Press Releases
Whitehouse Announces Funding to Support Safe Housing for Victims of Abuse in Rhode Island
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Josh Saal, and representatives of Sojourner House this morning to announce $850,000 in federal funding for the agency to support safe housing for victims of abuse in Rhode Island. "Survivors and advocates have made it clear that access to safe housing saves lives in a moment of crisis," said Senator Whitehouse. "Sojourner House provides many Rhode Island victims and famil… Continue Reading
08.25.22
RI Fire Departments Get $2.1M Boost for Safety, Training, Operations
WARWICK, RI - Half a dozen local fire departments and the state's Fire Training Academy are getting a $2.1 million boost from the federal government to help strengthen firefighter operations and safety and offer new, intensive training classes. Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced over $2.1 million in new federal funding for fire departments across the state. The delegation says the fire departments are receiving feder… Continue Reading
08.19.22
RI Delegation Calls for Additional Support for Local Restaurants
Providence, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are calling on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide additional support to Rhode Island restaurants that are still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been shut out of the Restaurant Revitalization Program. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund still has $180 million in unobligated funds, which the four members of Rhode Island's delegation conten… Continue Reading
08.15.22
Reed & Whitehouse Deliver $3.3 Million Earmark for Providence Water to Replace Lead Service Lines & Highlight New Stream of Federal Funding for Ocean State Lead Pipe Replacement Projects
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to ensure safe, clean, lead-free drinking water, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined Providence Water and Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to highlight a new $3.3 million earmark the Senators secured for lead pipe replacement and additional safe drinking water funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The event was held outside homes on Potters Avenue in Providence, where Providence Water is currently replacing private side lead se… Continue Reading
08.12.22
Reed & Whitehouse Push for Robust Federal Response to Monkeypox Public Health Emergency
Providence, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined a group of 14 U.S. Senators in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging Senate leadership to include funding to address the monkeypox (MPV)/orthopoxvirus Public Health Emergency (PHE) in any forthcoming legislative package in the 117th Congress. "As of August 9, 2022, there have been over 9,492 confirmed MPV/orthopoxvirus cases in the United States fr… Continue Reading
08.12.22
RI Delegation Announces $7.8 Million for Accessibility and Resiliency Upgrades to Providence Riverwalk and Waterplace Park
Providence, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the City of Providence has been awarded $7.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program to support accessibility and design improvements and resiliency upgrades to the Providence Riverwalk and Waterplace Park. "We can't ignore sea level rise and must factor it in to … Continue Reading
08.09.22
RIPTA Gets $22.37 Million Federal RAISE Grant to Electrify Aquidnick Island Bus Service
NEWPORT, RI -- The days of diesel-powered buses rolling along Aquidneck Island streets are numbered, thanks to a new federal RAISE grant to procure 25 new clean-energy electric buses and recharging infrastructure. Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced a new $22,370,800 federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). Thi… Continue Reading
08.07.22
Whitehouse Votes for Inflation Reduction Act to Lower Energy and Health Care Costs for Rhode Islanders and Bend Emissions Curve
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined all 50 Senate Democrats and Vice President Harris in voting to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, landmark legislation that will lower energy and health care costs for Rhode Islanders, and drive down the emissions causing the climate crisis. As a budget reconciliation measure, the Inflation Reduction Act was approved by a simple majority in the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass. "Our I… Continue Reading
08.07.22
Whitehouse Votes for Historic Climate Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), one of the Senate's leading climate champions, issued the following statement after all 50 Senate Democrats voted to the pass the Inflation Reduction Act: "This historic bill makes major investments in reducing the carbon emissions that are responsible for climate change. From cracking down on methane to making homes and vehicles more energy efficient to greatly expanding carbon capture, I'm proud to have shaped major climate component… Continue Reading
08.04.22
FBI Director Confirms Agency Sent Tips from Kavanaugh Tip Line to Trump White House Without Investigation
Washington, DC - In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today received confirmation from FBI Director Christopher Wray that the FBI sent tips that the agency had collected about Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Trump White House without investigation. The tips were collected through the FBI's existing tip line as part of a supplemental background investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct emerged during Justice Kavanaugh's 2018 conf… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Whitehouse Cheers Senate Passage of Bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate this week unanimously passed the bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act co-authored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to improve training for police officers who interact with individuals dealing with mental health, behavioral health, and substance use issues. "Police officers serve on the frontlines in their communities, and we must ensure they have the training to handle situations involving complex mental and b… Continue Reading
08.04.22
Whitehouse Illuminates Dark-Money Network’s Project to Undermine Democracy
Washington, DC - In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday on the intensifying harassment of election workers, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) shone a floodlight on the right-wing dark-money network seeking to undermine the future of democratic elections in the United States. "There is nothing about this, Mr. Chairman, that is random," said Whitehouse. "I hope that there will be investigations that are done, either civilly or otherwise, to connect these obvious dots: that there … Continue Reading
08.02.22
Whitehouse Cheers Final Passage of Bill to Provide VA Care for Veterans Exposed to Toxins
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today voted to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act, which will greatly expand eligibility for VA health care to veterans who have health problems due to exposure to toxins ranging from burn pits to Agent Orange. The legislation passed with bipartisan support after being voted down by Senate Republicans last week. "The Honoring Our PACT Act will allow veterans in Rhode Island to breathe a sigh of relief," said Whitehouse. "We have a sacred commitment… Continue Reading
08.02.22
Whitehouse, Booker, Blumenthal, Schatz, Hirono Introduce Term Limit Measure to Restore Balance, Fairness to Supreme Court
Washington, DC - In an effort to restore balance and fairness to the nation's highest court, U.S Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) today introduced the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act, which would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence in decision-making. Under the TERM Act, a new … Continue Reading
08.01.22
Amid Sky-High Rate of Flight Cancellations, Senators Markey and Whitehouse Lead Bicameral Colleagues in Introducing Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act to Protect Air Travelers’ Rights
Washington, D.C - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08), today introduced the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act, which would provide consumers an enforceable right to a full cash refund for flight and ticket cancellations. The bill codifies the Department of Transportation rule requir… Continue Reading
08.01.22
Reed & Whitehouse Visit PACE-RI to Celebrate $300,000 Earmark & Discuss Efforts to Support RI Seniors
EAST PROVIDENCE - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse visited PACE Rhode Island's flagship center in East Providence to meet with seniors and joined East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva and officials from PACE-RI to celebrate a $300,000 earmark that the Senators included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations law to help renovate and equip PACE-RI's new health clinic and adult day care center. PACE-RI is a non-profit health plan that helps nursing-home-eligibl… Continue Reading
07.30.22
Reed & Whitehouse Urge Biden to Continue Pause on Student Loan Payments
Providence, RI - Ahead of the federal student loan payment pause set to expire at the end of next month, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have joined a bicameral group colleagues in the Senate and House in urging the Biden Administration to extend the student loan payment pause beyond August 31, 2022. This effort comes on the heels of several news reports that the Biden Administration has not made a final decision about whether to extend the student loan payment pause - a decision… Continue Reading
07.28.22
Reed & Whitehouse Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse applauded the passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which authorizes improvements to our nation's harbors and waterways, invests in coastal resiliency efforts, and supports U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects nationwide. The Senate cleared the bill by a vote of 92 to 2. Reed and Whitehouse secured several key provisions benefitting Rhode Island in the comprehensive bill, which now heads to conference wit… Continue Reading
07.28.22
Whitehouse, Cortez Masto Propose Congressional Check on Supreme Court Decisions
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) today unveiled the Supreme Court Review Act, a new bill to revitalize Congress's ability to legislate in response to Supreme Court decisions that interpret federal statutes or roll back constitutional rights. The Senators' bill would help ensure that the constitutionally delegated power to make policy remains with Congress, not the Court, by creating streamlined procedures through which Congress can exerc… Continue Reading
07.28.22
Whitehouse Applauds Major Climate Addition to Reconciliation Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse issued the following statement regarding the news that substantial climate provisions will be included in Democrats' pending reconciliation package: "This is a very hopeful moment, and I will be reviewing the details of the agreement closely over the coming days. Democrats are about to take the biggest, most serious step in congressional history to lead our only planet to safety in the race against climate change. In doing so, we will also lo… Continue Reading
