Press Releases
Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans and Coasts Advances Out of Committee with Bipartisan Support
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have announced that their legislation to advance data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate tech… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Reed and Whitehouse Announce Recommendation of Zachary A. Cunha to be the Next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced they have recommended that President Joe Biden nominate current Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, chief of the civil division for the United States Attorney's office, to be the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island. "Zachary Cunha is an experienced prosecutor with an exemplary record of service in the U.S. Attorney's office. He is an outstanding candidate to take on this new role and has solid relationships wi… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Tax Gap & Offshoring Hearing Sheds New Light on Trillions in U.S. Income Stowed Abroad
Washington, DC - During today's hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, a top IRS official testified that the amount of U.S. money held in offshore accounts - and therefore harder for American tax enforcement officials to track - is double what had been previously estimated. In response to a question from Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), IRS Acting Chief of Research and Analytics Officer Barry Johnson told the subcommittee that U.S. households ho… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Whitehouse Lays Out Plans as Chair of the Senate International Narcotics Control Caucus in New Op-Ed
READ FULL OP-ED HERE Washington, DC - In a new op-ed for Just Security, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) lays out his plans as Chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, including a focus on the dark economy servicing the narcotics market and the "clash of civilizations" that forms its backdrop. Whitehouse also discusses the need to battle substance use in America and build on the success of bipartisan legislation to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Est… Continue Reading
05.05.21
Gavel in Hand, Whitehouse Presses OPM for Leonard Leo Documents
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, sent a letter today to the Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) following up on requests for records related to dark-money activist Leonard Leo's role advising the Trump administration on the selection and confirmation of judicial nominees. Over a year ago, Whitehouse led colleagues in requesting documents related to Leo's work leading and advising the Trump administratio… Continue Reading
05.05.21
RI Delegation Invites Local Restaurants to Apply for Aid from Newly Launched Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Providence, RI - Members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation today joined with hospitality industry representatives to invite owners of local dining establishments to apply for aid from the newly opened Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The delegation pushed for the $28.6-billion restaurant relief fund to be included in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law in March. Today's event was held at The District, a popular restaurant in Providence's Jewelry District. "I'… Continue Reading
05.05.21
Whitehouse, Wyden, Grassley, Rubio Urge Strong Implementation of Anti-Money Laundering Reform
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a bipartisan comment to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) encouraging the efficient, effective implementation of a beneficial ownership reporting system, as required by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The senators have long championed greater transparency in the United States's incorporation laws to crack down on shell companies used to facilitate… Continue Reading
05.03.21
Senator Whitehouse and Representative Malinowski Urge Biden Administration to Take Aggressive Executive Action Against International Corruption and Kleptocracy
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led a bicameral letter to United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, urging the Department to take early action to combat international corruption and kleptocracy. The lawmakers urged Secretary Yellen to expand anti-money laundering reporting obligations to private equity and hedge fund advisors, and recommended other specific actions the Secretary can immediately take under current auth… Continue Reading
04.30.21
Whitehouse Votes to Deliver Major Upgrades for Water Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has joined colleagues from both sides of aisle in voting to approve the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, legislation to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, improve the health of families across the nation, and address environmental justice. As a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Whitehouse has long been active in pushing for water infrastructure investments and helped craft th… Continue Reading
04.29.21
With Major Infrastructure Legislation on the Horizon, Whitehouse, Schumer, Cohen, and McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Tax Credit to Protect Children From Home Lead Hazards
Washington, D.C. - With lead hazards lurking in about 3.6 million homes of families with young children nationwide, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), and Representative David McKinley (R-WV-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help American families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes. The Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2021 would significantly broaden the national response to t… Continue Reading
04.29.21
Whitehouse Statement on Biden Address to Congress
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Biden's joint address to Congress tonight marking Biden's first 100 days in office: "Tonight, the president delivered a hopeful report on the great progress we've made during his first 100 days in office, and charted an equally hopeful path for a lasting, fair economic recovery after the pandemic. "I'm pleased to see the president follow the success of his COVID relief bill with two important propo… Continue Reading
04.28.21
Whitehouse-Cartwright Bill Would Establish National Strategy to Protect Natural Resources from Climate Change
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) today introduced a bill to protect natural resources and wildlife from the effects of climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. The Safeguarding America's Future and Environment (SAFE) Act would build on existing federal, state, and local efforts to establish an integrated national approach to environmental protection. "The climate is changing, pushing the planet's finite natur… Continue Reading
04.28.21
Whitehouse, Wyden Launch Investigation Into Whether Political Interference Affected Caterpillar, Other Tax Investigations
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today launched an investigation into whether Trump administration political interference affected tax investigations, including a criminal investigation of Caterpillar, which former Attorney General William Barr represented. The senators wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and IRS Commissioner Rettig, "In 2015, Caterpillar disclosed that a federal grand jury in Illinois had begun inv… Continue Reading
04.26.21
Whitehouse, Crapo Release Energy Innovation Tax Credit Proposal
Washington, DC -Today, U.S. Senate Finance Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, released a discussion draft of the Energy Sector Innovation Credit (ESIC) Act, a bipartisan energy tax proposal to encourage innovation in the clean energy sector. "We have plenty of good ideas for clean energy technology to battle climate change; the challenge is bringing them online quickly enough to make a … Continue Reading
04.26.21
Whitehouse Statement on Barrett’s Refusal to Recuse in Case Involving Group that Campaigned for her Confirmation
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement on Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's decision not to recuse herself from Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Rodriquez, a case involving a group that spent heavily to confirm her to the bench. Whitehouse led a letter to Justice Barrett calling on her to recuse herself under federal statute and clear Supreme Court precedent. Oral argument in the case t… Continue Reading
04.26.21
Whitehouse Statement on Oral Arguments in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Rodriquez
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement today on oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Rodriquez, a case that could pave the way for sweeping protections for anonymous "dark-money" spending in American democracy: "This case may seem like a measly spat over state nonprofit rules, but a massive threat lurks within. If the big, special-interest donors behin… Continue Reading
04.23.21
Reed & Whitehouse Deliver Nearly $22 Million for RI Clean Water Projects & Call on Congress to Put Clean Water Upgrades on Tap in New Infrastructure Bill
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help create jobs and improve Rhode Island's water quality, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse secured nearly $22 million in the fiscal year 2021 Consolidated Appropriations law to upgrade the state's water infrastructure. Today, Senators Reed and Whitehouse joined with officials from the Narragansett Bay Commission, the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, and Save The Bay to outline how these funds will be put to work in the Ocean State. Senators Reed… Continue Reading
04.22.21
Whitehouse Pledges to Help Pass Large-Scale Clean Energy Bill to Meet Biden’s Ambitious New Climate Goal
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded President Biden's ambitious new goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 50 percent from 2005 levels before 2030. Whitehouse pledged to do his part in passing legislation that will allow the United States to meet that benchmark and reclaim international leadership on climate. "President Biden's goal of reducing emissions by at least half over the next decade is historic and ambitious," said Whitehouse. "The United … Continue Reading
04.22.21
Whitehouse, Johnson Renew Effort to Strengthen Judicial Influence Rules Following Action by Federal Courts
Washington, DC - The Chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary Subcommittees on the Courts, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), announced plans today to renew their oversight on the issue of lax amicus curiae disclosure rules in the federal courts and to update their bill, the AMICUS Act, to strengthen amicus rules. The announcement follows reporting this week on a memorandum by the AMICUS Subcommittee of the federal Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on t… Continue Reading
04.22.21
Whitehouse to Chair Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today he will chair the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, which advances international and domestic strategies to combat drug trafficking and improve cooperation between governments. In addition to curbing criminal narcotics enterprises, the bipartisan Caucus addresses the public health effects of substance use, and advances efforts to expand research and fight addiction. "Drug trafficking claims liv… Continue Reading
