Going Green

Whitehouse: God Won't Save Us from Climate Change

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse rebuts "magical thinking" masquerading as religious viewpoint on carbon pollution.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday to rebut the remark of a fellow senator, whom, he said, told him God wouldn't allow humanity to ruin the planet with carbon pollution and climate change. "It is less an expression of religious thinking than it is of magical thinking," Whitehouse said. The remark sweeps aside consequences, duty, responsibility and awareness of the issue of climate change, he said. "That is seeking magical deliverance from our troubles, not divine guidance through our troubles," Whitehouse said. The Senator hasn't attributed the remark that spurred the speech, but The Huffington Post reports Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) recently said he didn't know what humans have done to Mother Nature. In …

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Whitehouse to Hear from South Kingstown Seniors

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will speak to South Kingstown seniors at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Release courtesy the office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. On Thursday, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will visit the South Kingstown Senior Center to hear from local seniors and to discuss his efforts to prevent cuts to Social Security. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. In particular, Whitehouse will discuss his opposition to the so-called “chained CPI” proposal included in the President’s budget. If implemented, the proposal would reduce annual cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients. Whitehouse, who is a founding member of the Senate’s Defending Social Security Caucus, has built a strong record of advocacy for Rhode Island seniors.  He is a cosponsor of the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act, which would …

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Reed, Whitehouse Hosting Service Academy Day Saturday

If you have a high school junior interested in serving the country, an info session is being held Saturday at CCRI.

Tomorrow morning, senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse will host a U.S. Military Service Academy Day for high school students from schools across the state.  The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick. This informational seminar is open to all high school students and their parents who are interested in learning about the requirements and procedures for seeking a Congressional nomination and obtaining an appointment to one of the United States Service Academies.  However, the program is specifically geared for students currently enrolled in their junior year of high school. “I am always pleased to host this annual event to familiarize Rhode Island students with the application and …

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Strictly Business

Delegation Seeks to Give Fishermen Say on Squid

Jack Reed, Jim Langevin and Sheldon Whitehouse are petitioning for two Rhode Island seats on a fishery council.

Release courtesy the office of Senator Jack Reed. At 10:15 a.m. Thursday in Galilee, U.S. Senator Jack Reed will be joined by U.S. Representative Jim Langevin, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit and local fisherman in pushing for legislation to give them a seat at the table of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, a regional management board that establishes fishery management rules for stocks primarily caught in federal waters adjacent to the mid-Atlantic coast.  The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Fairness Act, which Senator Reed authored and will soon reintroduce in the U.S. Senate, and Congressman Langevin will introduce in the House, would add Rhode Island to the list of seven states with voting …

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Strictly Business

EDA Invests $2.9M in Galilee

Governor Chafee, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine applaud the critical infrastructure investment.

Release courtesy of Senator Jack Reed’s office. The Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and state leaders today announced a $2.9 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to rehabilitate critical infrastructure at the Port of Galilee in Narragansett. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine joined Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin today in Narragansett to make the announcement. “The Obama administration is committed to strengthening the critical infrastructure that is vital to the economic health of local communities,” said Deputy …

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Millions Secured for Galilee; Press Conference Friday

According to a release from Jack Reed’s office, several officials will be on hand Friday morning to announce millions in federal funding secured for Galilee.

Release courtesy the office of U.S. Senator Jack Reed. In an effort to help spur business activity, create jobs and boost Rhode Island’s fishing industry, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin will join Governor Lincoln Chafee, a key official from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and local leaders Friday, March 1st at 10 a.m. to announce a major investment to help modernize the Port of Galilee. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is receiving a competitive federal economic development grant from EDA to rehabilitate critical infrastructure at the Port of Galilee. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically …

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Prout Grad Among D.C. Climate Riders

David Maar will be among those marching on Sunday for new climate control measures, and he writes about the experience.

David Maar is a 2010 graduate of the Prout School, a resident of South Kingstown when he’s not at school and currently studying at Unity College. He’s attending a rally in Washington, D.C. this weekend and writing about it on his own blog, and he’s given us permission to re-publish the posts here. In less than 12 hours I will be on a bus with 34 other classmates and climate riders, heading to Washington D.C. for the climate rally. The saying that, great things come in small packages, couldn’t be more true, when it comes to Unity College. For many college students a long weekend is a chance to go home or get their extra needed sleep. Here at Unity it is a chance for me to go out and make a difference in the world, it is a chance for me to …

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Your Thoughts on State of the Union?

[REACT] The State of the Union address was last night – What did you think of it? Comment now!

Last night – Tuesday, Feb. 12 – marked the 2013 State of the Union, given by President Barack Obama shortly after 9 p.m. EST. Of course, for the “just the facts, ma’am” version, you should go to America’s most trusted news source – Wikipedia. Or, depending on your political persuasion, there is CNN, FOX and NBC. Did you watch the State of the Union address? What did you think? React in the comments section below! Following the address, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation released these statements: JIM LANGEVIN Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-02), who spearheaded an effort to give people affected by gun violence a voice at the State of the Union, applauded the President’s strong stance on strengthening gun laws in his reaction to tonight…

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Ted Geisel

10:05 am on Friday, February 15, 2013

Marginalized as in having a majority in the House of Representatives or marginalized as in the majority of Governors in the US? Since 1980 which party has held the Presidency for the most years? RI isn't the US. Surely in RI the right is marginalized but calling people myopic and then making statements like that doesn't make much sense.   more ›

Congress Approves Sandy Disaster Relief Bill

Although $150 million for fisheries remains cut, the overall package is valued at $50.5 billion.

Release courtesy the office of Senator Jack Reed. The U.S. Senate today voted 62 to 36 for a $50.5 billion disaster relief bill to help Rhode Island and other states clean up and recover from damage left in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which hit Rhode Island on Oct. 29, 2012.  U.S. Senator Jack Reed voted in favor of the bill, which he says will help Rhode Island and other states that were impacted by the storm clean up and recover from Sandy.  “It is unfortunate emergency aid was delayed, but now these federal resources will help Rhode Island residents, businesses, and communities recover and rebuild,” said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee.   “While we were able to secure federal funding to help repair Rhode Island’s …

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[VIDEO] Whitehouse Sworn In to Second Term

The Rhode Island senator was overwhelmingly re-elected in November.

The following information is from a press release issued by the staff of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Washington, DC – Today, marking the start of the 113th Congress, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was sworn in to his second term as Rhode Island’s junior senator.  The Oath of Office was administered by Vice President Joe Biden during a ceremony on the Senate Floor.  Whitehouse was accompanied by Rhode Island’s senior senator, Jack Reed. “It has been my life’s honor to serve the people of Rhode Island in the United States Senate, and I thank them for putting their trust in me for another six years,” Whitehouse said.  “In the months and years ahead, I will continue the fights that I began during my first term: to support middle class …

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