Press Releases
Reed, Whitehouse Applaud Proposed Student Borrower Defense Regulations
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Education has announced proposed regulations to protect post-secondary student borrowers from predatory practices, help the victims of such practices gain relief, and increase transparency in student lending. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, who called on the Department to issue a strong "borrower defense to repayment" rule in April, cheered the new proposed regulations. "This proposal is a positive step toward improving transparency, protect… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Whitehouse Salutes Environmental Legacy of Late Rhode Island Senator John Chafee
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today took to the floor of the United States Senate to pay tribute to the environmental legacy of John Chafee, the late Republican senator from Rhode Island. In Whitehouse's 140th weekly speech on climate change, delivered thirty years after Chafee held historic Senate hearings on global warming, he commended the late Senator's bipartisan work and foresight on the issue. In June 1986, as Republican Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Sub… Continue Reading
06.13.16
Langevin Remembers, Honors Mel Benson
WARWICK, R.I. - Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) expressed his deep sadness at the passing yesterday of longtime public servant Melvoid J. Benson, one of the first African American women to serve in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Langevin spoke to Benson just days earlier to inform her that a bill he introduced to name the North Kingstown Post Office at 7715 Post Road in her honor was on the President's desk, awaiting his signature. A companion bill was introduced under the leadership of Sena… Continue Reading
06.10.16
Whitehouse, Schatz Slam Effort to Denounce Carbon Fee
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives is poised to vote on a resolution today expressing opposition to a federal carbon fee-a policy many economists, including prominent conservative ones, believe to be the best way to limit the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), authors of American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act, panned the non-binding resolution as irresponsible and further evidence of the Republican Party's ties … Continue Reading
06.09.16
Senators Whitehouse and Markey Introduce Legislation to Unleash Offshore Wind Energy Off the Shores of America
Washington, DC - As Europe now supports roughly 60,000 jobs in the offshore wind sector, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) yesterday introduced legislation that would spur the growth of offshore wind energy in the United States. The Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development (WIND) Act would extend the 30 percent Investment Tax Credit for offshore wind through 2025. Last year's omnibus bill extended the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for … Continue Reading
06.08.16
Whitehouse Releases Statement on Passage of Toxic Chemical Reform Bill
Washington, DC - The Senate last night passed legislation to update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the nation's primary toxic chemical protection law. Having passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill now goes to President Obama to be signed into law. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee who helped to broker an agreement on TSCA reform in the Senate, released the following statement on… Continue Reading
05.21.16
Whitehouse Statement on Signing of National Estuary Program Reauthorization
Washington, DC - President Barack Obama has signed into law the first reauthorization of the National Estuary Program (NEP) since it expired in 2010, allowing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the 28 individual NEPs to continue to support conservation and improvement at estuaries around the United States. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who championed the bipartisan legislation in the Senate, released the following statement on the signing: "The National Estuaries Program helps… Continue Reading
05.20.16
Whitehouse Promotes Partnerships to Advance Care for Veterans
Providence, RI - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse announced legislation to give clear authority to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter partnerships with academic medical institutions to share clinical resources, conduct research, and improve health care for veterans. He also applauded the Senate's passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill this week. The report accompanying the bill includes a provision, added at Whitehouse's request, encou… Continue Reading
05.19.16
Whitehouse, Graham, Blumenthal Announce Botnet Prevention Act
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have announced the Botnet Prevention Act of 2016, which would provide law enforcement and the courts expanded power to disrupt botnets-networks of infected computers used to commit cybercrime-and hold accountable those who create and use them. "Cybercriminals can wield these armies of zombie computers to carry out all manner of criminal activity-from pillaging private data, to shutting down… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Senate Approves Bill to Implement Fisheries Treaties
Washington, DC - The Senate has passed the Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act to implement the policies of treaties allowing for better cooperation in managing fisheries resources. With passage of this bill, the Senate has now completed implementing legislation for all of the treaties that the Senate passed in 2014 with the support of the Senate Oceans Caucus to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing - or pirate fishing. The Co-Chairs of the Senate Oceans Caucus, Senators Lisa… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Energy Bill Clears Senate EPW Committee
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted 17 to 3 to clear the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), which would create a new licensing framework for advanced reactors at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The bill's sponsors, Senators James Inhofe (R-OK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), applauded the Committee's vote. "I'm proud to join Senators Booker, Whitehouse and Crapo … Continue Reading
05.10.16
RI to Receive Over $1 Million to Support the Arts & Expand Cultural Education Opportunities
PROVIDENCE - In an effort to support community arts programs and enhance the state's creative and cultural assets, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the City of Providence, FirstWorks, Community Musicworks, WaterFire, RiverzEdge, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum, and Island Moving Company will share $1,084,500 in federal grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These federal grants will help s… Continue Reading
05.06.16
Whitehouse Releases Statement on Administration’s Incorporation Transparency and Anti-Corruption Measures
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement on efforts announced by President Obama to promote financial transparency and clamp down on tax evasion and other criminal activities: "The Panama Papers show the United States has become a top destination for criminals looking to hide illicit assets and dodge taxes. I'm glad to see the Obama Administration begin to give law enforcement access to the real owners of shell corporations. As the Senate sponsor of … Continue Reading
05.06.16
RI Health Centers Receive Nearly $3 Million to Expand Services
PROVIDENCE, RI - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that three Rhode Island health centers will receive $2,988,180 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for facility renovation and expansion, increasing access to health care for a projected 11,250 additional patients. Comprehensive Community Action in Cranston and Blackstone Valley Community Health Care in Pawtucket will receive $1 million each and the Providence Community Health Centers in Providence w… Continue Reading
05.05.16
Whitehouse Cheers CFPB Proposed Ban of Class Action Waivers
Washington, DC - Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule banning class action waivers in financial services contracts, which are clauses that force consumers of financial products-including credit cards, bank accounts, and private student loans-to use binding arbitration to settle disputes, effectively barring access to courts. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who supported the legislation that created the CFPB, applauded the new rule: "Class action waivers and forced … Continue Reading
04.29.16
Reed, Whitehouse Urge Department of Education to Give Protection and Relief to Student Borrowers Who Fall Victim to Unlawful and Unfair Practices in Higher Education
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined with 28 Senate Democrats to write to Secretary of Education Dr. John King urging him to create strong protections and a streamlined path to debt relief for student loan borrowers in the Department's forthcoming "borrower defense" rule. The letter reinforces the need to ban mandatory arbitration-which limits students' legal rights-in school enrollment agreements, and to provide debt relief for students who are victims of … Continue Reading
04.29.16
Whitehouse Issues Statement on President’s Gun Violence Executive Actions
Providence, RI - Today, President Obama announced executive actions to promote gun safety technology, track the mental health of prospective gun buyers, and engage with state and local leaders to promote gun safety and violence prevention. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, released the following statement on the announcement: "I applaud the President for continuing to take the sensible steps he can to address the epidemic of… Continue Reading
04.29.16
Whitehouse Highlights Bill to Close Corporate Loopholes Exposed by Panama Papers
Scituate, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local law enforcement officials and members of the legal community at the headquarters of the Rhode Island State Police to highlight his legislation that would make it more difficult for criminals to hide assets from tax authorities and law enforcement, addressing corporate transparency loopholes exposed in the recent Panama Papers leak. "The Panama Papers show that a criminal no longer needs a Swiss bank account or to book a trip… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act Expands Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - The bipartisan authors of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123) today announced revisions to the legislation to broaden bipartisan support for criminal justice reform. The bill is led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, and Senators Mike Lee and Sheldon Whitehouse. The revised bill is now cosponsored by a bipartisan grou… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Committee Clears Water Resources Bill with Rhode Island Priorities
Washington, D.C. - Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, which includes provisions that will promote improvements to our drinking water infrastructure and support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Rhode Island championed by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The bill now moves to the full Senate. Whitehouse is a member of EPW and helped draft the bill in Committee. He also joined Senator Jack Reed in making … Continue Reading
