Press Releases
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
07.18.13
Senate Confirms Gina McCarthy to Lead EPA
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Gina McCarthy as the next Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Throughout her years working for both Republicans and Democrats, Gina McCarthy has always put the health of our people and our environment first. During her time as an Assistant Administrator at EPA, she crafted several key health standards, including the first-ever mercur… Continue Reading
07.16.13
Whitehouse Statement on Executive Nominees Agreement
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's agreement to move forward on a series of Presidential nominees whose Senate confirmations had been held up by Republican filibuster threats: "I'm still deeply concerned about the pattern of obstruction by Senate Republicans on everything from executive and judicial nominations to important legislation, but I'm glad we reached an agreement on these seven nominations. The confirmation of Gina M… Continue Reading
07.10.13
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Whitehouse Urge State Department to Analyze How Keystone XL Will Affect Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Representative Henry A. Waxman and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter to Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment, and Science at the State Department, urging the Department to correct significant mistakes in the analysis of the climate impacts of the Keystone XL pipeline. Rep. Waxman and Sen. Whitehouse write that the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement underestimates the costs of transporting the tar sands by rail and ign… Continue Reading
07.02.13
Obama Administration Takes Action Against Wildlife Trafficking
Washington, DC - Last month, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Co-Chair of the International Conservation Caucus, joined several of his colleagues in writing to President Obama to express concern over the wildlife poaching crisis in Africa and other parts of the world. Yesterday, the President signed a new Executive Order committing his Administration to combat these harmful activities. "I thank the President for taking strong action to protect vulnerable species from being decimated by … Continue Reading
06.27.13
U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed comprehensive immigration reform legislation with a strong bipartisan vote of 68 to 32. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who helped craft the legislation as a member of the Judiciary Committee, praised his Senate colleagues for supporting the bill. "Today a strong, bipartisan majority of the United States Senate took a historic step toward fixing our broken immigration system. It's now up to Speaker Boehner and the House to follow our lead,"… Continue Reading
06.26.13
Whitehouse and Warren Fighting to Protect Consumers from Abusive Lending
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the Empowering States' Rights to Protect Consumers Act, a bill that would protect consumers by restoring the ability of states to set limits on credit card and other consumer loan interest rates. Whitehouse has introduced similar legislation in past Congresses. "It's time to stop Wall Street banks and their credit card subsidiaries from taking advantage of struggling families in Rhode Island a… Continue Reading
06.25.13
Bicameral Climate Change Task Force Applauds President Obama's Action Plan to Address Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the Co-Chairs of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change applauded President Obama's plans to address climate change by limiting carbon pollution from existing and new power plants, developing new fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks, and setting new efficiency targets for appliances and buildings. The plan also provides financial assistance for carbon capture and storage projects and sets a new goal for the deployment of renewable energy on public lands. F… Continue Reading
06.24.13
RI Delegation, Governor Chafee, and RIEDC Host Ports Showcase
Providence, RI - This morning, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, Governor Chafee, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) held a Ports Showcase to promote the capabilities and services available at ProvPort and Quonset's Port of Davisville. U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Acting Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen also participated in the Showcase. The Showcase was held to provide businesses, policymakers and community stakeholders with an overview of port cap… Continue Reading
06.21.13
Reed and Whitehouse Hear from RI Business Leaders on Immigration Reform
Providence, RI - As the United States Senate continues debating legislation to overhaul our nation's flawed immigration system, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse held a roundtable discussion to update Rhode Islanders on the status of the legislation. Whitehouse is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the version of the bill now being debated by the full Senate. At the roundtable, the Senators brought together Rhode Island business leaders to discuss how immigra… Continue Reading
06.20.13
Baucus, Whitehouse Act to Protect Tourism, Recreation Jobs from Climate Change
Washington, DC - As rising sea levels, more severe storms, raging wildfires and prolonged droughts continue to increase, U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to provide local communities with better tools to prepare for extreme weather and require federal agencies to work more efficiently by implementing a single coordinated strategy for protecting, restoring, and conserving the natural resources that American tourism and recreation jobs and … Continue Reading
06.12.13
Whitehouse Brings Rhode Island and National Environmental Leaders Together at Washington Conference
Washington, DC - Yesterday, at an environmental conference organized by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), approximately 75 Rhode Island environmental and energy leaders heard directly from federal officials about national policies that could affect Rhode Island communities. Former Vice President Al Gore delivered a keynote address at the event. Whitehouse hosts Rhode Island Energy and Environmental Leaders Day every year in order to connect Rhode Islanders from the public interest sector… Continue Reading
