additional information about the company's recent EpiPen Auto-Injector (EpiPen) price increases and how Mylan's pricing strategy affects consumers, taxpayers, and insurance premiums. The letter follows a previous request for information made in August about the EpiPen price hike. The letter was also signed by Senators El… Continue Reading
10.24.16
Casey Welcomes Whitehouse to Pennsylvania to Highlight Effects of Climate Change on the Keystone State
Philadelphia, PA - Today, U.S. Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) toured southeastern Pennsylvania to learn about the effects of climate change on Pennsylvanians' health, economy, and environment. Pennsylvania is the 15th state Whitehouse has visited in recent years to better understand how a changing climate affects state economies, disrupts local ecosystems, and alters the way of life in American communities. Whitehouse and Casey issued the following statements after … Continue Reading
10.21.16
Whitehouse Lauds RI’s Growing Aquaculture Industry at Matunuck Oyster Farm
East Matunuck, RI - Ocean and environmental champion U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this morning toured the Matunuck Oyster Farm by boat, guided by sustainable aquaculture expert and restaurateur Perry Raso. Whitehouse waded into Potter Pond for a hands-on lesson in oyster farming. "The word is out across the country that Rhode Island has some of the world's best oysters," said Whitehouse. "Our growing aquaculture industry, including the thriving Matunuck Oyster Farm and Matunuck Oyster Bar,… Continue Reading
10.18.16
Whitehouse Statement on Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
Washington, DC - The Social Security Administration announced today that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will rise by 0.3 percent in 2017. The small increase follows no cost of living adjustment (COLA) at all in 2016. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse responded to the announcement with the following statement: "This is an insult to our seniors. For the fifth year in a row, Washington's outdated formula has resulted in zero or next to zero cost of living adjus… Continue Reading
10.17.16
Whitehouse, URI Business Engagement Center Convene RI Textile Innovation Network
Pawtucket, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and the University of Rhode Island Business Engagement Center today convened the inaugural meeting of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network, a trade group formed with support from Whitehouse and the University of Rhode Island Business Engagement Center to guide growth of the state's textile industry in the twenty-first century. "Drawing on Rhode Island's long history as a textile powerhouse, we already have many of the elements in place to lead t… Continue Reading
10.10.16
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Discusses Climate Change in Lone Star State with Leading Texas Scientists
Austin, TX - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led a panel discussion with leading scientists from Texas universities on their research into climate change and its effects in Texas, and the need for swift action to address the carbon pollution driving climate change. Held at the Capitol in Austin, the panel included researchers from Rice University, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Texas Tech University. "Experts from Texas's top universities have a … Continue Reading
10.10.16
Senators Urge U.S. Climate Negotiators to Push for Significant Phase Down of Harmful Greenhouse Gas
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/07/16]-Today, Sen. Whitehouse joined a group of U.S. Senators urged Secretary of State John Kerry and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to take a strong position to rapidly phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the upcoming negotiations at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda. HFCs-which are chemicals commonly used for refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol propellants-are hundreds to t… Continue Reading
09.28.16
GAO Releases Reports Requested by Whitehouse, Merkley, Menendez on Climate Change & Oceans
Washington, D.C. - This afternoon, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued two reports requested by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) efforts to promote states' coastal resiliency work and to incorporate climate information into its fisheries management decisions. The reports' findings underscore the need for additional funding for projects that help safeguard coastal area… Continue Reading
