Oversight
Whitehouse Opening Statement at Hearing on Insurance Upheaval from Climate Change
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 “Riskier Business: How Climate Change is Already Challenging Insurance Markets.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Members of the Committee, witnesses, guests. More than a year has passed since our hearing on climate havoc in the insurance industry upending housing markets, mortgage markets, and loca… Continue Reading
05.23.24
Budget, Finance Committees Launch Joint Investigation into Donald Trump’s Quid Pro Quo Offer to Big Oil
Washington, D.C.— Following reports that former President Donald Trump made quid pro quo propositions to Big Oil executives—promising to roll back climate policies if he were re-elected in exchange for donations to his campaign—Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) are demanding answers from nine oil and gas companies and their trade associations. As has been widely reported, former President Trump requested $1 billion in … Continue Reading
05.22.24
Whitehouse, Raskin Urge DOJ to Investigate Fossil Fuel Disinformation
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse and House Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Big Oil for its decades-long disinformation campaign to mislead the public about the climate effects of fossil fuels and obstruct climate action. The letter follows multiple House Oversight Committee hearings and memoranda—as well as the release of a joint staff report and a Senate Budget hearing—major mi… Continue Reading
05.15.24
Whitehouse Opening Statement at Hearing on Climate Change and the Costs to National Security
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 “Budgeting for the Storm: Climate Change and the Costs to National Security.” Chairman Whitehouse’s remarks, as prepared for delivery: Ranking Member Grassley, members of the committee, witnesses, and guests: welcome. As we examine the looming economic dangers of climate change, today we’ll learn about the strain it’s placi… Continue Reading
05.08.24
Extending Trump Tax Cuts Would Add $4.6 Trillion to the Deficit, CBO Finds
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 Senate Finance Committee, finds that the extension would cost $1.1 trillion more than previously estimated. The Trump tax cuts ov… Continue Reading
05.08.24
Whitehouse Opening Statement at Hearing on Alleviating Administrative Burdens in Health Care
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 harms patients and providers, and how much it increase… Continue Reading
05.06.24
Whitehouse Statement on Medicare and Social Security Trustees Reports
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 that Medicare and Social Security can pay full benefits for longer, but it’s cold comfort to the milli… Continue Reading
05.04.24
ICYMI – Senate Budget Committee Exposes Big Oil’s Evolving Efforts to Avoid Accountability for Climate Change
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 the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, as part of a multi-year investigation that was initiated… Continue Reading
04.30.24
New Joint Bicameral Staff Report Reveals Big Oil’s Campaign of Climate Denial, Disinformation, and Doublespeak
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 a multi-year investigation—initiated by House Oversight Committee Democrats and now a joint investigat… Continue Reading
04.10.24
Whitehouse: Offshore Tax Evasion by Big Corporations, the Wealthy Cheats American People
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 will have paid the taxes they owe. That’s because most Americans have taxes taken out of every payc… Continue Reading
03.25.24
Chairman Whitehouse Responds to Committee Republicans’ Complaints, Details How Climate-Related Economic Risks Discussed in Committee Hearings Are Already Beginning to Occur
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. “[W]hen at least $10 trillion of our national debt stems from two exogenous shocks to the economy—namely, t… Continue Reading
03.20.24
Whitehouse: Climate Change is Threatening the Outdoor Recreation Industry
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% of U.S. GDP. But climate change is radically reshaping the outdoors and the outdoor industry… Continue Reading
03.19.24
Whitehouse Presses Citizens Property Insurance for Answers about Company’s Solvency
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 from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to CNBC that Citizens “is not solvent,” a statement that al… Continue Reading
03.12.24
Whitehouse Statement at Hearing on the President’s Budget
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 Budget. Director Young, it’s always a pleasure to have you here before our Committ… Continue Reading
03.11.24
Whitehouse Statement on the President’s FY 2025 Budget Proposal
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 health care and prescription drug costs for tens of millions of Americans, to ensuring Medicare solvency forever and pro… Continue Reading
03.06.24
Whitehouse Holds Hearing Highlighting How Strengthening Primary Care Would Improve Patient Health, Reduce Costs
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 peer countries, but U.S. life expectancy is below that of its peers—and it is falling. At the hearing, Chairman Whiteh… Continue Reading
03.06.24
Whitehouse Advances Bipartisan REEF Act to Protect Railroad Workers’ Unemployment and Sickness Insurance Benefits
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), with original co-sponsors Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The Bud… Continue Reading
03.05.24
Chairman Whitehouse Announces Markup of Bipartisan REEF Act
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 Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). What: Markup of S. 1274, The Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (… Continue Reading
02.29.24
Republicans’ IRS cuts to add $24 billion to the deficit, finds CBO
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 request of Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the net increase to the deficit is 24% larger than CBO had previousl… Continue Reading
02.28.24
WHITEHOUSE: “Reproductive justice is economic justice”
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 autonomy, their right to set the course of their own life, and their right to economic freedom. … Continue Reading