Press Releases
Senators Reintroduce DISCLOSE Act on Anniversary of Citizens United Decision
Washington, DC - Five years ago today, the Supreme Court issued its disastrous Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates for unlimited, secret spending in American elections. Today, to mark this anniversary, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) reintroduced the DISCLOSE Act, legislation that would crack down on so-called "dark money" by requiring organizations that spend money to influence elections to disclose their spending as well as their major sources of funding in a timely m… Continue Reading
01.21.15
Whitehouse Puts Republicans on Record about Climate Change for First Time Since Citizens United Decision
Washington, DC - Today, after years of ducking questions about climate change, Republican Senators were put on record about whether they believe climate change is real. The U.S. Senate voted on a resolution offered by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) as an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill, which stated simply: Climate change is real and not a hoax. The resolution was approved by a vote of 98-1. Today's vote marked the first time that Senate Republicans have gone on record about the re… Continue Reading
01.20.15
Sen. Whitehouse Reaction to State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below reacting to President Obama's State of the Union Address: "The proposals outlined by the President tonight would be a big help to families in the Ocean State. I'm fighting to make sure our improving economy benefits hard-working Rhode Islanders, not just billionaires and big corporations. From asking wealthy investors to pay a fair share in taxes, to investing in the middle class by making college more afford… Continue Reading
01.20.15
Whitehouse Meets with Cuban Cardinal
Washington, DC - During his visit to Cuba this past weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) met with Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana, and thanked him for the pivotal role he played in the recent agreement to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba and free an imprisoned American aid worker. Whitehouse was visiting as part of the first Congressional Delegation to travel to Cuba since the Obama Administration announced the historic U.S.-Cuba agreement in De… Continue Reading
01.15.15
Sen. Whitehouse to Bring Elizabeth Roberts to State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that his guest for President Obama's State of the Union address will be Elizabeth Roberts, the current nominee for Secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services and former Lieutenant Governor, who has been a leading voice on health care reform in Rhode Island. Roberts will travel to Washington, DC for the address and will have a seat in the visitor's gallery in the House Chamber. "Rhode Islan… Continue Reading
01.15.15
Whitehouse and Manchin Urge DOE and EPA to Support Carbon Capture Efforts
Washington, DC - Last year, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) pledged to work together to find common ground on energy and environmental issues. Today, building on that pledge, the Senators are urging the Obama Administration to support carbon capture and utilization (CCU) efforts. "As Senators from different states, we don't always agree," the Senators wrote in a letter to Ernest Moniz, Secretary of the Department of Energy, and Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the… Continue Reading
01.14.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Administration’s Methane Emissions Plan
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced a series of steps to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the announcement: "The plan announced by the Administration today is an important step forward in reducing methane pollution, a potent greenhouse gas that harms public health and contributes to climate change, from its most significant industrial source - the oil and gas sector. I comm… Continue Reading
01.13.15
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds President’s Cyber Proposal
Washington, DC - Today President Obama announced a legislative proposal to combat cyber threats by, among other things, encouraging greater sharing of information between the public and private sectors, and by criminalizing the sale of botnets - networks of infected computers that are used to carry out cyber attacks and other criminal acts. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement regarding the proposal: "With each passing month, the urgent need for the United St… Continue Reading
01.13.15
Whitehouse and Cicilline Reintroduce Bill to End Tax Incentive for Offshoring Jobs
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) are teaming up to keep jobs in America. The two Rhode Island Members of Congress today re-introduced the Offshoring Prevention Act in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The bill would eliminate a tax break for companies that send jobs overseas and level the playing field for manufacturing businesses here at home. The bill is one of three "tax fairness" measures that Whitehouse int… Continue Reading
01.13.15
Congressman Doggett, Senator Whitehouse Introduce Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, introduced the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act. The bill closes a number of offshore tax loopholes, eliminates many tax incentives for U.S. companies to move jobs and operations offshore, and modifies rules on corporate inversions for businesses dodging U.S. taxes. "While most Americans contribute their … Continue Reading
01.13.15
Senators Reintroduce “Buffett Rule” Legislation
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a group of 16 Senators in introducing legislation to require America's top earners to pay a fair share in taxes. The Paying a Fair Share Act would help ensure that multi-million-dollar earners pay at least a 30 percent effective federal tax rate, and would generate over $70 billion in revenue over ten years. The bill is one of three "tax fairness" measures Whitehouse is introducing today, which he hope… Continue Reading
01.12.15
Whitehouse Releases Tax Fairness Plan
Providence, RI - With President Obama and Republican leaders in Congress citing tax reform as a key area for bipartisan cooperation in the new year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that he will introduce three bills to make the federal tax system fairer for middle-class families and small businesses. The package would end tax breaks and loopholes that benefit multi-national corporations and the highest earners, and is projected to generate over $300 billion in revenue ove… Continue Reading
01.09.15
Sen. Whitehouse Urges State Department to Reject Keystone XL Pipeline
Washington, DC - Today, just hours after a Nebraska court decision upheld a state law allowing the Governor to approve the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route through the state, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to reject the overall project. The decision on the pipeline, which must ultimately be made by the State Department because it crosses an international border, had been delayed while the Nebraska court case played out. … Continue Reading
01.06.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on the Death of Jim Baron
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement regarding the death of Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call reporter and columnist Jim Baron: "Jim was a unique figure watching Rhode Island politics. He brought to it a keen political mind and a gift for writing. I send my condolences to Jim's family and his colleagues at the Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call." ###… Continue Reading
12.23.14
RI Health Care Leaders Send Reform Recommendations to Raimondo and General Assembly Leaders
Providence, RI - A broad coalition of Rhode Island health care leaders - from providers to insurers to academia - have developed recommendations on how the state can improve care and lower costs. The group, which was convened by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rhode Island Foundation President Neil Steinberg, today sent a letter to Governor-elect Gina Raimondo, House Speaker Nick Mattiello, and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed laying out specific recommendations on payment reform, trac… Continue Reading
12.18.14
Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Applauds Administration’s New NEPA Guidance
Washington, D.C. - Today the White House Council on Environmental Quality reissued its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance on Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Under the proposed guidance, federal agencies would assess greenhouse gas emissions associated with proposed federal actions that are subject to NEPA review. Last year, the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change encouraged the Administration to finalize its NEPA guidance as part o… Continue Reading
12.17.14
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds Changes in U.S.-Cuba Policy
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced a series of changes to our nation's policies regarding Cuba, including an effort to re-establish diplomatic relations and expanded travel between the two nations. The Administration also announced the humanitarian release of Alan Gross, an American who had been imprisoned in Cuba since 2009. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who traveled to Cuba with a congressional delegation in 2013 whose leaders met with Gross, issued the follo… Continue Reading
12.17.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Tax Extenders Vote
Washington, DC - Last night the U.S. Senate passed legislation to extend a number of expired tax provisions. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined eight Democrats and eight Republicans in opposing the package. "The so-called 'tax extenders' package includes the one-year extension of a hodgepodge of over four dozen tax provisions. This extension is not for the year ahead of us, as one might reasonably expect, but rather for the year that's mostly past us. In other words, we will be extendi… Continue Reading
12.16.14
Senate Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Fishing Community to Submit Comments on New Pirate Fishing Regulations
Washington, D.C. - Today, President Obama's Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud announced new recommendations to combat practices that harm American fishermen. The recommendations include strengthening enforcement tools to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud, and creating a tracking program to ensure that illegal seafood products are kept out of the U.S. supply chain. With the Task Force now seeking public comments on its recommendatio… Continue Reading
12.14.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Government Funding Vote
Washington, DC - Last night the U.S. Senate passed legislation to continue funding the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the vote: "This legislation accomplishes the bare minimum needed to avert a government shutdown, but it also includes provisions to further degrade our campaign finance laws, to allow government bailouts for banks engaged in risky trading, and to cut retirement benefits for ove… Continue Reading
