WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today released episode three of his new podcast, Making the Case, breaking down the long effort by right-wing activists and Republican-appointed justices to dismantle reproductive freedom in America. The third episode of Making the Case is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other po  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 29 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Today, after Judge William E. Smith, 63, announced his intention to take "senior status" on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, starting January 1, 2025, upon the confirmation of his successor, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse congratulated him on his years of service on the federal bench. Senior status allows federal judges who have reach  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 29 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Today, after Judge William E. Smith, 63, announced his intention to take "senior status" on the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, starting January 1, 2025, upon the confirmation of his successor, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse congratulated him on his years of service on the federal bench. Senior status allows federal judges who h  more

KINGSTON, Rhode Island, June 28 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: In an effort to support innovation opportunities for new and existing biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ventures in Rhode Island and the surrounding northeast biotech corridor, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is teaming up with the University of Rhode Island (URI) to boost workforce development programs. Today, Senator Reed delivered a $1,212,000 federal earmark to support facility a  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 30 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on June 29, 2023: * * * Today, after six justices on the U.S. Supreme Court rejected 40 years of a twice-reaffirmed precedent and struck down affirmative action in college admissions, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement: "We have a commitment in this country to all of our citizens and giving everyone a chance. Diversity strengthens our nation because it fuels innovation and co  more

NEWPORT, Rhode Island, June 27 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: In an effort to upgrade the Ocean State's digital infrastructure and increase access to high-speed internet for all Rhode Islanders, U.S. Senator Jack Reed voted to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) in 2021--which delivered an historic $65 billion to upgrade the nation's high-speed broadband infrastructure, including $42.5 billion in Broadb  more

WARWICK, Rhode Island, June 29 -- Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Today, Representative Seth Magaziner announced the introduction of his bill, H.R.3863: Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act, along with representatives of Rhode Island law enforcement, gun safety advocacy groups, and members of our community whose lives have been personally impacted by gun violence. This legislation, introduced during National Gun Violence Awareness Month with c  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following opening statement at a June 13, 2023, confirmation hearing for Gen. Eric M. Smith to be commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps: * * * Good morning. The committee meets today to consider the nomination of General Eric Smith to be the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps. General, I would like to welcome your wife, Trish; your daughter, Elise, and son-in-law, Matthew; and your  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following opening statement at a hearing on March 29, 2023, entitled "Left Holding the Bag: The Cost of Oil Dependence in a Low-Carbon World": * * * Ranking Member Grassley, colleagues, welcome to the fifth Committee hearing in our series on the economic and budgetary havoc that climate change threatens to wreak. The last four hearings on this topic presented expert testimony on   more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following opening statement at a hearing on April 18, 2023, entitled "A Rigged System: The Cost of Tax Dodging by the Wealthy and Big Corporations": * * * There are two sides to the budget: spending and revenues. While some colleagues only want to look at the spending side, the US has never run a modern-era balanced budget unless revenues neared 20% of GDP. Most revenues come thr  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 27 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: In an effort to give law enforcement another tool to keep our communities safe by cracking down on every link in the illicit fentanyl supply chain, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, under the leadership of Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), recently passed the bipartisan Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act. This sancti  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to uplift and support aquaculture and aquaculture farmers and harvesters. The Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood (SHELLS) Act will create a program office for aquaculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bolster shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers, protect food  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined colleagues to reintroduce the Mental Health Services for Students Act, which would strengthen school-based mental health services for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The legislation would also help schools in Rhode Island and nationwide partner with local mental health providers to establish on-site mental health services for stude  more