Sheldon Whitehouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheldon Whitehouse
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Official portrait, 2019
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| United States Senator from Rhode Island |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2007 Serving with Jack Reed
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| Preceded by | Lincoln Chafee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71st Attorney General of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 2, 1999 – January 7, 2003 |
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| Governor | Lincoln Almond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jeffrey B. Pine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Patrick Lynch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 20, 1993 – June 8, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lincoln Almond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Margaret Curran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 20, 1955 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Sandra Thornton
(m. 1986) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | Mary Rand Charles Whitehouse |
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| Relatives | Rufus Rand (grandfather) Edwin Sheldon Whitehouse (grandfather) See the Crocker family |
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| Education | Yale University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
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| Signature |  |
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Sheldon Whitehouse (born October 20, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician. Since 2007, he has served as a U.S. Senator for Rhode Island. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming a senator, he worked as a United States Attorney for Rhode Island from 1993 to 1998. He also served as the 71st Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1999 to 2003. He was first elected to the Senate in 2006. He has been reelected several times, including in 2012, 2018, and 2024.
Senator Whitehouse is known for his focus on environmental issues, especially climate change. He has given many speeches in the Senate about this topic. In 2023, he became the chair of the United States Senate Committee on the Budget.
Early Life and Education
Sheldon Whitehouse was born in New York City on October 20, 1955. His father, Charles Sheldon Whitehouse, was a diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand and Laos. His grandfather, Edwin Sheldon Whitehouse, was also a diplomat.
Sheldon Whitehouse went to St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. He then graduated from Yale College in 1978. In 1982, he earned his law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Early Career in Law and Government
After law school, Whitehouse worked as a law clerk for a judge in West Virginia. From 1985 to 1990, he worked in the Rhode Island Attorney General's office. There, he helped oversee public utilities and worked as an assistant attorney general.
In 1991, Whitehouse became an executive counsel for Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun. He helped manage the state's response to a banking crisis. Later, he became the state's Director of Business Regulation, where he managed the workers' compensation insurance system.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Whitehouse as the United States Attorney for Rhode Island. He held this important position for four years. During this time, he worked on cases involving organized crime.
Becoming State Attorney General
In 1998, Whitehouse was elected Rhode Island Attorney General. In this role, he started a lawsuit against companies that made lead paint. He argued that these companies were responsible for creating a public problem. This case was later overturned by the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
U.S. Senate Career
Senate Elections
Sheldon Whitehouse decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2005. He campaigned against the Iraq War and the country's reliance on foreign oil. In 2006, he won the election, defeating the Republican senator Lincoln Chafee. This made him the first Democrat to win this Senate seat since 1970.
He has been reelected several times since then. In 2012, he won his second term by a large margin. He was reelected for a third term in 2018 and a fourth term in 2024.
Key Senate Actions and Views
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Senator Whitehouse is known for his progressive political views. He has been a strong supporter of confirming judges like Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
He has also spoken out about the importance of government officials being accountable. For example, he called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign in 2007.
In 2024, Whitehouse discussed ideas for changing the Supreme Court if Democrats gained more power. These ideas included setting term limits for justices and creating new rules for ethics.
Rules for Stock Purchases
Senator Whitehouse has faced questions about rules for politicians buying and selling stocks. He was reported to have sold some stocks after a meeting about the economy in 2008. His office stated that he was not directly involved in managing those accounts.
In 2022, a report said he missed a deadline to report two stock purchases, which his office blamed on a staff change. An investigation in September 2022 found that he was among members of Congress who had bought or sold stocks related to their committee work.
Committee Roles
Senator Whitehouse serves on several important Senate committees:
- Committee on Budget (He was the Chair from 2023 to 2025)
- Committee on Environment and Public Works (He is currently the Ranking Member)
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on the Judiciary
- United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control (He was the Chair from 2021 to 2025)
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Political Stances
Environmental Issues
Senator Whitehouse is a strong advocate for protecting the environment and addressing climate change. He has given hundreds of speeches on the Senate floor about climate change since 2012. He believes that groups using "dark money" (political spending where donors are not revealed) are trying to stop climate action.
He has supported laws that would require federal agencies to consider the long-term effects of climate change. He also believes that developing solar power and other alternate energy sources can help the U.S. reduce its reliance on foreign oil.
In 2015, he suggested that the fossil fuel industry could be investigated under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). In 2019, he supported funding for carbon capture technology. In 2024, he introduced a bill to stop the commercial farming of octopuses, citing animal welfare concerns.
Gun Policy
Whitehouse supports stricter gun control laws. In 2022, he voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This law improved background checks for young gun buyers and provided funding for mental health services in schools.
Health Care
He voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a major health care law. He has also spoken about the importance of affordable health care for all Americans.
Political Spending and "Dark Money"
Senator Whitehouse is a strong critic of "dark money" in politics. He believes that hidden political spending can unfairly influence government decisions, especially in the Supreme Court. He has called for groups that influence the Supreme Court to reveal their donors.
He has also raised concerns about the investigation into Justice Brett Kavanaugh's background. In 2024, he and another senator asked for an investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas regarding possible tax and ethics issues.
Personal Life
Sheldon Whitehouse married Sandra Thornton in 1986. She is a marine biologist. They live in Rhode Island and have two children. Whitehouse is a member of the Episcopal Church.
He is a descendant of several notable historical figures, including William Bradford, who was a governor of Plymouth Colony.
Club Memberships
Whitehouse's membership in certain private clubs has been discussed. He is a member of the Bailey's Beach club and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Rhode Island. He has acknowledged that these clubs need to improve their diversity. He stated that he is working with his family to encourage improvements in this area.
Images for kids
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Sheldon Whitehouse's signature
See also
In Spanish: Sheldon Whitehouse para niños
