Washington, D.C.—According to the latest report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), extending the Trump tax cuts for the next 10 years—as Republicans have proposed—would add $4.6 trillion to the deficit. The report, written at the urging of Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and Senator Wyden (D-OR), Chairman of the […]
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “Reducing Paperwork, Cutting Costs: Alleviating Administrative Burdens in Health Care.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Ranking Member Grassley and members of the committee, today’s hearing will examine administrative cost in health care, how it […]
Washington, D.C.—Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement after theMedicare and Social Security Boards of Trustees released their annual reports. Due to a stronger-than-expected economy, Medicare can pay full benefits for five more years than previously projected, and Social Security can pay full benefits for one additional year. “It’s good news […]
Washington, D.C.— The Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), held a hearing that exposed the fossil fuel industry’s deception and doublespeak to mislead the public and avoid accountability for climate change. The hearing followed the release of shocking new documents alongside a joint staff report, published by the Senate Budget Committee and Democrats on […]
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “Denial, Disinformation, and Doublespeak: Big Oil’s Evolving Efforts to Avoid Accountability for Climate Change.” The hearing follows the release of a joint staff report produced by the Senate Budget Committee and House Committee on […]
Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2024)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, released a joint staff report, entitled “Denial, Disinformation, and Doublespeak: Big Oil’s Evolving Efforts to Avoid Accountability for Climate Change.” Today’s report marks a major milestone in […]
Washington, D.C.—In advance of Tax Day on Monday, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “Sunny Places for Shady People: Offshore Tax Evasion by the Wealthy and Corporations.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: On Tax Day Monday, the vast majority of Americans […]
Washington, D.C.— Amid mounting warnings of economic and budgetary catastrophes caused by climate change, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, sent a letter to the Committee’s Republican members detailing how many of these warnings are already beginning to come true and imploring them to act to stave off climate-related systemic risks to the economy. […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’shearing, titled “Recreation at Risk: The Nature of Climate Costs.” According to the latest data from the Department of Commerce, the outdoor industry generates $1.1 trillion in economic output, accounts for nearly five million jobs, and makes up 2.2% […]
Washington, DC—Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter on Monday to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation renewing all requests for information and documents set out in the Committee’s November letter related to the company’s plans to address increased underwriting losses from climate-related extreme weather events and other disasters. The letter follows new comments […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Good morning to our Committee members, and a special welcome to our witness, Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and […]
Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after President Biden released his Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025: “President Biden has released a fiscally responsible budget that puts the middle class first and lays out a vision for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America. “From lowering […]
Washington, D.C.—This morning, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, held a hearing titled “How Primary Care Improves Health Care Efficiency,” to highlight how strengthening primary care can deliver better health care, lower costs, and improve outcomes for patients. The U.S. spends more on health care as a share of its GDP than […]
Washington, D.C.—This morning, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, held a legislative markup of S. 1274, the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act. The bipartisan legislation would permanently exempt railroad workers’ unemployment and sickness insurance benefits from mandated sequestration cuts. It was introduced by Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), […]
Washington, D.C.—Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced today that the Committee will hold a markup of the bipartisan Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 9:30 AM in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 608. The legislation was introduced by Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) with original co-sponsors Senators […]
Washington, D.C.—While holding hostage the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, MAGA Republicans demanded $20 billion in cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) now finds will add $24 billion to the deficit—even more than previously reported. According to a new CBO report, prepared at the […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “No Rights to Speak of: The Economic Harms of Restricting Reproductive Freedom.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: I call this hearing to order. Today we will discuss women’s rights — their right to bodily […]
Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued a statement following the annual release of the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Budget and Economic Outlook: “Today’s CBO baseline confirms that Democrats’ investments to jumpstart our recovery and promote a stronger economy worked: CBO is now projecting faster economic growth, lower deficits, and […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “A Blueprint for Prosperity: Expanding Housing Affordability.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Welcome back, Senator Johnson. This morning, we’ll discuss how investments in expanding housing affordability can drive economic growth. For decades, the United […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing,titled “Warming Seas, Cooling Economy: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Ocean Industries.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: These hearings on the economic and budgetary costs of climate change press the point that caring about debt […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing, titled “Investing in the Future: Safeguarding Municipal Bonds from Climate Risk.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Welcome to the first hearing of the Senate Budget Committee in 2024 and our twelfth hearing on the looming […]
This afternoon, CBO released a letter that showed just how devastating sequestration cuts to nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs would be under the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) if funding remained at the amount specified in the current continuing resolution (CR) and Republicans are allowed to walk away from the bipartisan spending deal. Because the analysis is […]
Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, released a letter calling out Congressional Republicans for their hypocrisy when it comes to deficit reduction. The letter, responding to a letter dated December 5, 2023, from Ranking Member Grassley and Republican members of the Budget Committee, highlights Republicans’ support for budget-busting tax cuts […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today opened a bipartisan investigation into the effects of private equity ownership on our nation’s hospitals. Senators Whitehouse and Grassley sent letters to the chief executive officers (CEOs) of Leonard Green & Partners, Prospect Medical Holdings, Medical Properties Trust, Apollo […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a result of an ongoing bipartisan Senate Budget Committee investigation, Credit Suisse has agreed to reinstate Independent Ombudsperson Neil Barofsky to oversee the bank’s internal investigation into its historic servicing of previously undisclosed Nazi-linked accounts. Credit Suisse was approached in 2020 with credible information that it had held potential Nazi-linked accounts that […]
Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, launched an investigation into Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. The Committee seeks documents and information about Citizens’ plans to address increased underwriting losses from climate-related extreme weather events and other disasters such as tropical cyclones, intense precipitation events, droughts, heatwaves, sea level rise, and […]
Washington, D.C.—Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) insisted the Senate vote on his amendment to cut $30 billion from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and 15 percent from all discretionary spending except veterans and defense as a condition of keeping the […]
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing,titled “Fairness and Fiscal Responsibility: Cracking Down on Wealthy Tax Cheats.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Today’s hearing is entitled “Fairness and Fiscal Responsibility: Cracking Down on Wealthy Tax Cheats.” Most Americans follow the law and […]
Today’s hearing is entitled “Fairness and Fiscal Responsibility: Cracking Down on Wealthy Tax Cheats.” Most Americans follow the law and pay their taxes on time and in full. Many of the very wealthiest Americans, however, play by their own rules. Empowered by a tax code that is rigged in their favor, they rob the public […]
Washington, D.C.—Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and fellow Committee member Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) launched an investigation into how insurance companies are navigating mounting risks from climate change, including where companies will next pull coverage or raise premiums. The inquiry builds on a related investigation the Committee launched in June […]