Press Releases
Senators Call on Election Commission to Make Campaign-Related Spending More Transparent
Washington, DC - Voters deserve to know who is paying for political advertisements, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and 10 of his fellow Senators wrote today in a letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). As the FEC considers changes to its rules in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC, the Senators called on the Commission to implement broad disclosure and disclaimer requirements so that voters know who is funding campaign-related commercials. Through Citi… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Whitehouse and Reed Introduce Amendment to Fund Transportation Projects
Washington, DC - As the U.S. Senate continues debating legislation to authorize vital federal transportation funding that will support thousands of jobs in Rhode Island, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today filed an amendment to the bill to fund a program specifically targeted toward large-scale infrastructure projects across the country. The "Projects of National and Regional Significance" program, which could aid in the repair of the I-95 Viaduct in Providence, would make grants available through… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Whitehouse Statement on New Cybersecurity Legislation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a former member of the Intelligence Committee who chaired the committee's 2010 Cyber Task Force, released the statement below today regarding legislation introduced in the Senate to safeguard our nation from cyber attacks. The final proposed bill - the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 - includes Whitehouse's Cyber Security Public Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) last year. "Today, with the introduc… Continue Reading
02.13.12
Whitehouse Commends President’s Budget Proposal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, today welcomed the Obama Administration's Fiscal Year 2013 federal budget proposal, which levels the playing field for all Americans, upholds the President's commitment to long-term deficit reduction, and continues critical investments in the middle class that will grow the economy and create jobs. The proposed budget would restore fairness to the tax code by implementing the "Buffett Rule," mirr… Continue Reading
02.09.12
Whitehouse Statement on Foreclosure Settlement
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below regarding today's announced $25 billion settlement between federal authorities, 49 states, including Rhode Island, and the five largest mortgage servicers: Ally Financial, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Rhode Island is expected to receive a total of $172 million under the settlement, which addresses claims that the banks used improper foreclosure practices such as "robo-signing" do… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Nearly 15,000 RI’ers Benefitted from “Doughnut Hole” Fix in 2011
Washington, DC - In 2010, 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 left thousands of Rhode Island seniors paying the total cost of their prescription drugs every year. According to a recent report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 14,822 Rhode Island seniors received prescription drug discounts as a result of the law in 2011, for a total savin… Continue Reading
02.01.12
Senate Adopts Whitehouse Resolution Designating February as “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month”
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has adopted by unanimous consent a resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse designating the month of February 2012 as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month." The resolution, coauthored with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), calls on young people, families, schools, and law enforcement officials to take part in educational programs, community outreach activities, and social marketing campaigns throughout the month of February that pr… Continue Reading
02.01.12
Whitehouse Brings RI Business Leaders to Washington
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee held a meeting to hear from businesses around the country that have succeeded and created jobs despite the tough economy. Two Rhode Island businesses sent representatives to the meeting to share their experience and expertise. Allan Tear from Betaspring in Providence, and Giovanni Feroce from Alex and Ani, Inc. in Cranston joined the meeting at the invitation of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "As we work to b… Continue Reading
02.01.12
Whitehouse Introduces “Buffett Rule” Legislation
Fighting for the "Buffett Rule" Washington, DC - Last week, in his State of the Union address, President Obama said: "Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule." Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation to make that goal a reality and put an end to a tax policy that often asks middle class workers to pay higher tax rates than individuals earning more than $1 million per year. The Paying a Fair Share Act, which is cosponsored by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Mark… Continue Reading
01.26.12
Whitehouse Shares RI Letters on Citizens United
Washington, DC - Last weekend marked the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates of unlimited and anonymous campaign spending by corporations. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) spoke on the Senate floor to mark the anniversary and advocate for better regulation of our campaign finance system. He also incorporated comments from Rhode Islanders who had shared their thoughts on Citizens United on this web page. W… Continue Reading
01.25.12
Whitehouse Statement on Passing of Gov. Garrahy
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today honoring former Rhode Island Governor Joe Garrahy and Bill Dugan, the Governor's Chief of Staff. Both men passed away this week. "Today Sandra's and my thoughts and prayers are with Margherite and the entire Garrahy family. Governor Garrahy was a friend who was always very kind and supportive to me. I salute his legendary service to our state. We will never forget his ready smile, the famous plaid … Continue Reading
01.24.12
Whitehouse Statement on President’s State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - Tonight, in his annual State of the Union address, President Obama articulated a commitment to American manufacturing jobs and talked about the need to make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share to restore economic stability. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who is fighting to end a tax policy that rewards manufacturers for sending jobs overseas, released the following statement regarding the speech. "President Obama put forward a strong vision for our natio… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Whitehouse Visits Burma, Southeast Asia with Bipartisan Group
Washington, DC - Following President Obama's recent announcement of a new national defense strategy that puts strategic emphasis on interests in the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has just concluded a trip to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma led by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ). The delegation also included Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT). The trip, which was intended to reaffirm America's commitment to economic and strategic relationships in the regio… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Whitehouse Nominates Four Rhode Islanders for U.S. Service Academies
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the nomination of four Rhode Islanders for consideration to the United States Service Academies. Whitehouse has nominated Andrea Coutoulakis of East Greenwich and Rachel McAteer of Cranston to the U.S. Naval Academy, John Tougas, Jr., of Pawtucket to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Ethan Lundgren of Barrington to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. "As a member of Congress, I have the privilege of nominating some of Rhode I… Continue Reading
01.23.12
$876,000 Fire Safety Grants Awarded to North Kingstown and Woonsocket
Washington, DC - In an effort to enhance public safety and help fire departments purchase new equipment and provide necessary training to firefighters and paramedics, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced more than $876,000 in federal grants for the North Kingstown and Woonsocket Fire Departments. The North Kingstown Fire Department will receive $577,631 to upgrade their mobile and base station communications equi… Continue Reading
01.20.12
RIC Student to Join Whitehouse for State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - In the past year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been fighting hard to protect the Pell Grant program from harmful budget cuts. As he prepares to continue that fight in the New Year, Whitehouse today announced that Travis Escobar, a Rhode Island College student who relies on Pell Grants to afford college, will be his guest at President Obama's State of the Union address this Tuesday. "As the cost of higher education continues to skryrocket in our country, Pell Gran… Continue Reading
01.20.12
Whitehouse Joins Senators in Calling on SEC to Demand Disclosure of Corporate Political Spending
Washington, DC - With the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United decision approaching this weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined 14 of his colleagues in calling for more transparency in campaign spending. In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Senators called for new rules requiring full public disclosure of corporate political spending. "We believe that the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision has had profoundly … Continue Reading
01.19.12
Whitehouse Applauds Administration Decision on Keystone Pipeline
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration's decision to deny a permit for the construction of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline: "By forcing an arbitrary deadline into this year's budget bill, House Republicans tried to short-circuit the environmental review process for the Keystone XL permit. Serious questions remain regarding the safety of the pipeline, and the Obama Administration did the responsible thi… Continue Reading
01.18.12
Reed and Whitehouse Announce $6.45 Million in Disaster Relief Funds
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help repair and restore infrastructure damaged by the historic floods of 2010 and Hurricane Irene, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the federal government is releasing $6.45 million in federal funds for the Rhode Island Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EPW). NRCS will receive $6 million for 3 sites that were severely damaged by the 2010 floods and $450,000 for two sites damaged… Continue Reading
01.12.12
Whitehouse Meets with RI National Guard Members
Cranston, RI - In the final weeks before Congress adjourned for 2011, a number of important provisions were passed to better protect and honor our troops. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse met with a group of Rhode Island National Guard members to provide an update on those legislative victories, and to discuss progress on issues raised during a town hall meeting Whitehouse held with Guard members in 2010. Whitehouse also heard from attendees about their concerns and priorities for the ye… Continue Reading
