Press Releases
Senate Committee Approves Key Education Bill
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has approved bipartisan legislation to re-authorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - a law which was last updated under President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative in 2001. The legislation approved by the Committee will eliminate some of the more burdensome requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" law, and also contains a key provision to improve our nation's middle schools whi… Continue Reading
10.20.11
Whitehouse Statement on Passing of John Hardiman
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today honoring Rhode Island Public Defender John Hardiman, who passed away yesterday: "Today my thoughts and prayers are with the family of John Hardiman, who dedicated his life to upholding the law and ensuring fair access to our system of justice for all Rhode Islanders," said Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for Rhode Island. "I'm grateful that I got to know and work with John during… Continue Reading
10.19.11
RI Seniors to Receive First Social Security Boost in Three Years
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded an announcement by the Social Security Administration that seniors will receive an increase in their benefits next year for the first time since 2009. Rhode Island seniors and disabled people receiving Social Security benefits will see a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3.6 percent in their monthly checks starting in January. "This is welcome news for Rhode Island seniors struggling to stay afloat in this tough economy,"… Continue Reading
10.13.11
U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Create a New National Historical Park in the Blackstone Valley
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to preserve the industrial heritage and natural and cultural resources of the Blackstone Valley, and help provide economic development opportunities for the region, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Scott Brown (R-MA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to create the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. As the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, this area is a national tre… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Whitehouse: We Must Take Action to Create Jobs
Washington, DC - Yesterday evening, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called on his Senate colleagues to work together to create jobs for the American people. In a speech submitted to the Congressional Record, Whitehouse urged passage of President Obama's American Jobs Act, and shared the story of a Narragansett family struggling to make ends meet to highlight the need for immediate action. "With 61,000 Rhode Islanders and millions of Americans currently looking for jobs, we must take swif… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Thousands of RI Seniors Benefitting from “Doughnut Hole” Fix
Washington, DC - Last year, as part of the health care reform law, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) helped lead the successful fight to end the Medicare Part D prescription drug "doughnut hole" which leaves thousands of Rhode Island seniors paying the total cost of their prescription drugs every year. According to a recently released report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, more than 6,700 Rhode Island seniors have received prescription drug discounts as a result of the la… Continue Reading
10.11.11
U.S. Senate Passes Legislation to Support Manufacturing Jobs
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to crack down on unfair currency manipulation by China and other nations. The bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), supports American manufacturing jobs by giving the Administration new tools to combat currency manipulation. It passed by a vote of 63-35. "Today we took a critical step toward putting a stop to this practice and leveling the playing field… Continue Reading
10.06.11
USDA Approves Statewide Disaster Declaration for RI Farmers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved natural disaster declaration assistance for all Rhode Island farmers that suffered damage as a result of Tropical Storm Irene. This declaration paves the way for farmers throughout Rhode Island to seek financial assistance for their losses due to the severe weather. Previously, the USDA had made farmers in Bristol, Newport, and Providence counties eligible… Continue Reading
10.03.11
Whitehouse Statement on Vote to Advance Currency Manipulation Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding the successful procedural vote in the U.S. Senate to advance legislation that would crack down on unfair currency manipulation by China and other nations. The Senate voted this evening to invoke cloture on a motion to begin debate on the bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, setting up a final vote on the bill for later this week. "As I travel around the state, I've heard over… Continue Reading
09.30.11
RI Receives $3 Million to Help Students GEAR UP for College
PROVIDENCE, RI -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined with students and education officials at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence to announce a new federal grant that could provide up to $18 million over the next several years to help public school students across the state succeed in school and prepare for college. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program is designed to help economically disadvantaged students su… Continue Reading
09.28.11
Providence to Receive $1.35 Million COPS Hiring Grant
PROVIDENCE, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives David Cicilline and James Langevin today announced the Providence Police Department is receiving $1.35 million to add 5 more police officers to patrols this year. Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, this COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant will help put more police officers on the streets, reduce crime, and help the city fill budget gaps. "This… Continue Reading
09.26.11
CCRI to Receive $3.4 Million in Federal Funding to Help Train Workers for New Careers
PROVIDENCE, RI -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will receive more than $3.4 million for targeted job training and workforce development to help economically dislocated workers who are changing careers and increase the number of Rhode Islanders with a college degree or industry recognized credential. This federal grant will support partnerships between CCRI and employers to develop programs that provide pathways t… Continue Reading
09.23.11
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Day
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution declaring this Saturday, September 24, to be National Estuaries Day. The resolution was sponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Scott Brown (R-MA) and cosponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), , Ben Cardin (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Barbara Miku… Continue Reading
09.23.11
Whitehouse Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Prohibit the Use of Laser Pointers to Target Aircraft
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on individuals who shine laser pointers at aircraft - an action that can temporarily blind pilots and put passengers at risk. The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mark Kirk (R-IL), would make it a crime to knowingly aim a laser pointer at an aircraft, and subject violators to fines or… Continue Reading
09.22.11
Whitehouse Cosponsors Bill to Crack Down on Chinese Currency Manipulation
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is continuing his fight to bolster Rhode Island manufacturing jobs, cosponsoring new legislation to crack down on unfair currency manipulation by China and other nations. The bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act would amend U.S. trade laws to counter the economic harm to American manufacturers caused by currency manipulation. "Currency manipulation by China and other nations makes it harder for American manufacture… Continue Reading
09.22.11
Senators Introduce Resolution to Defend Pell Grants
Washington, DC - With so many American families still feeling the effects of our nation's economic downturn, the Pell Grant program is more important than ever for students struggling to afford a college education. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a resolution in the Senate to defend the Pell Grant program and make it clear that the program should not be cut in any deficit reduction package. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Frank Lautenberg (D… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Senate Committee Approves Funding for Whitehouse’s Oceans Endowment
Washington, DC - Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes in order to protect our oceans and coasts, and the jobs they support. Today, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), of which Whitehouse is a member, took an important step toward establishing this program by approving legislation to provide funding for the Endowment. "This is a major step towar… Continue Reading
09.16.11
New Infrastructure Improvements to Help Boost Economic Development in Bristol
BRISTOL, RI - Bristol business owners and local officials today joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative David Cicilline to discuss the positive economic impact of a new $2.96 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant that will help fund local infrastructure improvements, alleviate future flooding, and boost economic development. Reed and Whitehouse secured this emergency economic recovery funding in the Fiscal Year 2010 Supplemental Appr… Continue Reading
09.16.11
Senators Urge Obama to Protect Medicare Benefits
Washington, DC - With President Obama set to unveil a plan next week to pay for his proposed American Jobs Act by, among other things, "making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare," a group of U.S. Senators wrote to the President today urging him to protect Medicare benefits for seniors. In their letter, the Senators urge the Administration to prioritize delivery system reform in their efforts to reduce health care costs - not cut benefits for our seniors and disabled citizen… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Whitehouse Thanks Brown President Simmons for Service
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the statement below regarding today's announcement by Brown University President Ruth Simmons that she will be stepping down at the end of this academic year: "I join the Brown and greater Rhode Island community in thanking President Simmons for her service to the university, the City of Providence, and the State of Rhode Island. During her tenure, the contribution of Brown's students, faculty, and alumni has only strengthened Brown's re… Continue Reading
