Press Releases
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Dam Safety Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) recently introduced the Dam Safety Act of 2012. The bill will extend funding authorization for the National Dam Safety Program, which provides grants to improve state dam safety programs through training, technical assistance, inspection, and research. Rhode Island is the second most densely populated state in the country, and home to 179 "high … Continue Reading
07.02.12
Whitehouse, Reed, Chafee: RI Offshore Wind Area Set for Key Environmental Review
PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Governor Lincoln Chafee say the Ocean State is on track to develop commercial wind energy programs in federal waters off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts through the U.S. Department of Interior's (DOI) "Smart from the Start" offshore wind energy initiative. The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today officially began an important environmental review to determine if there are significant e… Continue Reading
06.29.12
Senate Confirms Hainsworth to be RI’s Next U.S. Marshal
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today confirmed former Glocester police chief Jamie Hainsworth to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, who recommended Chief Hainsworth for the job, issued the following statement: "We are pleased that the U.S. Senate today acted on our recommendation and rapidly confirmed Chief Hainsworth as Rhode Island's next U.S. Marshal," said Reed and Whitehouse. "With a successful career in law enforcement a… Continue Reading
06.28.12
Whitehouse Statement on Supreme Court’s Health Care Decision
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act: "For the many Rhode Islanders I've heard from who are counting on the reforms in the Affordable Care Act to help them gain access to vital health services, the Supreme Court today sent a clear message that those reforms will go forward. By upholding the law, the Court validated the principle that all Americans should have acce… Continue Reading
06.26.12
Congress Sends FDA Bill to President’s Desk
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ability to approve prescription drugs, medical devices, and other medical products, sending the bill on to President Obama to sign into law. The final bill includes several important provisions authored or co-authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): a measure to expedite FDA's approval process for innovative treatments for people with rare diseases; an amendment to help c… Continue Reading
06.25.12
Whitehouse Condemns Court’s Reversal of Montana Campaign Finance Decision
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today condemned the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to summarily reverse the Montana Supreme Court's ruling in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock, a case regarding a state law that bars corporations from funding election ads. Last month, Whitehouse filed an amicus brief along with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) urging the Court to either uphold the Montana law or to hear the case in full, which would have allowed them to reconsider t… Continue Reading
06.21.12
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Hainsworth to be RI’s Next U.S. Marshal
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously approved the nomination of former Glocester police chief Jamie Hainsworth to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, who recommended Chief Hainsworth for the job, issued the following statement: "Chief Hainsworth is an experienced law enforcement officer who has had a successful career in criminal justice and will make an outstanding U.S. Marshal," said Reed and Wh… Continue Reading
06.19.12
RI Delegation Announces $10M in Federal Funds for I-95 Viaduct
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced that the state will receive new federal funding to help replace the aging Providence Viaduct - a critical stretch of I-95 in Providence. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will receive a $10 million TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project, which will support badly-needed construction jobs in the state. The Viaduct carries I-95 for nearly a quarter mile through downtown Pro… Continue Reading
06.16.12
Whitehouse Applauds New Efforts to Curb Pollution
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the recent announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of new standards for fine particle soot pollution: "EPA is doing the right thing by proposing updated air quality standards for fine particle pollution that will protect public health. Rhode Island pushed EPA to update these standards knowing that when we clean up fine particle pollution, we reduce asthma attacks, chronic bron… Continue Reading
06.14.12
RI Receives Over $2.78 Million for Workforce Development
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RIDLT) will receive a new, competitive $2.78 million Workforce Innovation Fund grant to support employment and training services. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Workforce innovation Fund invests in programs that enhance workforce investment strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations, and expand existing programs with a proven record of suc… Continue Reading
06.13.12
Whitehouse Chairs Hearing on Improving Care for Patients with Advanced Illness
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse chaired a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging entitled "Empowering Patients and Honoring Individual's Choices: Lessons in Improving Care for Individuals with Advanced Illness." The hearing focused on efforts to improve the link between patient wishes and services provided for individuals with advanced illness. "Today's discussion will focus on how our current health care system is and isn't working for individuals diagnosed w… Continue Reading
06.07.12
Whitehouse Commemorates Gaspee Days in Senate Speech
Washington, DC - As Rhode Island prepares for the annual Gaspee Days parade in Warwick this weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today gave his yearly speech on the floor of the Senate remembering the brave Rhode Islanders who stood up to the British and burned the HMS Gaspee in 1772. Whitehouse made the case that the Gaspee Affair, which took place 16months before the Boston Tea Party, deserves more recognition for its role in sparking the American Revolution. The text of Whitehouse's rema… Continue Reading
06.07.12
Whitehouse Attended Ambassador of Portugal’s Dinner Honoring Portuguese Minister of State & Foreign Affairs
Washington, D.C. - Last night, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Portugal to the United States, Nuno Brito. The dinner honored the Portuguese Minister of State & Foreign Affairs, Mr. Paulo Portas, who also attended. Senator Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline, and others discussed Portugal's economy in light of European economic issues, and the longstanding ties between our nations. Whitehouse described the discussions as "helpful and productive." "I tha… Continue Reading
06.04.12
At West Point, Whitehouse Calls for Greater Awareness of Cyber Threats
West Point, NY - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) gave the opening address yesterday evening at a major cybersecurity conference at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. The Senator, who chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's Cybersecurity Task Force in 2010 and has been active in efforts to craft cybersecurity legislation, spoke about the cybersecurity challenges facing the military and the nation, and the need to increase public awareness of cyber threats.… Continue Reading
06.01.12
Whitehouse to Receive Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Policy
Providence, RI - Tonight at the 5th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will receive the 2012 Excellence in Policy Award. The Senator is being honored for his work to protect our oceans, and for establishing the Senate Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to increase awareness on issues facing oceans and coasts. "Rhode Island, the Ocean State, relies on our Bay and offshore waters for the jobs provided by fishing and lobstering, shipbuilding, tourism, boa… Continue Reading
06.01.12
Langevin and Whitehouse to be Featured at West Point Cyber Conference
Providence, RI - Further demonstrating Rhode Island's leadership on one of the top national security issues facing the country, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have been invited to address a major cybersecurity conference at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. The event, titled "America's Prosperity and Security in a Networked World: Challenges and Prospects," runs from Sunday, June 3, through Tuesday, June 5. Langevin, who co-founded the… Continue Reading
05.29.12
Whitehouse Holds Official Senate Field Briefing in Providence on Asthma Prevention
Providence, RI - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse convened an official field briefing of the U.S. Senate's Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in Providence to hear testimony about asthma prevention. The briefing brought together Rhode Islanders who are living with asthma, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials, environmental experts, and state leaders working on prevention and treatment programs. The briefing, which was held at the… Continue Reading
05.25.12
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Combat Breast Cancer
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced new legislation to establish a "Commission to Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer," whose mission will be to help end breast cancer by 2020. The legislation, the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act (S. 3237), is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). "Breast cancer continue… Continue Reading
05.25.12
Reed, Whitehouse, and Cicilline Honor Victims of 1983 Beirut Bombing with Rededication Ceremony of Plaque in Providence
Providence, RI - Today, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman David Cicilline, Mayor Taveras, officials from the Convention Center Authority, and Colonel Gerry Leonard from the Marine Corps Detachment at Naval Station Newport joined with the families of Rhode Islanders killed in the 1983 bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut to honor the lost service members and rededicate a convention center plaque in their memory. Survivor and Purple Heart recipient Corporal Edward Streke… Continue Reading
05.24.12
FDA Bill Passed by Senate Includes Whitehouse Provisions on Rare Diseases and Drug Safety
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ability to approve prescription drugs, medical devices, and other medical products. The final bill includes several important provisions authored or co-authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): a measure to improve access to innovative new treatments for people with rare diseases; an amendment to help crack down on prescription drug abuse that endangers lives and drives u… Continue Reading
