Honors & Awards

The Olmsted Medal:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
United States Senate

"As I give my 200th 'Time To Wake Up' speech, the most obvious fact standing plainly before me is not the measured sea level rise at Naval Station Newport, is not the 400 ppm carbon dioxide barrier we have broken through in the atmosphere, is not the new flooding maps coastal communities like Rhode Island must face, nor is it the West aflame. It is not even the uniform consensus about climate change across universities, national laboratories, scientific societies, and even across our military and intelligence services, who warn us that climate change is fueling economic and social disruption around the world. The fact that stands out for me, here at number 200, is the persistent failure of Congress to even take up the issue of climate change."

-Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Every week since April 2012, Senator Whitehouse has risen on the floor of the Senate and delivers a speech outlining the dangers of climate change and urging his colleagues in the Senate to action. He's delivered over 200 of these 'Time to Wake Up' speeches so far. He currently serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, responsible for environment and infrastructure. Further, he serves on the Subcommittee for Fisheries, Water and Wildlife whose jurisdiction includes drinking water, endangered specials, wetlands, coastal protection, and other critical areas of environmental safety and stewardship. During his tenure, Senator Whitehouse has introduced, co-sponsored, and supported numerous pieces of legislation that seek to protect the environment and coastal areas. He also co-founded the Senate Oceans Caucus and continues his environmental leadership on the U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus.

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