Press Releases
Whitehouse Presents Medals to WWII Veteran in Coventry
Coventry, RI - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rhode Island Representative Lisa Tomasso presented medals and awards to World War II veteran Anthony D'Abrosca at Coventry Town Hall before D'Abrosca's family and friends. D'Abrosca, a Coventry resident, served in the Army's 38th Infantry Division in the Philippines and Japan during World War II, earning a number of military honors that he never received. Whitehouse and Tomasso helped to secure delivery of the actual awards. "It was a… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Administration’s Approval of Seismic Testing on Eastern Seaboard
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the announcement by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that it will allow seismic testing for oil and gas along the eastern seaboard: "I'm disappointed that the Administration is allowing seismic testing on the eastern seaboard. Our coastal economies rely on clean and safe beaches and vibrant ocean habitats. Not only will the use of sonic cannons stress whales, turtles, and fish already unde… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Whitehouse, Chafee, Langevin & Cicilline Highlight Threat to Jobs & Safety Posed by Potential Highway Shutdown
Narragansett, RI - Today, as Congress considers extending funding for critical road and bridge projects across the country, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Governor Lincoln Chafee, and U.S. Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline joined Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Michael Lewis to tour Narragansett's Great Island Bridge, which RIDOT has rated "functionally obsolete" and in immediate need of replacement. If Congress fails to act, the Highway Trust Fund could … Continue Reading
07.17.14
RI Receives Nearly $200K for Coastal Resiliency Project
RI Receives Nearly $200K for Coastal Resiliency Project Washington, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today joined with Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to announce $193,090 in federal funding to make the state's coastline more resilient to future storms and rising sea levels. The funds were made available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Coastal Zone Management Program, and will go to support… Continue Reading
07.16.14
Reed, Whitehouse & Cicilline Announce Funding for Art Project in Pawtucket
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline announced a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to the City of Pawtucket to enable community artists to create public art installations on road overpasses connecting local neighborhoods to the City's downtown. The art will be positioned in view of motorists on Interstate 95. The funding comes from the NEA's Our Town grant program, which seeks to make communities bett… Continue Reading
07.15.14
Judiciary Subcommittee Examines Efforts to Combat Botnets
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse held a hearing of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism to examine efforts to address the threat from botnets - networks of infected computers that are used to carry out cyber attacks, send spam messages, steal consumers' personal information, and for a variety of other criminal purposes. The hearing featured testimony from individuals in both the public and private sectors who have worked to combat botnet activity, and highligh… Continue Reading
07.15.14
White House Report Highlights Critical Need for Road and Bridge Funding in Rhode Island as Right-Wing Groups Mobilize Against Highway Bill
Washington, DC - Rhode Island has the highest percentage of deficient or obsolete bridges in America and is tied for the highest percentage of roads in poor condition, according to a report released yesterday by the White House. The report also estimates that 3,595 jobs in the state are at risk if Congress fails to extend federal funding for road and bridge projects - an issue which Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has been leading the charge on in the Senate. The U.S. Department of Transportation e… Continue Reading
07.09.14
Members of Congress Press U.S. Trade Rep on Tar Sands Policy
Washington, D.C. - As the Obama Administration considers the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline application, Members of the House and Senate today renewed an inquiry into reports of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) efforts to influence European tar sands policy. In December 2013, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and several other Members of Congress sent a letter to the Office of the USTR asking whether it had pressed European Union (EU) representatives to alter a proposed Fuel Quality Dire… Continue Reading
06.30.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Hobby Lobby Decision
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the Supreme Court's decision in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which will allow closely-held corporations to opt out of the Affordable Care Act's requirement that employer-provided health insurance offer coverage for birth control. "This is just the latest example of the activist Roberts Court siding with the narrow interests of corporations over those of the American people. Ignoring th… Continue Reading
06.26.14
Rhode Island Delegation Announces $900,000 AFG Grant for Providence Fire Department
Providence, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced today that the Providence Fire Department (PFD) has won a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant worth more than $902,000 for new protective gear and emergency medical equipment. FEMA has issued the award as part of its Assistance to Firefighter Grants program, which helps fire departments and emergency medical service organizations meet their equipment, trai… Continue Reading
06.25.14
Senators Introduce Bill to Strengthen Role of U.S. Marshals in Missing Children Cases
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) introduced the Strengthening Investigations of Missing Children Act of 2014 (S. 2528), legislation to provide explicit authorization for the U.S. Marshals Service to assist other law enforcement agencies, upon request, in investigating missing children cases. The Marshals Service is often called on by state and local law enforcement officials, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Child… Continue Reading
06.25.14
Manchin & Whitehouse Staking Out Common Ground on Energy and Climate Policy
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) held a colloquy on the Senate floor to discuss the impacts of climate change and the importance of coal in America's energy portfolio. The two Senators agreed that climate change is a real problem that human activity is contributing to, and that coal and other fossil fuels will need to be part of the nation's energy mix for decades. They also identified some specific policies that they plan to work together… Continue Reading
06.24.14
Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Secret Spending in Elections
Washington, D.C. - With the Koch Brothers and many others spending untold millions to secretly influence this year's elections, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senate Democrats today introduced the DISCLOSE Act of 2014. The bill 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 manner. The legislation is cosponsored by 50 Senators, including Senato… Continue Reading
06.18.14
Republican EPA Administrators Call for Action on Climate Change
Washington, DC - Four Republican former Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testified today about the need to address climate change at a hearing in the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. In a hearing chaired by Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the Administrators spoke about their experience working on regulations to protect the environment and public health, and pointed out that industry has a history … Continue Reading
06.18.14
Whitehouse Applauds Passage of Bill to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today concerning the passage of the bipartisan Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, to promote better understanding and response to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia - or low levels of dissolved oxygen - in our nation's waterways: "Harmful algal blooms and low-oxygen dead zones threaten Americans' health, our fisheries, and coastal tourism and recreation," said Whitehouse, co-c… Continue Reading
06.17.14
Whitehouse Applauds Expanded Protections for Oceans & Fishermen
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse issued the following statement today concerning the Obama Administration's decisions to expand a major marine sanctuary, allow for the nomination of new marine sanctuaries, and to create a program to combat seafood fraud and trade on the black market: "Marine sanctuaries help to preserve our oceans' natural beauty and coastal economies, and I thank President Obama for expanding these essential ocean protections. I'm also glad the Administration … Continue Reading
06.16.14
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds State Department Oceans Conference
Washington, DC - Today the State Department will open its "Our Ocean" Conference, a two-day event bringing together foreign leaders, ocean advocates, marine scientists and others to examine the threats facing our oceans globally and discuss proactive solutions. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus, will attend both days of the conference. On Tuesday he will participate in a discussion with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) about efforts to stop illegal pirat… Continue Reading
06.13.14
Whitehouse, Chafee, State Officials & National Grid Team up to Help RI Towns & Cities with Key Energy Investments
Warwick, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Governor Lincoln Chafee joined the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, Commerce RI, and National Grid in hosting a workshop designed to help local governments promote energy efficiency and renewables in their communities. Representatives from 29 town and city governments from around Rhode Island attended the event at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus in Warwick. Whitehouse and Chafee spoke about federal and state… Continue Reading
06.13.14
Whitehouse, Warren Introduce Measure to Help Families Struggling with Medical Debt
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced legislation to help families burdened by the costs of illness and injury. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014 (S. 2471) would make the bankruptcy process more forgiving for those driven to insolvency by medical issues. "Even families with quality health insurance coverage can be bankrupted by an illness or injury that causes lost work and income," said Whitehouse, who introduced similar legis… Continue Reading
06.11.14
Senator Whitehouse Slams GOP for Blocking Student Debt Relief
Washington, DC - Today Senate Republicans filibustered a bill that would have allowed millions of student loan borrowers to refinance their loans at lower interest rates. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a cosponsor and author of a key provision of the bill, issued the following statement on the GOP's decision to reject the legislation: "Republicans showed today that they care more about preserving tax cuts for billionaires than they do about helping struggling student loan borrowers. … Continue Reading
