Press Releases
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Veto of Keystone XL Pipeline Bill
Washington, DC - Today President Barack Obama vetoed legislation that would have approved the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline who voted no on the bill, released the statement below regarding the vote: "The State Department's Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project said there would be massive environmental harm from Keystone's tar sands oil - the equivalent of adding 6 millio… Continue Reading
02.24.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Meeting with President Obama
Washington, DC - Today President Obama and Vice President Biden convened a meeting at the White House to discuss criminal justice reform efforts with key members of Congress, including U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Whitehouse, a lead sponsor of the CORRECTIONS Act along with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), released the statement below regarding the meeting: "Both Republican and Democratic leaders agree we can pass meaningful criminal justice reform measures this year, and I was grateful for… Continue Reading
02.18.15
Rhode Islanders Discuss Whitehouse Bill to Combat Drug Addiction & Support Recovery
Pawtucket, RI - Today, at a roundtable discussion at the Anchor Recovery Community Center in Pawtucket, Rhode Islanders like Abbie Stenberg shared their experiences with opiate drug addiction with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and members of Rhode Island's drug addiction and recovery community. Whitehouse hosted the event to discuss the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015, which he introduced in the Senate last week, and to hear from those on the front lines of the fight against… Continue Reading
02.17.15
Sen. Whitehouse Condemns Vandalism at Islamic School in West Warwick
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the statement below today regarding the recent act of vandalism carried out at the Islamic School of Rhode Island in West Warwick: "This shameful incident is completely at odds with our state's founding principles, and I hope the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice. To the families and staff who were affected, please know that Rhode Island stands with you and supports you." ###… Continue Reading
02.13.15
Portman and Whitehouse Renew Push to Combat Drug Addiction and Support Americans in Recovery
Washington, D.C. - With many Americans falling victim to drug addiction and overdoses from opiates, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have renewed their push to help turn the tide in the struggle against this epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 would provide a series of incentives and resources designed to encourage states and local communities to pursue a full array of proven strategies to combat addiction - not just one or two. U.S. S… Continue Reading
02.13.15
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds DOJ Crackdown on Illegal Super PAC Coordination
Washington, DC - Today, federal prosecutors announced that a Virginia-based political consultant plead guilty to illegally coordinating spending between a 2012 congressional campaign and a super PAC. Among other crimes, the operative apparently directed a super PAC to buy ads supporting a congressional campaign he was running, a clear violation of the law. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who has long warned about this kind of conduct, applauded the news: "I'm pleased that the Department of… Continue Reading
02.13.15
Founders League & Social Enterprise Greenhouse Win $200,000 from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse announced today that startup collaboration The Founders League and Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) have been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. The grant will fund Rhode Island StartZone, a statewide program to link talented students and graduates from local colleges and universities with the resources they need to start their own company or social enterprise in Rhode Island. Whitehouse invited the Blackstone … Continue Reading
02.11.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on President’s Request for Authorization of Military Force Against ISIL
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding President Obama's request for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against the Islamic State (ISIL): "After over a decade of war, I share the concerns of many Rhode Islanders about further military engagement, but I also share their alarm over the rising influence and brutality of ISIL. President Obama's proposal would authorize our military and intelligence personnel to con… Continue Reading
02.10.15
Sens. Whitehouse, Cornyn Introduce Prison Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today announced their plans to introduce the Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers in Our National System (CORRECTIONS) Act. The bill, which would improve public safety and save taxpayer money by requiring lower-risk prisoners to participate in recidivism reduction programs to earn up to 25 percent of their sentence in prerelease custody, is based off reform efforts in both … Continue Reading
02.05.15
Whitehouse to Attend the Munich Security Conference with John McCain
Washington, DC - This weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will lead a bipartisan delegation of Members of Congress at the annual Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany. Whitehouse and McCain have traveled together regularly in recent years, including to last year's Munich Security Conference. While at the conference, Whitehouse is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion entitled "Are We Losing the War on Terror?" The discussion wi… Continue Reading
02.04.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on FCC Net Neutrality Proposal
Washington, DC - Today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced new proposed rules to preserve a free and open internet by reclassifying internet service providers as a public utility. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who signed a letter to the FCC last year urging it to adopt such changes, released the statement below regarding the proposal: "The rules proposed today by the FCC will help ensure the preservation of a free and open internet that functions equally for all u… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds EPA Comments on Keystone XL
Washington, DC - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released formal comments to the State Department regarding its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) on the Keystone XL pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline project, released the statement below regarding EPA's comments: "EPA's comments reaffirm the State Department's finding that: the additional carbon pollution from the Keystone XL pipeline would be equival… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on President’s Budget
Washington, DC - Today President Obama released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2016. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the statement below applauding the President's proposal: "The President's budget would take significant steps toward a fairer tax system while also making major investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure. This is particularly important in Rhode Island, where we have some of the oldest roads and bridge… Continue Reading
01.30.15
Sen. Whitehouse Urges Obama to Qualify Millions for Overtime Time
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is joining a group of lawmakers calling on President Barack Obama to boost wages for millions of salaried workers by setting a new income limit for overtime pay. In a letter sent this week to the President, Whitehouse and other Senators contend that overtime protections should be expanded to cover all workers who make up to $1,090 per week ($56,680 per year) and indexed to inflation. "Current regulations fail to protect the majority of the workf… Continue Reading
01.29.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Keystone Vote
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline who voted no on the bill, released the statement below regarding the vote: "Now that we have burned through three weeks of the Senate's time, Senate Republicans have succeeded in passing their first piece of legislation: a gift for Big Oil that the President has already said he will veto. I'm glad the President will … Continue Reading
01.28.15
Senate Republicans Vote to Protect Secret Spending by Big Oil
Washington, DC - As the Senate continues into its fourth week of debate on the Keystone XL pipeline legislation, Senators today voted on an amendment by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to shine a light on the special interest money that is influencing the debate. Whitehouse's amendment would have required companies or individuals who hold leases or stand to make more than $1 million from tar sands development - such as the Koch brothers - to disclose their political spending. Republican Senator… Continue Reading
01.27.15
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Offshore Oil Drilling Expansion
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced a proposal to allow offshore oil and gas drilling on the East Coast from Virginia to Georgia. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding the announcement: "I'm disappointed that the Administration is proposing to allow offshore oil and gas drilling on the East Coast. Our coastal economies, from fishing to tourism to recreation, rely on clean and safe beaches and vibrant ocean habitats. Offshore drill… Continue Reading
01.26.15
New Obama Administration Goals for Medicare Mirror Sen. Whitehouse Recommendations
Washington, DC - Today the Obama Administration announced that it is setting clear goals and a specific timeline for reforming the way doctors and hospitals are reimbursed when treating Medicare patients. The goals announced today come after U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been urging the Administration for years to set clear targets for health care delivery system reforms, arguing as early as 2011 that, "we can and must have a clear challenge to strive toward." In 2013 Whitehouse c… Continue Reading
01.26.15
With Winter Storm Juno Approaching, Delegation Requests Federal Emergency Declaration for RI
PROVIDENCE, RI - With Winter Storm Juno approaching and threatening to blast New England with high winds and a significant amount of snow, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are urging President Obama to make federal assistance available to Rhode Island, if requested, to support emergency operations and recovery due to the blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the entire state of … Continue Reading
01.23.15
Senate Republicans Shut Down Debate on Disclosure Provision that would Affect Koch Bros.; Leave Town for Koch Forum
Washington, DC - Last night, after promising an open amendment process on the Keystone XL pipeline bill, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shut down debate and moved to table a number of Democratic amendments. Among the tabled amendments was a provision by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would have required companies or individuals who hold leases or stand to make more than $1 million from tar sands development -- such as the Koch Brothers -- to disclose their political spending. After deb… Continue Reading
