Press Releases
Sen. Whitehouse Applauds Administration’s Push on Fuel Efficiency
Washington, DC - Today President Obama announced that he is directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and issue the next phase of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards by March 2016. The standards, which are the latest piece of the President's Climate Action Plan, would help to reduce the carbon pollution that is contributing to climate change. "These standards will be a win-win for the American p… Continue Reading
02.12.14
Sen. Whitehouse: Obamacare is Working
Washington, DC - Today the Department of Health and Human Services announced that nearly 1.1 million people selected health insurance plans using the Affordable Care Act marketplaces in January alone, bringing total marketplace enrollment to nearly 3.3 million. This news follows an announcement yesterday that more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders have obtained health insurance coverage since the state's marketplace opened in October. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement bel… Continue Reading
02.12.14
Senate Oceans Caucus Fighting Against Pirate Fishing
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus is standing up for American fishermen who play by the rules and are put at a competitive disadvantage from illegal pirate fishing. The co-chairs of the Caucus are lending their support to four treaties - subject of a hearing this afternoon in a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee - that would address these and other issues affecting fisheries at home and abroad. The treaties were all recommended for ratification by the President, but have not … Continue Reading
02.11.14
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Steroids
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today introduced legislation to end a loophole that allows designer anabolic steroids to easily be found online, in gyms, and even in retail stores. The Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act would help protect consumers from these harmful products by properly classifying them as controlled substances and increasing criminal penalties for importing, manufacturing, or distributing them under false labels. Designer st… Continue Reading
02.06.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Republican Obstruction of Unemployment Benefits
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's failed votes in the Senate to extend emergency unemployment benefits: "Right now, thousands of Rhode Islanders remain out of work because of the slow economy. But that's not their fault, and we should do everything we can to support them as our economy continues to recover. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Senate Republicans today continued blocking aid to these Rhode Islanders by voting … Continue Reading
02.06.14
Whitehouse to EPA: We Are Counting on You
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) visited the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to testify in its public hearing on proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants. The full text of Whitehouse's testimony, as delivered, is below. -------------------------------------------------- This year is our thirty-seventh straight year with a global temperature above the twentieth century average. It's the fourth hottest year on record in the… Continue Reading
02.05.14
Whitehouse Statement on CVS Announcement on Tobacco
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the statement below regarding CVS Caremark's announcement that it will no longer carry tobacco products in its stores: "I am proud to see CVS Caremark - a leading Rhode Island business - take action to protect Americans' health. As the U.S. Surgeon General recently reported, thousands of Americans die early from smoking each year, costing the American econom… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Rhode Island to Receive $3 Million in Heating Assistance
Providence, RI - The Obama Administration announced Thursday that Rhode Island will receive $3 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help low-income Rhode Islanders pay their heating bills. Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse asked U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to expedite the release of these funds, citing high energy costs and extreme cold afflicting the region. "During these difficu… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Whitehouse Traveling to Munich Security Conference
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is joining U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to lead a congressional delegation to Munich, Germany this weekend to participate in the 50th annual Munich Security Conference. Whitehouse is the senior Democrat in the delegation and McCain is the senior Republican. "I'm honored to join Senator McCain and so many other colleagues at this prestigious event," said Whitehouse. "The conference features many of the world's leading experts on a ran… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Bicameral Task Force Co-Chairs React to Final SEIS on the Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON, DC- Today Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Co-Chairs Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse commented on the State Department release of the final supplemental environmental impact statement of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The statement includes projections of the carbon pollution impacts of the Keystone XL pipeline based on expected values for oil prices, tar sands production costs, transportation costs, supply-demand assumptions, and other pipelines, as well… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Senate Passes Bill to Fix Flood Insurance Program
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today approved legislation by a vote of 67-32 to spare many homeowners from sharp rate hikes in federal flood insurance policies. The legislation delays certain rate hikes for four years and requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete an affordability study and develop recommendations for a policy to assist homeowners who cannot afford their premiums. The bill, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, was passed in response to c… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Sens. & Rep. to FTC: Outlet Stores May Be Misleading Consumers
Washington, DC - Four Members of Congress are asking for a federal investigation into potentially misleading marketing practices by outlet stores across the United States. In a letter sent today to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) called on the agency to look into claims that merchants may be selling lower quality items produced specifically for outlet store… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Retirement of Rep. Waxman
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding Rep. Henry A. Waxman's announcement that he will retire at the end of this year: "Two of the historic experiences I've had in the Senate have been to serve with Ted Kennedy and to work with Henry Waxman, both giants on the legislative landscape. Henry is one of the most forceful advocates for progressive causes our nation has ever known, and his work has improved the lives of millions of Americ… Continue Reading
01.29.14
Senate Passes Whitehouse Amendment to Cut Through Red Tape on Habitat Projects
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment authored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to cut through red tape and burdensome costs that can hamper habitat restoration projects. The amendment, which was added to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act by voice vote, facilitates habitat restoration projects by exempting those funded with federal, state, or local dollars from fees associated with a request for a flood insurance rate map change. "Habitat restoration pr… Continue Reading
01.28.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on President’s State of the Union Address - 2014
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight President Obama made clear that he is committed to using the full power of his office to address some of the major issues facing our country. From addressing the minimum wage, to advancing job creation and addressing carbon pollution, there is a great deal that the President can do now, without delay. I stand ready to support his efforts because… Continue Reading
01.27.14
RI Energy Efficiency Leader to Join Sen. Whitehouse for State of the Union Address
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that his guest for this year's State of the Union address will be Scott DePasquale, CEO of Utilidata - a Providence-based company that produces technology to help reduce energy waste from power lines between utilities' substations and their customers. The company moved to Providence from Spokane, Washington approximately two years ago and - with 36 employees and more hires coming soon - is growing quickly. "Scott's work i… Continue Reading
01.24.14
Reed & Whitehouse Urge Changes to Fix Flood Insurance Reform
WASHINGTON, DC - As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote next week on flood insurance reform, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse are urging passage of the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. Reed, Whitehouse, and 29 of their colleagues are cosponsors of legislation that would limit abrupt increases in premiums for homeowners in older homes or in homes newly mapped into the floodplain. The bill will also require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to compl… Continue Reading
01.15.14
Whitehouse Launches New Senate Initiative on Climate Change
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to announce the formation of the Senate Climate Action Task Force - a group of 18 Senators committed to fighting for action on climate change. The group will complement Senator Whitehouse's weekly climate speeches and the efforts of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change that he co-founded with Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA). The purpose of the Senate Climate Action Task Force is to bett… Continue Reading
01.14.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Federal Spending Deal
Washington, DC - Last night, Congressional negotiators unveiled a final spending plan for the federal government for fiscal year 2014. The plan allocates specific funding amounts for the budget deal passed by Congress last month. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the statement below regarding the spending plan: "While this agreement is not perfect, I'm pleased that it secures funding for some important Rhode Island priorities. For examp… Continue Reading
01.14.14
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Vote to Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's failed votes in the Senate to extend emergency unemployment benefits: "Right now, thousands of Rhode Islanders who lost their unemployment benefits last month are worried about how they will make ends meet. Emergency unemployment benefits help families stay in their homes and put food on the table while they search for jobs, and we should make sure these benefits remain available for those wh… Continue Reading
