{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"RI\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ndaa-signed-into-law-with-key-wins-for-rhode-island", "NDAA Signed into Law with Key Wins for Rhode Island", "2023-12-24", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- President Joe Biden signed the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), annual defense authorization bill into law yesterday, confirming the largest raise in military basic pay in decades for servicemembers and the Department of Defense civilian workforce. The NDAA bolsters the defense industrial base and military readiness, providing the U.S. military with strong and versatile capabilities.\n\nPassage of the NDAA \u2013 which was approved by Congress earlier this month -- was led by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who worked on a bipartisan basis to pass a comprehensive NDAA that focuses on delivering the resources and equipment our troops need.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan NDAA makes America safer and stronger. It enhances our alliances, improves national security, and supports our servicemembers, their families, and the U.S. economy,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\nTotaling $883.7 billion in national security investments, the NDAA establishes the policies and funding levels for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA addresses significant national security priorities, including: strategic competition with China and Russia; disruptive technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing; modernizing America\u2019s ships, aircraft, and combat vehicles; and improving the lives of our servicemembers and their families.\n\nNotably, the FY 24 NDAA supports the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) by facilitating the transfer of significant Australian funding to support the U.S. submarine industrial base and the future sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.\n\n\u201cThe defense bill is essential for supporting the brave servicemen and women who volunteer to safeguard America\u2019s freedom, security, and interests at home and across the globe. Now that the NDAA has passed the Senate on a strong, bipartisan basis, I urge the House to follow suit,\u201d said Reed.\n\nReed noted the NDAA is good news for Rhode Island and a major win for America\u2019s national security.\n\n\u201cThis forward-looking defense bill will go a long way toward keeping the American people safe, deterring conflict, and confronting the national security threats we face,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis bipartisan NDAA provides a historic level of support for our troops and their families, including the largest military pay raise in decades. It authorizes record-level investments in the people, platforms, and programs that our forces need to safeguard the nation and advance U.S. interests worldwide. This NDAA accelerates U.S. military research, development, and technology investments to provide our forces with advantages on the battlefield, while also ensuring the U.S. is better equipped to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and other hybrid threats.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA bolsters U.S. alliances and partnerships to operate successfully in competition with rival powers, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Notably, the bill makes key progress toward deterring and countering America\u2019s adversaries, including by reducing dependence on China for raw materials used in defense technologies. The bill also takes steps to crack down on fentanyl trafficking.\n\nReed highlighted several key provisions of the bill that will benefit Rhode Island\u2019s defense workers and industry, including:\n\nMore than $10 billion to fully support construction of 2 Virginia-class submarines;\n\nMore than $240 million for workforce and training initiatives to support the production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and the continued construction of Virginia-class submarines;\n\n$74 million for Navy applied research on undersea warfare technologies, led by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC);\n\n$20 million for the Defense Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), which ensures Rhode Island universities may compete to perform cutting-edge basic research and partner with defense labs;\n\n$50 million in supplemental Impact Aid and $20 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities; and\n\n$32 million in military construction funding for the RI Army National Guard.\n\nAdditionally, the bill includes several provisions to support small businesses, including language that improves the functioning of the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), now known as the APEX Accelerators program; language to improve the timeliness of payments made to all small businesses; and updates to the Defense Rapid Innovation Program to support the transition of technologies from small businesses into fielding and use.\n\nHundreds of small businesses across Rhode Island supply the U.S. Department of Defense, and hardworking Rhode Islanders contribute to the creation of a wide range of military products, equipment, and services. Additionally, Rhode Island is home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport; Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport; and the Naval War College. These facilities, along with leading academic research institutions and a network of suppliers and small businesses, are contributing to a booming defense industry that is boosting Rhode Island\u2019s economy and leading to advancements in technology and innovation.\n\nA recent report by SENEDIA shows that the total direct and indirect economic impact from defense spending in Rhode Island accounted for $7.6 billion in 2022. The report found that Rhode Island\u2019s defense industry is growing and supported a total of 34,068 direct and indirect jobs across the Ocean State with an annual payroll of $3 billion.\n\nReed noted that Congress must still enact a full fiscal 2024 appropriations bill when it returns to session in January, as well as a national security supplemental appropriations package that includes additional funds for submarine production. The Department of Defense is currently funded under a short-term continuing resolution that will expire after February 2, 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-ri-delegation-urges-federal-assistance-to-help-recover-from-storm-related-flooding", "Amo, RI Delegation Urges Federal Assistance to Help Recover from Storm-Related Flooding", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As Rhode Island assesses flood damage and begins to recover from a severe storm system that moved through the state earlier this week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo are urging President Biden to promptly approve any request for federal assistance made by the State of Rhode Island to support emergency operations and accelerate recovery from significant local flooding.\n\nThe National Weather Service reported that northern Rhode Island into the Providence area saw the region\u2019s highest rainfall totals, where at least 4.5 inches of rainfall were observed. Local utility providers also reported more than 70,000 power outages as a result of damaging winds.\n\nGovernor McKee has declared a state of emergency as a result of the damaging storm. This step is an essential prerequisite for seeking federal disaster assistance. The state will now need to assess the cost of the emergency response and damages associated with the storm in order to determine if it meets the minimum thresholds required for a federal emergency or major disaster declaration.\n\n\u201cThis severe storm system wreaked havoc on certain parts of the state, and a number of neighborhoods were hit hard by flooding. We are committed to doing everything we can to help in the recovery effort. With the storm behind us, it is now important for the State to work with local leaders, FEMA, and other federal partners to quickly assess the damage and determine what assistance can be provided to help communities, businesses, and homeowners get back on their feet,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement.\n\nIn an effort to help Rhode Island communities and the state respond to storm-related damage and flooding, the state\u2019s Congressional delegation sent a letter urging President Biden to support Rhode Island and expediate any and all emergency assistance.\n\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden, Jr.\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20006\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nOver the last two days, Rhode Island has experienced a strong storm with significant rainfall, winds over 60 miles per hour, and localized and coastal flooding. The storm, with heavy rains and damaging winds, caused about 72,000 power outages, necessitated the closure of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, overwhelmed storm water systems, closed schools and local businesses, and caused damage and debris to both homes and businesses.\n\nAs our local communities work to clean up and assess damage, we urge you to expeditiously approve any request from the State of Rhode Island for federal assistance, including under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\nThank you for your assistance and leadership.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-urges-federal-assistance-help-recover-storm-related-flooding", "RI Delegation Urges Federal Assistance to Help Recover from Storm-Related Flooding", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As Rhode Island assesses flood damage and begins to recover from a severe storm system that moved through the state earlier this week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo are urging President Biden to promptly approve any request for federal assistance made by the State of Rhode Island to support emergency operations and accelerate recovery from significant local flooding.\n\nThe National Weather Service reported that northern Rhode Island into the Providence area saw the region\u2019s highest rainfall totals, where at least 4.5 inches of rainfall were observed. Local utility providers also reported more than 70,000 power outages as a result of damaging winds.\n\nGovernor McKee has declared a state of emergency as a result of the damaging storm. This step is an essential prerequisite for seeking federal disaster assistance. The state will now need to assess the cost of the emergency response and damages associated with the storm in order to determine if it meets the minimum thresholds required for a federal emergency or major disaster declaration.\n\n\u201cThis severe storm system wreaked havoc on certain parts of the state, and a number of neighborhoods were hit hard by flooding. We are committed to doing everything we can help in the recovery effort. With storm behind us, it is now important for the State to work with local leaders, FEMA, and other federal partners to quickly assess the damage and determine what assistance can be provided to help communities, business, and homeowners get back on their feet,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement.\n\nIn an effort to help Rhode Island communities and the state respond to storm-related damage and flooding, the state\u2019s Congressional delegation sent a letter urging President Biden to support Rhode Island and expediate any and all emergency assistance.\n\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nOver the last two days, Rhode Island has experienced a strong storm with significant rainfall, winds over 60 miles per hour, and localized and coastal flooding. The storm, with heavy rains and damaging winds, caused about 72,000 power outages, necessitated the closure of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, overwhelmed storm water systems, closed schools and local businesses, and caused damage and debris to both homes and businesses.\n\nAs our local communities work to clean up and assess damage, we urge you to expeditiously approve any request from the State of Rhode Island for federal assistance, including under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\nThank you for your assistance and leadership.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-urges-federal-assistance-to-help-recover-from-storm-related-flooding", "RI Delegation Urges Federal Assistance to Help Recover from Storm-Related Flooding", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As Rhode Island assesses flood damage and begins to recover from a severe storm system that moved through the state earlier this week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo are urging President Biden to promptly approve any request for federal assistance made by the State of Rhode Island to support emergency operations and accelerate recovery from significant local flooding.\n\nThe National Weather Service reported that northern Rhode Island into the Providence area saw the region\u2019s highest rainfall totals, where at least 4.5 inches of rainfall were observed. Local utility providers also reported more than 70,000 power outages as a result of damaging winds.\n\nGovernor McKee has declared a state of emergency as a result of the damaging storm. This step is an essential prerequisite for seeking federal disaster assistance. The state will now need to assess the cost of the emergency response and damages associated with the storm in order to determine if it meets the minimum thresholds required for a federal emergency or major disaster declaration.\n\n\u201cThis severe storm system wreaked havoc on certain parts of the state, and a number of neighborhoods were hit hard by flooding. We are committed to doing everything we can to help in the recovery effort. With the storm behind us, it is now important for the State to work with local leaders, FEMA, and other federal partners to quickly assess the damage and determine what assistance can be provided to help communities, businesses, and homeowners get back on their feet,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement.\n\nIn an effort to help Rhode Island communities and the state respond to storm-related damage and flooding, the state\u2019s Congressional delegation sent a letter urging President Biden to support Rhode Island and expediate any and all emergency assistance.\n\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden, Jr.\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20006\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nOver the last two days, Rhode Island has experienced a strong storm with significant rainfall, winds over 60 miles per hour, and localized and coastal flooding. The storm, with heavy rains and damaging winds, caused about 72,000 power outages, necessitated the closure of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, overwhelmed storm water systems, closed schools and local businesses, and caused damage and debris to both homes and businesses.\n\nAs our local communities work to clean up and assess damage, we urge you to expeditiously approve any request from the State of Rhode Island for federal assistance, including under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\nThank you for your assistance and leadership.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/after-reed-delivers-federal-funding-east-providence-families-in-flood-prone-properties-begin-to-get-their-voluntary-home-buyouts", "After Reed Delivers Federal Funding, East Providence Families in Flood Prone Properties Begin to Get Their Voluntary Home Buyouts", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "EAST PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts (RIACD), and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva and his staff for teaming up to help residents relocate out of flood prone areas.\n\nLast year, Senator Reed helped deliver critical federal funds to buyout flood prone properties and deliver relief for homeowners who suffered from repetitive flooding. Now, owners of chronically flooded properties are closing on real estate deals with the federal government, meaning fewer homes will be flooded during future storms.\n\nReed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured up to $9.65 million in federal funding for voluntary property buyouts for eligible homeowners along Marsh Street and around the State Street neighborhood, which includes Abbott Street, Luther Avenue, Julien Avenue, and Humphrey Street. The federal funding comes from USDA\u2019s NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection-Floodplain Easements (EWP-FPE) program.\n\nNRCS, RIACD, and East Providence officials have worked for months to assist homeowners with the buyout process.\n\nIn November of this year, eleven houses and one vacant lot were purchased for a total of $4,297,460.\n\nTwo more houses and four vacant lots are scheduled to close in early February of 2024. The costs for these closings will be approximately $1 million. This includes the purchase price for the properties, plus legal fees and relocation funds for homeowners and renters.\n\nAs the lead agency, NRCS must complete a thorough technical review for each eligible property. Once approved, NRCS purchases easements (the rights to the properties) to restore floodplain functions. The City of East Providence will hold the property titles (remaining interest in the property).\n\n\u201cThese closings are welcome news for vulnerable property owners and will help the community enhance natural storm protection. These closings mean that families who wanted to relocate were able to take this voluntary buyout and get fair value for their homes. It also means less flood damage going forward. I appreciate NRCS, RIACD, and East Providence for working together, listening to community input, and taking action to assist families in need by helping prevent future flood damage,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cThis project brings much relief to residents who have been dealing with ongoing flooding issues due to the high water table,\u201d Mayor Bob DaSilva said. \u201cThese properties will now be restored to their natural environment providing watershed capacity and new, public space for the community to enjoy.\u201d\n\nReed expects nearly $8 million in federal funding will be used for the project. In addition to the home buyouts, some funds were paid to RIACD to manage the project and the remaining funds will be used to hire an engineering firm to design and implement the final floodplain restoration plan, which could include overseeing the demolition of the properties, restoration of the floodplain, and installation of stormwater mitigation works.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-helps-pass-short-term-faa-reauthorization", "Reed Helps Pass Short-term FAA Reauthorization", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to bolster air safety and prevent travel disruptions during the busy holiday season, the U.S. Senate approved a short-term reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) financing and fee-collection authorities late last night. The temporary extension was needed or these FAA authorized would have expired on December 31.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees FAA funding, supported the three-month extension, which extends the FAA\u2019s authority out to March 8, 2024.\n\n\u201cThis is a needed short-term fix. I am committed to working on a comprehensive, multi-year FAA reauthorization that enhances aviation safety, improves airline service, and provides better consumer protections for passengers,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cU.S. airports and airlines have seen substantial growth, and we must ensure we continue to invest in the technology, facilities, and infrastructure to handle it.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives approved the short-term FAA reauthorization bill earlier this month, so it now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.\n\nThe FAA's current authorization dates back to 2018, when the most recent long-term reauthorization bill was passed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/us-senators-introduce-legislation-to-cap-consumer-loans-at-36", "U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Cap Consumer Loans at 36%", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a senior member of the Banking and Housing Committee, today joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking and Housing Committee, and others in introducing the Predatory Lending Elimination Act (S. 3549). This legislation would extend the protections of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which caps the effective interest rate on consumer loans (including fees) at 36 percent, to cover veterans and all other consumers.\n\nUnder the Predatory Lending Elimination Act, the MLA\u2019s 36 percent interest rate cap on most consumer loans and its current rules would be extended to all consumers, including veterans and Gold Star families.\n\nIn 2006, Congress passed the bipartisan MLA to rein in predatory payday lenders and other loan product providers who used abusive lending practices to target and lure American troops into debt traps. However, the legislation left veterans, Gold Star families, and other Americans vulnerable to those exploitative lending practices and products.\n\n\u201cWhile servicemembers are protected by the MLA, predatory lenders, particularly payday lenders, continue to target vulnerable Americans with abusive loans that can reach APRs as high as 664 percent, trapping individuals in cycles of debt. The MLA\u2019s success demonstrates a feasible framework that protects consumers while preserving access to credit,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cOur servicemembers and their families should not lose important consumer protections simply because they retire, separate from honorable service, or lose their loved ones. Frankly, no American should be subject to such exorbitant interest rates. As such, our legislation would extend the MLA\u2019s protections to veterans and Gold Star families as well as ensure that all Americans are shielded from predatory loans.\u201d\n\n\u201cPredatory loans with outrageous interest rates trap working Americans\u2014including veterans and their families\u2014in a vortex of debt,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis bill is a critical step forward and would ensure all consumers\u2014including veterans and their families\u2014aren\u2019t bankrupted by high interest rates.\u201d\n\n\u201cPayday, car title, and other shady loan practices target Ohio\u2019s military families, veterans, and vulnerable consumers with high-interest, predatory loans that are designed to trap them in a cycle of debt. Many Americans have to renew their loans so many times they end up paying more in fees than the amount they borrowed,\u201d said Senator Brown. \u201cWe can put an end to these abusive debt traps by extending the Military Lending Act\u2019s 36 percent cap on interest rates to veterans, surviving family members, and all consumers.\u201d\n\nHundreds of millions of American consumers could benefit from a 36 percent APR cap. In states that do not have such a cap, predatory lenders are permitted to offer loans with triple-digit APRs that trap individuals in cycles of debt. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 80 percent of payday loans are rolled over or renewed within two weeks. In addition to high interest, this practice can saddle consumers with additional fees that are greater than the amount of money they originally borrowed \u2013 a hallmark of predatory lending and poor underwriting.\n\nThe MLA\u2019s successful track record in protecting servicemembers demonstrates that providing for reasonable, responsible limits on interest rates does not cut off consumers\u2019 access to credit. According to a May 2021 report from the Department of Defense, \u201ccredit cards, auto loans, and personal loans are widely available at risk-based rates under the 36 percent [military] APR\u201d and \u201c[s]ervice members continue to have ample access to necessary credit.\u201d At a January 2022 hearing in the Banking Committee, a nonbank lender from South Dakota \u2013 a state which has enacted a 36 percent usury limit on small-dollar loans \u2013 told committee members that consumers there \u201chave successfully been able to access other products to meet that short-term cash need within the household. And it has helped us to have that capped interest rate, which has not hurt families.\u201d\n\nReed notes this legislation would follow the trend in many states towards greater protections against predatory loans. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted 36 percent APR caps or banned payday loans. Lenders in these states have incentives to offer more affordable loans that borrowers have an ability to repay. The same incentives should apply across the nation.\n\nThe Predatory Lending Elimination Act has been endorsed by a wide variety of over 170 consumer, civil rights, veterans, servicemember organizations, and advocates, including: Consumer Federation of America, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Center for Responsible Lending, NAACP, Public Citizen, National Fair Housing Alliance, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the Military Officers Association of America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Amalgamated Bank.\n\nIn addition to Reed, Merkley, and Brown, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators: Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA).\n\nA companion bill is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-supports-military-families-and-national-defense", "Amo Supports Military Families and National Defense", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cI am proud today to have voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \"After months of political gamesmanship on the part of extreme House Republicans, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan NDAA which raises pay for our service members, expands assistance to the lowest-paid military families to cover the cost of food, housing, and other essential needs, and strengthens the partnerships that the United States has with our allies around the world.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA also helps the United States accelerate our fight against climate change by investing over $650 million in energy resilience and conservation projects. While extreme Republicans were trying to make it more difficult for service members to access abortion services and vitally important healthcare, House Democrats worked in a bipartisan way to deliver for the American people and provide for our nation\u2019s defense.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-votes-increase-military-pay-support-submarine-program-quonset", "Magaziner Votes to Increase Military Pay, Support Submarine Program at Quonset", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) voted to pass H.R.2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). The legislation \u2013 which includes support for the submarine program at Quonset, pay raises for Service Members, and language authored by Magaziner to expand affordable housing around shipbuilding hubs \u2013 will now head to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cWe owe a solemn duty to American Service Members who risk their lives to keep our country safe,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cWith conflicts on the rise across the world, we need to make sure that those who serve our country in uniform have the equipment they need and the compensation they deserve.\u201d\n\nIn July, Magaziner secured the inclusion of an amendment in the House-passed NDAA to ensure the Navy is fully utilizing a federal incentive to expand housing, transportation, and other support services to defense industry workers in Rhode Island and across the country. The final version of the bill, which was negotiated between the House and Senate and sent to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law, includes the language.\n\n\u201cIt is also important that the final version of the NDAA removed a dangerous provision introduced by House Republicans that would have denied women who serve in the Armed Forces access to abortion,\u201d Magaziner stated. \u201cWomen who serve deserve access to health care, and the Defense Bill is no place for Republicans to try to push through extreme culture war provisions.\u201d\n\nThe FY24 NDAA also includes language to expand the Navy\u2019s submarine program at Quonset Point and the Port of Davisville in North Kingstown. At this location, thousands of Rhode Islanders are employed building Virginia and Columbia Class submarines for the United States, as well as our allies Australia and the United Kingdom.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/brown-reed-warren-urge-venmo-cash-app-to-reimburse-victims-of-fraud-and-scams", "Brown, Reed, Warren Urge Venmo, Cash App to Reimburse Victims of Fraud and Scams", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Banking and Housing Committee; and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), called on Venmo to adopt new policies to reimburse consumers who get scammed, and make it easier for users to report scams and fraud on Venmo. This new letter comes as instant payment platform Zelle has taken new steps to reimburse customers who fall prey to imposter scams.\n\n\u201cWe write to ask you to adopt new policies to reimburse consumers who get scammed on Venmo and that you make it easier for users to report when they have been scammed.\u2026 We are extremely concerned that instant payment platforms are not taking reasonable, commonsense, and proactive steps to protect their customers. Venmo must provide a safe platform for American consumers \u2013 who deserve a payments system that provides them with speed and convenience, but above all, that keeps their money safe,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nToday\u2019s letter follows a letter sent in June calling on Venmo to do more to address fraudulent activity taking place on the app and the steps Venmo was taking to protect its customers from fraud.\n\nThe Senators also wrote to Brian Grassadonia, the CEO of Cash App, outlining similar concerns over the company\u2019s ability to keep customers\u2019 money safe. The Senators expressed concern over Cash App\u2019s low reimbursement rate for unauthorized payments. A copy of that letter can be found HERE.\n\nFull text of the letter to Venmo follows:\n\nDear Mr. Chriss:\n\nWe write to ask you to adopt new policies to reimburse consumers who get scammed on Venmo and that you make it easier for users to report when they have been scammed.\n\nWe wrote you on June 15, 2023, raising concerns about fraud and scams on your platform. Since then, according to press reports, at least one other very large instant payment platform has taken an important step to reimburse customers who are victims of imposter scams \u2013 in which someone impersonates a representative at a financial institution, a business, utility, or a governmental entity to trick a consumer into sending money. Though the competitor has not fully released details on the new policy, or provided any public information about how effective it has been at reimbursing customers, its policy changes could represent an improvement in consumer protections. But according to Venmo\u2019s response to our June 15 letter, Venmo does not appear to reimburse customers who have been victims to these\u2014or any other\u2014kinds of scams. Customers remain on the hook and unprotected. It is past time for Venmo to follow industry trends by providing similar reimbursements to wronged consumers.\n\nIn order to facilitate reimbursements for imposter scams, Venmo should also make it far easier for customers to report fraudulently induced transactions and to actively prevent proliferation of imposter scams on the platform. Venmo is in a unique position to track and prevent these scams. Venmo is a closed system, in which both the sender and receiver are Venmo customers. As a result, Venmo has full visibility into accounts that send and receive all payments\u2014whether legitimate or fraudulent.\n\nFurther, Venmo can both identify and block account holders who commit acts of deception and can take the crucial additional step to unwind these transactions. While Venmo allows reporting of these scams through its website, this process is unduly cumbersome for consumers. Instead, customers should be able to easily report scams through the Venmo app. Instant payment platforms should do more to safeguard their platforms and users.\n\nWe are extremely concerned that instant payment platforms are not taking reasonable, commonsense, and proactive steps to protect their customers. Venmo must provide a safe platform for American consumers \u2013 who deserve a payments system that provides them with speed and convenience, but above all, that keeps their money safe.\n\nWe would appreciate responses to the following by January 31, 2024.\n\n1. Will Venmo follow other big instant payment platforms and commit to reimbursing customers who are victims of scams, including imposter scams?\n\n2. Describe Venmo\u2019s current practices and policies aimed at detecting and eliminating fraud committed through Venmo, specifically the measures Venmo is taking to detect and eliminate any attempts by account holders to induce fraudulent payments from other account holders.\n\na. How is Venmo taking steps to specifically protect Black and Hispanic Americans who are experiencing significantly more fraud on instant payment platforms than other demographics?\n\nb. How is Venmo taking steps to specifically protect servicemembers, who are experiencing significantly more scams and fraud on instant payment platforms than the general population?\n\n3. In a previous response letter, Venmo stated that its policy is to block accounts that have been determined to have engaged in illicit content. Why is Venmo blocking accounts, and not users (who may open another account)? How many users has Venmo blocked?\n\n4. As of May 2022, Venmo amended its user agreement to include an arbitration clause, which notably prevents consumers from participating in class action lawsuits. We are concerned about the addition of this clause to Venmo\u2019s user agreement, and, moreover, the limited opt-out period and the onerous requirement for consumers to physically mail an opt-out request. Pursuant to these concerns:\n\na. How many arbitration processes have been initiated?\n\nb. What have the outcomes of these arbitration claims been?\n\nc. What monetary distributions have resulted because of any arbitration actions?\n\nd. How many consumers completed the mail-in opt-out process for the arbitration clause?\n\n5. In Venmo\u2019s response letter, Venmo describes providing a purchase protection program to Venmo users. We understand that the costs associated with this program are passed on to payees. Pursuant to this, what percentage of payments reported through the purchase protection program are reimbursed? For each of the last five full calendar years and for 2023, for the period of January 1 to September 1, 2023, please provide:\n\na. The total number and dollar value of transactions with purchase protection for which consumers request reimbursement, and the total number and dollar value of transactions for which Venmo provided this requested reimbursement.\n\nb. The justifications for denying purchase protection reimbursement requests.\n\nc. The overall cost of the purchase protection program to payees.\n\nd. The mean and median number of days for purchase protection cases to be resolved.\n\nThank you for your consideration and your timely response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-wants-sba-assistance-for-local-businesses-squeezed-by-washington-bridge-closure", "RI Delegation Wants SBA Assistance for Local Businesses Squeezed by Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge that began on December 11, 2023, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation sent a letter urging the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to promptly review any disaster assistance request from the state and to provide resources to help those impacted.\n\nU.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo say that small businesses, restaurants, and shops that lose income as a result of the emergency Washington Bridge closure should be eligible for SBA assistance, if the state formally requests disaster aid.\n\n\u201cThe emergency closure of the Washington Bridge was imperative for public safety. The extended closure of this vital corridor may take a serious toll on Rhode Islanders and people throughout the region, especially residents, commuters, and small businesses,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement. \u201cNearby businesses rely on the bridge for their daily operations. Customers might avoid areas surrounding the bridge due to traffic, which would hit business revenues particularly hard during the busy holiday season, and businesses are already struggling to receive and send out deliveries.\n\n\u201cAs the state looks to expedite repairs to safely reopen the bridge, we urge the SBA to provide emergency assistance to small businesses along this route, including making low-cost Economic Injury Disaster Loans available, while the bridge is being repaired. Small businesses are pillars of our community and we must do everything we can to help them stay afloat during the busy holiday season.\u201d\n\nThe delegation also encouraged residents to support local businesses, stating:\n\n\u201cThis is a critical moment for many of these local businesses. We\u2019ve seen time and again the way Rhode Islanders come together to assist neighbors in need. We encourage everyone to make a point to continue supporting these local businesses and we\u2019re working hard at the federal level to cut through red tape and ensure federal aid is quickly available for those who are eligible.\u201d\n\nIf the state assesses the economic impact of the emergency bridge closure and certifies that enough small businesses in the area suffered substantial economic injury to warrant an SBA disaster declaration, then the Governor can submit a request to the SBA. Doing so would allow small business owners to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans with below-market interest rates and could also allow the SBA to open a Business Recovery Center nearby. The opening of a Business Recovery Center would allow business owners to meet in-person with SBA specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of SBA programs.\n\nIf a declaration is requested and approved, eligible businesses may borrow up to $2 million to meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster, with the loans intended to assist through the recovery period.\n\nEligible enterprises would include small businesses as well as private nonprofit organizations. Interest rates for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are not more than 4 percent for small businesses and 2.4 percent for nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and based on each applicant\u2019s financial condition.\n\nFull text of the letter:\n\nThe Honorable Isabella Casillas Guzman\n\nAdministrator\n\nU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)\n\n409 3rd St, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20416\n\nDear Administrator Guzman:\n\nWe write to request you promptly review any request from the State of Rhode Island for disaster assistance related to the closure of the Washington Bridge in the cities of Providence and East Providence.\n\nYesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 (I-195) over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, was closed after the discovery of a critical failure of key bridge components. I-195 is the main thoroughfare connecting Providence and the eastern part of Rhode Island, and the Washington Bridge carries nearly 100,000 vehicles crossing southeastern New England each day.\n\nThe bridge\u2019s westbound closure has created significant traffic bottlenecks in both Providence and East Providence and will likely last through the end of the year. In addition to significantly hindering local residents, these traffic jams are already preventing customers, workers, and delivery drivers from accessing local businesses. These disruptions are particularly harmful now, as small businesses welcome holiday shoppers.\n\nThe holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for many local retailers. We are extremely concerned this disruption will substantially reduce small business revenues and significantly damage our local economy. As such, we urge you to promptly review any disaster request submitted by the State of Rhode Island and ensure that all eligible businesses receive the federal resources they deserve.\n\nThank you for SBA\u2019s longstanding work supporting communities impacted by disasters. We look forward to your prompt reply and your help ensuring all eligible Rhode Islanders receive federal assistance.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-magaziner-delivers-floor-speech-house-republicans-impeachment-effort", "Rep. Magaziner Delivers Floor Speech on House Republicans\u2019 Impeachment Effort", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) spoke on the House Floor in opposition to House Republicans using valuable time and resources on a baseless impeachment inquiry into President Biden instead of focusing on helping working people in Rhode Island and across the country.\n\nMagaziner\u2019s full remarks are below:\n\nMr. Speaker, the Rhode Islanders who I talk to are so disappointed in this Congress.\n\nThey sent us here to fight to make their lives better, not to play political games like the sham impeachment push that House Republicans are making against the president despite no evidence of wrongdoing.\n\nThe people expect us to fight to lower costs, to go after the companies that are price gouging working Americans. They expect us to fight for Social Security and Medicare and abortion rights and to fix roads and bridges.\n\nInstead, the extreme House Republicans are pushing for impeachment of the president despite having no evidence of wrongdoing.\n\nAfter a year of investigations, we need to remember who sent us here and what they sent us here to fight for.\n\nI urge my colleagues, let's fight for working people in this country.\n\nStop the political games. Stop the nonsense and I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-wants-sba-assistance-local-businesses-squeezed-washington-bridge", "RI Delegation Wants SBA Assistance for Local Businesses Squeezed by Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge that began on December 11, 2023, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation sent a letter urging the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to promptly review any disaster assistance request from the state and to provide resources to help those impacted.\n\nU.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo say that small businesses, restaurants, and shops that lose income as a result of the emergency Washington Bridge closure should be eligible for SBA assistance, if the state formally requests disaster aid.\n\n\u201cThe emergency closure of the Washington Bridge was imperative for public safety. The extended closure of this vital corridor may take a serious toll on Rhode Islanders and people throughout the region, especially residents, commuters, and small businesses,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement. \u201cNearby businesses rely on the bridge for their daily operations. Customers might avoid areas surrounding the bridge due to traffic, which would hit business revenues particularly hard during the busy holiday season, and businesses are already struggling to receive and send out deliveries.\n\n\u201cAs the state looks to expedite repairs to safely reopen the bridge, we urge the SBA to provide emergency assistance to small businesses along this route, including making low-cost Economic Injury Disaster Loans available, while the bridge is being repaired. Small businesses are pillars of our community and we must do everything we can to help them stay afloat during the busy holiday season.\u201d\n\nThe delegation also encouraged residents to support local businesses, stating:\n\n\u201cThis is a critical moment for many of these local businesses. We\u2019ve seen time and again the way Rhode Islanders come together to assist neighbors in need. We encourage everyone to make a point to continue supporting these local businesses and we\u2019re working hard at the federal level to cut through red tape and ensure federal aid is quickly available for those who are eligible.\u201d\n\nIf the state assesses the economic impact of the emergency bridge closure and certifies that enough small businesses in the area suffered substantial economic injury to warrant an SBA disaster declaration, then the Governor can submit a request to the SBA. Doing so would allow small business owners to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans with below-market interest rates and could also allow the SBA to open a Business Recovery Center nearby. The opening of a Business Recovery Center would allow business owners to meet in-person with SBA specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of SBA programs.\n\nIf a declaration is requested and approved, eligible businesses may borrow up to $2 million to meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster, with the loans intended to assist through the recovery period.\n\nEligible enterprises would include small businesses as well as private nonprofit organizations. Interest rates for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are not more than 4 percent for small businesses and 2.4 percent for nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and based on each applicant\u2019s financial condition.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Administrator Guzman:\n\nWe write to request you promptly review any request from the State of Rhode Island for disaster assistance related to the closure of the Washington Bridge in the cities of Providence and East Providence.\n\nYesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 (I-195) over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, was closed after the discovery of a critical failure of key bridge components. I-195 is the main thoroughfare connecting Providence and the eastern part of Rhode Island, and the Washington Bridge carries nearly 100,000 vehicles crossing southeastern New England each day.\n\nThe bridge\u2019s westbound closure has created significant traffic bottlenecks in both Providence and East Providence and will likely last through the end of the year. In addition to significantly hindering local residents, these traffic jams are already preventing customers, workers, and delivery drivers from accessing local businesses. These disruptions are particularly harmful now, as small businesses welcome holiday shoppers.\n\nThe holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for many local retailers. We are extremely concerned this disruption will substantially reduce small business revenues and significantly damage our local economy. As such, we urge you to promptly review any disaster request submitted by the State of Rhode Island and ensure that all eligible businesses receive the federal resources they deserve.\n\nThank you for SBA\u2019s longstanding work supporting communities impacted by disasters. We look forward to your prompt reply and your help ensuring all eligible Rhode Islanders receive federal assistance.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/following-reed-whitehouse-push-to-prevent-price-manipulation-at-gas-pump-ftc-begins-to-probe-big-oil-merger", "Following Reed-Whitehouse Push to Prevent Price Manipulation at Gas Pump, FTC Begins to Probe Big Oil Merger", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to help lower gas prices at the pump, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have led efforts to crackdown on potential gas price manipulation and antitrust violations by the oil and gas industry. Reed and Whitehouse have warned that unfair practices by Big Oil could greatly reduce competition, manipulate gas prices, and drive up gas prices at the pump for consumers. Rhode Island\u2019s senators noted that domestic oil production under the Biden Administration recently broke records, hitting an all-time high, and said that strong U.S. production creating downward pressure on pump prices must not be undercut by unfair gas price manipulation and monopoly conditions in the industry.\n\nLast month, Reed and Whitehouse joined with 21 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging a probe into Big Oil mergers that greatly reduce competition and drive up gas prices at the pump. ExxonMobil is already the largest oil and gas company in the U.S. Its proposed $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Chevron\u2019s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation would be two of the biggest petroleum deals of the 21st century and could be detrimental to consumers.\n\nThis month, the FTC, which enforces federal antitrust law, requested additional information from ExxonMobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, Chevron, and a Hess, according to public filings. This represents a key step the FTC takes when reviewing whether a merger could be anticompetitive.\n\nThe joint letter, which was led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and signed by a total of 23 U.S. Senators, stated: \u201cExxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s operations downstream would enable them to redirect Pioneer\u2019s and Hess\u2019s crude supply to themselves, away from (and possibly to the detriment of) their midstream competitors. These new market dynamics could result in price hikes for midstream customers, and such added costs are often passed downstream to retail customers, including drivers at gas stations.\u201d\n\nAmericans have felt the negative effects of unchecked Big Oil mergers for decades. A wave of over 2,600 mergers in the 1990s caused the number of major American energy companies to plummet, creating a Big Oil oligopoly in which oil companies have continued to see increasing profits, and consumers are left with higher gas prices.\n\nThe letter went on to note: \u201cBy 2005, due to the wave of mergers, the top five controlled 55 percent of the market, and the largest ten had 81.4 percent. This increase in concentration enabled the largest players to manipulate the industry by withholding supply in order to drive up prices, and since most of the firms were also vertically integrated, they benefited from higher prices at the retail level, as well.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe want the FTC to scrutinize this merger, which, if it goes through is almost certain to raise gas prices for Americans nationwide. The federal government has a responsibility to prevent price gouging and hold Big Oil accountable for market manipulation and other anticompetitive practices that result in American families paying more than they should at the pump,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cWe need to break the grip of Big Oil \u2013 not encourage further consolidation that will squeeze Rhode Islanders at the gas pump,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI have urged the FTC to closely investigate the potential anticompetitive outcomes of this proposed merger and consider whether this will increase gas prices for hardworking families.\u201d\n\nReed and Whitehouse have championed efforts to lower energy costs for Rhode Islanders, including delivering federal assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and passing the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which is designed to lower energy costs for households and businesses, create manufacturing jobs for American workers, and deliver a clean, secure energy future.\n\nToday, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Rhode Island is about $3.21, according to AAA Northeast.\n\n-end-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-leads-us-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-defense-bill", "Reed Leads U.S. Senate Passage of Bipartisan Defense Bill", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Senate today voted 87-13 to pass the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a comprehensive bill that will provide the military with strong and versatile capabilities.\n\nPassage of the NDAA was led by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who worked on a bipartisan basis to pass a strong, extensive NDAA that focuses on delivering the resources and equipment our troops need. The bill also provides a historic 5.2 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the Department of Defense civilian workforce.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan NDAA makes America safer and stronger. It enhances our alliances, improves national security, and supports our servicemembers, their families, and the U.S. economy,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\nTotaling $883.7 billion in national security investments, the NDAA establishes the policies and funding levels for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA addresses significant national security priorities, including: strategic competition with China and Russia; disruptive technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing; modernizing America\u2019s ships, aircraft, and combat vehicles; and improving the lives of our servicemembers and their families.\n\nNotably, the FY 24 NDAA supports the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) by facilitating the transfer of significant Australian funding to support the U.S. submarine industrial base and the future sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.\n\n\u201cThe defense bill is essential for supporting the brave servicemen and women who volunteer to safeguard America\u2019s freedom, security, and interests at home and across the globe. Now that the NDAA has passed the Senate on a strong, bipartisan basis, I urge the House to follow suit,\u201d said Reed.\n\nReed noted the NDAA is good news for Rhode Island and a major win for America\u2019s national security.\n\n\u201cThis forward-looking defense bill will go a long way toward keeping the American people safe, deterring conflict, and confronting the national security threats we face,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis bipartisan NDAA provides a historic level of support for our troops and their families, including the largest military pay raise in decades. It authorizes record-level investments in the people, platforms, and programs that our forces need to safeguard the nation and advance U.S. interests worldwide. This NDAA accelerates U.S. military research, development, and technology investments to provide our forces with advantages on the battlefield, while also ensuring the U.S. is better equipped to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and other hybrid threats.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA bolsters U.S. alliances and partnerships to operate successfully in competition with rival powers, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Notably, the bill makes key progress toward deterring and countering America\u2019s adversaries, including by reducing dependence on China for raw materials used in defense technologies. The bill also takes steps to crack down on fentanyl trafficking.\n\nReed highlighted several key provisions of the bill that will benefit Rhode Island\u2019s defense workers and industry, including:\n\nMore than $10 billion to fully support construction of 2 Virginia-class submarines;\n\nMore than $240 million for workforce and training initiatives to support the production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and the continued construction of Virginia-class submarines;\n\n$74 million for Navy applied research on undersea warfare technologies, led by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC);\n\n$20 million for the Defense Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), which ensures Rhode Island universities may compete to perform cutting-edge basic research and partner with defense labs;\n\n$50 million in supplemental Impact Aid and $20 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities; and\n\n$32 million in military construction funding for the RI Army National Guard.\n\nAdditionally, the bill includes several provisions to support small businesses, including language that improves the functioning of the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), now known as the APEX Accelerators program; language to improve the timeliness of payments made to all small businesses; and updates to the Defense Rapid Innovation Program to support the transition of technologies from small businesses into fielding and use.\n\nHundreds of small businesses across Rhode Island supply the U.S. Department of Defense, and hardworking Rhode Islanders contribute to the creation of a wide range of military products, equipment, and services. Additionally, Rhode Island is home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport; Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport; and the Naval War College. These facilities, along with leading academic research institutions and a network of suppliers and small businesses, are contributing to a booming defense industry that is boosting Rhode Island\u2019s economy and leading to advancements in technology and innovation.\n\nA recent report by SENEDIA shows that the total direct and indirect economic impact from defense spending in Rhode Island accounted for $7.6 billion in 2022. The report found that Rhode Island\u2019s defense industry is growing and supported a total of 34,068 direct and indirect jobs across the Ocean State with an annual payroll of $3 billion.\n\nNow that the NDAA has cleared the Senate, it must be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives before being sent o the President to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-wants-sba-assistance-for-local-businesses-squeezed-by-washington-bridge-closure", "RI Delegation Wants SBA Assistance for Local Businesses Squeezed by Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge that began on December 11, 2023, Rhode Island\u2019s Congressional delegation sent a letter urging the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to promptly review any disaster assistance request from the state and to provide resources to help those impacted.\n\nU.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo say that small businesses, restaurants, and shops that lose income as a result of the emergency Washington Bridge closure should be eligible for SBA assistance, if the state formally requests disaster aid.\n\n\u201cThe emergency closure of the Washington Bridge was imperative for public safety. The extended closure of this vital corridor may take a serious toll on Rhode Islanders and people throughout the region, especially residents, commuters, and small businesses,\u201d said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement. \u201cNearby businesses rely on the bridge for their daily operations. Customers might avoid areas surrounding the bridge due to traffic, which would hit business revenues particularly hard during the busy holiday season, and businesses are already struggling to receive and send out deliveries.\n\n\u201cAs the state looks to expedite repairs to safely reopen the bridge, we urge the SBA to provide emergency assistance to small businesses along this route, including making low-cost Economic Injury Disaster Loans available, while the bridge is being repaired. Small businesses are pillars of our community and we must do everything we can to help them stay afloat during the busy holiday season.\u201d\n\nThe delegation also encouraged residents to support local businesses, stating:\n\n\u201cThis is a critical moment for many of these local businesses. We\u2019ve seen time and again the way Rhode Islanders come together to assist neighbors in need. We encourage everyone to make a point to continue supporting these local businesses and we\u2019re working hard at the federal level to cut through red tape and ensure federal aid is quickly available for those who are eligible.\u201d\n\nIf the state assesses the economic impact of the emergency bridge closure and certifies that enough small businesses in the area suffered substantial economic injury to warrant an SBA disaster declaration, then the Governor can submit a request to the SBA. Doing so would allow small business owners to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans with below-market interest rates and could also allow the SBA to open a Business Recovery Center nearby. The opening of a Business Recovery Center would allow business owners to meet in-person with SBA specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of SBA programs.\n\nIf a declaration is requested and approved, eligible businesses may borrow up to $2 million to meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster, with the loans intended to assist through the recovery period.\n\nEligible enterprises would include small businesses as well as private nonprofit organizations. Interest rates for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are not more than 4 percent for small businesses and 2.4 percent for nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and based on each applicant\u2019s financial condition.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nThe Honorable Isabella Casillas Guzman\n\nAdministrator\n\nU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)\n\n409 3rd St, S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20416\n\nDear Administrator Guzman:\n\nWe write to request you promptly review any request from the State of Rhode Island for disaster assistance related to the closure of the Washington Bridge in the cities of Providence and East Providence.\n\nYesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 (I-195) over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, was closed after the discovery of a critical failure of key bridge components. I-195 is the main thoroughfare connecting Providence and the eastern part of Rhode Island, and the Washington Bridge carries nearly 100,000 vehicles crossing southeastern New England each day.\n\nThe bridge\u2019s westbound closure has created significant traffic bottlenecks in both Providence and East Providence and will likely last through the end of the year. In addition to significantly hindering local residents, these traffic jams are already preventing customers, workers, and delivery drivers from accessing local businesses. These disruptions are particularly harmful now, as small businesses welcome holiday shoppers.\n\nThe holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for many local retailers. We are extremely concerned this disruption will substantially reduce small business revenues and significantly damage our local economy. As such, we urge you to promptly review any disaster request submitted by the State of Rhode Island and ensure that all eligible businesses receive the federal resources they deserve.\n\nThank you for SBA\u2019s longstanding work supporting communities impacted by disasters. We look forward to your prompt reply and your help ensuring all eligible Rhode Islanders receive federal assistance.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-seeks-federal-aid-to-assist-with-washington-bridge-closure", "RI Delegation Seeks Federal Aid to Assist with Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In the wake of the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the federal government to free up existing formula funding that could accelerate completion of the emergency work on the Washington Bridge. The Congressional delegation is also urging technical assistance from the feds to optimize work on faster repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and more. They also requested a meeting with Secretary Buttigieg and urged U.S. DOT to expedite any approvals requested by the state.\n\nToday, Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo issued the following joint statement:\n\n\u201cOur offices are working together and closely monitoring this situation in coordination with federal, state, and local officials. We stand ready to help the state, support the community, and assist all those impacted by this ongoing emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cPublic safety is paramount. There are lots of moving parts here and we will ensure the federal government does its part to assist Rhode Island with getting this bridge repaired and reopened.\n\n\u201cRight now our efforts are focused on working with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In the days and weeks ahead, we anticipate working with additional federal agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and others, on varying impacts from this emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cWe will continue to deliver historic investments to replace, repair, upgrade, and maintain our bridge infrastructure.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter:\n\nDecember 12, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Pete Buttigieg\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg:\n\nWe are writing for your immediate assistance and focus on a Rhode Island transportation emergency.\n\nAs we alerted your department yesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island was closed immediately after the discovery of critical failure of key components of the bridge. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has declared this a Type 1 emergency as it initiates plans to rebuild this section of the bridge, a process that could take several months.\n\nWith nearly 100,000 vehicle crossings per day, the Washington Bridge is a vital commuter and freight transportation link for the state and the region. The Washington Bridge is the primary and fastest route for Rhode Islanders in the eastern part of our state to access the Providence hospitals and the area\u2019s only Level 1 trauma center.\n\nTo ensure that the bridge can safely reopen as quickly as possible, we urge you to expedite any approvals requested by RIDOT. We also ask that you provide technical assistance to the state where applicable to optimize work on repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and other items as necessary.\n\nAs you know, Congress has made significant investments in improving the safety of our bridges \u2013 including through the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, which prioritizes funding for states like Rhode Island, that have a high percentage of bridges in poor condition. Indeed, Rhode Island received the most funding of any state under this program every year since its inception. However, in view of this emergency, we ask you make available any additional existing federal formula fund that could expedite the completion of this work.\n\nWe also request that the Federal Highway Administration and USDOT Inspector General evaluate the adequacy of bridge inspections in the state and work with RIDOT to identify obsolete design features on other bridges that could lead to a critical failure. Finally, we would also request a meeting with you about this important need for our state.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-seeks-federal-aid-assist-washington-bridge-closure", "RI Delegation Seeks Federal Aid to Assist with Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In the wake of the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the federal government to free up existing formula funding that could accelerate completion of the emergency work on the Washington Bridge. The Congressional delegation is also urging technical assistance from the feds to optimize work on faster repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and more. They also requested a meeting with Secretary Buttigieg and urged U.S. DOT to expedite any approvals requested by the state.\n\nToday, Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo issued the following joint statement:\n\n\u201cOur offices are working together and closely monitoring this situation in coordination with federal, state, and local officials. We stand ready to help the state, support the community, and assist all those impacted by this ongoing emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cPublic safety is paramount. There are lots of moving parts here and we will ensure the federal government does its part to assist Rhode Island with getting this bridge repaired and reopened.\n\n\u201cRight now our efforts are focused on working with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In the days and weeks ahead, we anticipate working with additional federal agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and others, on varying impacts from this emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cWe will continue to deliver historic investments to replace, repair, upgrade, and maintain our bridge infrastructure.\u201d\n\nText of their letter to Secretary Buttigieg (and cc:ed to President Biden) follows:\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg:\n\nWe are writing for your immediate assistance and focus on a Rhode Island transportation emergency.\n\nAs we alerted your department yesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island was closed immediately after the discovery of critical failure of key components of the bridge. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has declared this a Type 1 emergency as it initiates plans to rebuild this section of the bridge, a process that could take several months.\n\nWith nearly 100,000 vehicle crossings per day, the Washington Bridge is a vital commuter and freight transportation link for the state and the region. The Washington Bridge is the primary and fastest route for Rhode Islanders in the eastern part of our state to access the Providence hospitals and the area\u2019s only Level 1 trauma center.\n\nTo ensure that the bridge can safely reopen as quickly as possible, we urge you to expedite any approvals requested by RIDOT. We also ask that you provide technical assistance to the state where applicable to optimize work on repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and other items as necessary.\n\nAs you know, Congress has made significant investments in improving the safety of our bridges \u2013 including through the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, which prioritizes funding for states like Rhode Island, that have a high percentage of bridges in poor condition. Indeed, Rhode Island received the most funding of any state under this program every year since its inception. However, in view of this emergency, we ask you make available any additional existing federal formula fund that could expedite the completion of this work.\n\nWe also request that the Federal Highway Administration and USDOT Inspector General evaluate the adequacy of bridge inspections in the state and work with RIDOT to identify obsolete design features on other bridges that could lead to a critical failure. Finally, we would also request a meeting with you about this important need for our state.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-meets-with-zelenskyy-and-urges-congress-to-support-ukraine-now-to-prevent-future-wars", "Reed Meets with Zelenskyy and Urges Congress to Support Ukraine Now to Prevent Future Wars", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, after attending an in person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Zelenskyy reminded Senators of the urgent need to continue helping Ukrainians defend themselves against Putin\u2019s brutal, illegal invasion.\n\n\u201cU.S. assistance to Ukraine is a wise investment in America\u2019s security that will save innocent lives, combat the spread of authoritarianism in Eastern Europe, and strengthen regional peace and global stability. It is clearly in America's economic and security interests to support Ukraine\u2019s battle to repel Putin\u2019s aggression, which, if unchecked, could pull the U.S. and our allies into a bloodier, costlier conflict.\n\n\u201cThis is about helping Ukrainians defend themselves and protecting American interests. Congress must act now, before it is too late and before the price of inaction results in far steeper costs down the road.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-seeks-federal-aid-to-assist-with-washington-bridge-closure", "RI Delegation Seeks Federal Aid to Assist with Washington Bridge Closure", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In the wake of the emergency closure of the Washington Bridge, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the federal government to free up existing formula funding that could accelerate completion of the emergency work on the Washington Bridge. The Congressional delegation is also urging technical assistance from the feds to optimize work on faster repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and more. They also requested a meeting with Secretary Buttigieg and urged U.S. DOT to expedite any approvals requested by the state.\n\nToday, Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo issued the following joint statement:\n\n\u201cOur offices are working together and closely monitoring this situation in coordination with federal, state, and local officials. We stand ready to help the state, support the community, and assist all those impacted by this ongoing emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cPublic safety is paramount. There are lots of moving parts here and we will ensure the federal government does its part to assist Rhode Island with getting this bridge repaired and reopened.\n\n\u201cRight now our efforts are focused on working with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In the days and weeks ahead, we anticipate working with additional federal agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and others, on varying impacts from this emergency bridge closure.\n\n\u201cWe will continue to deliver historic investments to replace, repair, upgrade, and maintain our bridge infrastructure.\u201d\n\nText of their letter to Secretary Buttigieg (and cc:ed to President Biden) follows:\n\nDecember 12, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Pete Buttigieg\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\n\nWashington, D.C. 20590\n\nDear Secretary Buttigieg:\n\nWe are writing for your immediate assistance and focus on a Rhode Island transportation emergency.\n\nAs we alerted your department yesterday, the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which carries Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River between Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island was closed immediately after the discovery of critical failure of key components of the bridge. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has declared this a Type 1 emergency as it initiates plans to rebuild this section of the bridge, a process that could take several months.\n\nWith nearly 100,000 vehicle crossings per day, the Washington Bridge is a vital commuter and freight transportation link for the state and the region. The Washington Bridge is the primary and fastest route for Rhode Islanders in the eastern part of our state to access the Providence hospitals and the area\u2019s only Level 1 trauma center.\n\nTo ensure that the bridge can safely reopen as quickly as possible, we urge you to expedite any approvals requested by RIDOT. We also ask that you provide technical assistance to the state where applicable to optimize work on repairs, lane shifts, detour design, shuttle busses, and other items as necessary.\n\nAs you know, Congress has made significant investments in improving the safety of our bridges \u2013 including through the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program, which prioritizes funding for states like Rhode Island, that have a high percentage of bridges in poor condition. Indeed, Rhode Island received the most funding of any state under this program every year since its inception. However, in view of this emergency, we ask you make available any additional existing federal formula fund that could expedite the completion of this work.\n\nWe also request that the Federal Highway Administration and USDOT Inspector General evaluate the adequacy of bridge inspections in the state and work with RIDOT to identify obsolete design features on other bridges that could lead to a critical failure. Finally, we would also request a meeting with you about this important need for our state.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-recommended-to-join-house-committee-on-science-space-and-technology", "Amo Recommended to Join House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, led by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), recommended that Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) be a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (SST).\n\n\u201cI am incredibly honored to be recommended to join the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to ensure that Rhode Island can continue to build our innovation economy and fight climate change,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cI will be a champion for strong implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act to ensure our state secures the federal resources provided by this historic law, including resources to grow our state\u2019s Blue Economy. With a strong presence of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in our Ocean State, we can be a hub of efforts to protect our environment. I also look forward to advocating for investments in good-paying manufacturing and research jobs, especially for the biotechnology sectors. I\u2019m excited at the work ahead to develop the supply chains of the future to add more rungs to the ladder of opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.\u201d\n\nSST has broad jurisdiction over many areas of non-defense Federal research and development (R&D). The Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Committee also has authority over R&D activities at the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\n\nAs a member of SST, Congressman Amo will be uniquely positioned to advocate for Rhode Island throughout the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act that was passed during the last Congress. The investments from this law will allow the United States to once again lead the world in the manufacturing of semiconductors, tackle supply chain vulnerabilities, and support our nation\u2019s scientific research and technological leadership \u2013 steps that will strengthen America\u2019s economic and national security.\n\nCongressman Amo is also a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he sits on the Subcommittees on Europe and Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-helps-launch-first-state-specific-energy-efficient-upgrade-savings-calculator-from-rewiring-america", "Reed Helps Launch First State-Specific Energy Efficient Upgrade Savings Calculator from Rewiring America", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 In an effort to help Rhode Islanders save money and the environment, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) to launch the first state-specific calculator from Rewiring America. The new calculator helps homeowners and renters find out how much they can save by taking advantage of new electrification incentives.\n\nThe calculator is a creation of Rewiring America, the leading electrification nonprofit, focused on electrifying homes, businesses, and communities. The new tool will help Rhode Islanders quickly estimate how much they can save on energy efficient upgrades by leveraging green energy incentives and tax credits created by the historic Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) in addition to other incentives on the state and local level.\n\nTo use the calculator, Rhode Islanders will only need to input a few details about their households to get personalized estimates about how much they can save on efficient electric appliances and energy-saving technologies. Rewiring America estimates that American households can receive $10,600 on average in federal incentives to help with electrification which in turn can save households an average of $1,800 per year on energy bills.\n\nSenator Reed joined Governor McKee, Acting State Energy Commissioner Chris Kearns, and Rewiring America CEO and co-founder Ari Matusiak at United Way of Rhode Island to officially launch and demonstrate the new calculator.\n\n\u201cWe are on a mission to help Rhode Islanders save money on their energy bills while fighting climate change. So far more than $142 million has been announced for Rhode Island\u2019s clean energy initiatives, and that doesn\u2019t even include the thousands of dollars in tax credits that are available for so many Rhode Islanders from the transformative climate law Democrats passed. Today, we\u2019re adding a new tool to help Rhode Islanders bring down costs and save money. This specialized calculator from Rewiring America is made just for the Ocean State and will connect homeowners and renters with a host of financial incentives and rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act that make switching to energy-efficient, clean energy appliances more affordable,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis tool allows Rhode Islanders to quickly assess how much money they can save by going electric. I want to ensure Rhode Islanders are prepared to get the most bang for their buck as we move toward a cleaner, more sustainable and more affordable energy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis innovative calculator allows Rhode Islanders the ability to fully access all of the electrification incentive programs that may be available to them,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cRhode Islanders can take advantage of state and federal energy programs that they may not have known they were eligible for before using this energy opportunities calculator. This is a great tool for educating and showcasing the potential fiscal state and federal energy incentives available to constituents.\u201d\n\n\u201cI encourage all households to use this calculator and maximize the federal and state energy incentives, especially for household energy efficiency improvements,\u201d said Acting State Energy Commissioner Chris Kearns. \u201cRhode Islanders will be able to go onto the calculator, enter their information, and they will be provided a list of incentives available to them from the federal level, state level, and their utility, all in one place.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act is a monumental legislative achievement, but just like with the Affordable Care Act, it's just the start. The real work is bringing the legislation to life by actually connecting people with all of the benefits it, and the Rhode Island state incentives, have to offer,\u201d said Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America. \u201cWe share the enthusiasm Senator Reed, Governor McKee and Commissioner Kearn talked about today in ensuring Rhode Islanders get their fair share. With this calculator, Rhode Islanders are now just a few clicks away from the next steps on their electrification journey.\u201d\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in American history. The law is helping American consumers save money while giving a boost to domestic manufacturing and energy independence. The legislation includes green energy incentives and tax credits that can help Rhode Islanders save thousands of dollars on heating/cooling system upgrades, energy-efficient appliances, and electric vehicles.\n\nUnder the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress provided $9 billion to states nationwide for up-front discounts on electrification and energy conservation upgrades. States are tasked with administering these federal funds. The Ocean State is getting $63.8 million to establish rebate programs to support Rhode Islanders electrifying their homes and reducing total energy consumption. Rhode Island OER is the state agency responsible for overseeing and distributing the clean energy funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-helps-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-enforce-sanctions-and-crackdown-on-illicit-crypto-terrorist-financing", "Reed Helps Lead Bipartisan Effort to Enforce Sanctions & Crackdown on Illicit Crypto Terrorist Financing", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 In an effort to disrupt and eradicate the illicit financial networks of terrorist organizations such as Hamas, including their crypto funding, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is teaming up with Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) on bipartisan legislation that would apply sanctions to foreign parties that facilitate financial transactions with terrorists. The bill would broaden the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions powers to cover more terrorist groups and provide Treasury with more resources to address crypto funding.\n\nCurrently, these sanctions are imposed only in limited circumstances, primarily on the terrorist group Hezbollah following passage of the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act in 2015. The Terrorism Financing Prevention Act (S. 3441) will expand this type of sanction authority to cover all U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), including Hamas, and other foreign parties that are controlled by or act on behalf of those FTOs. It would help sanction the financial backers of terrorist groups like Hamas and crackdown on the illicit financing terrorist networks.\n\n\u201cThe Terrorism Financing Prevention Act will make sure that the Treasury Department has the tools necessary to enforce our sanctions against Hamas and other terror groups,\u201d said Senator Warner. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to join Senators Rounds, Reed, and Romney in introducing this bipartisan legislation to improve our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that the Department of the Treasury has the necessary counter-terrorism tools to combat modern threats,\u201d said Senator Rounds. \u201cThe Terrorism Financing Prevention Act takes commonsense steps toward rooting out terrorism by sanctioning foreign financial institutions and foreign digital asset companies that assist them in committing these heinous acts. Cutting off funding for terrorist organizations at the source will save lives. I am pleased to co-lead this bipartisan legislation that takes decisive action to disrupt terrorist finance networks.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical to bolster the Treasury Department\u2019s tools to protect our national and economic security. With this bill, we are forcing foreign financial institutions and foreign crypto firms to choose between doing business with terrorist organizations or maintaining access to the U.S. financial system,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cWe must protect the integrity of our financial system from new and emerging threats from terrorist organizations, including Hamas that carried out the despicable attacks on Israel on October 7.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe October 7 attacks on Israel perpetrated by Hamas have made it more urgent and necessary for the U.S. to counter the role that cryptocurrency plays in the financing of terrorism. Our legislation would expand financial sanctions to cover all terrorist organizations\u2014including Hamas\u2014and it would equip the Treasury Department with additional resources to counter terrorism and address emerging threats involving digital assets,\u201d said Senator Romney.\n\nUnder the terms of the Terrorism Financing Prevention Act, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is required to identify any foreign bank or foreign digital asset transaction facilitator that knowingly facilitates transactions with an FTO or related party. Once these actors are identified, the bill requires imposition of sanctions on them, restricting either their use of U.S. correspondent bank accounts (in the case of a bank), or barring their digital asset or other transactions with U.S. persons (in the case of a digital asset transaction facilitator).\n\nThe bill also contains a key provision from the Crypto-Asset National Security Enhancement and Enforcement (CANSEE) Act that the senators previously introduced together, giving FinCEN authority to restrict transactions with \u201cprimary money laundering concerns\u201d that do not involve a U.S. correspondent bank account. This provision will provide FinCEN with appropriate tools to address threats involving digital assets and non-traditional finance networks, just as they currently can where correspondent accounts are involved.\n\nThe Terrorism Financing Prevention Act also authorizes the resources the Treasury Department needs to carry out these programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-and-gluesenkamp-perez-urge-consumer-financial-protection-bureau", "Magaziner and Gluesenkamp Perez Urge Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Remove Medical Debt from Credit Reports", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) led 57 Members of Congress in a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to move swiftly to prevent creditors from using information about Americans\u2019 medical debt to determine credit worthiness.\n\nMedical debt is not a reliable predictor of overall financial well-being, and unfair debt collection and coercive credit reporting practices have put a financial strain on millions of Americans. A diminished credit score caused by medical debt could make it more difficult for working people to get a job, buy a house or car, or start a small business.\n\n\u201cA medical emergency should not destroy your credit and financial future, but for millions of Americans with medical debt from unexpected health care costs, this is the reality,\u201d said Rep. Magaziner. \u201cWe must end unfair debt reporting practices to provide some much-needed breathing room for working people saddled with medical debt in Rhode Island and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople don\u2019t have control over falling ill or becoming injured, so their credit score shouldn\u2019t be tanked for having to take on medical debt. Experiencing a health crisis isn\u2019t an informative measure of financial well-being, nevertheless the resulting credit impacts put folks\u2019 financial futures at risk,\u201d said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cCFPB\u2019s proposed rule to end unfair debt reporting practices would make life easier for families in Southwest Washington who might already be facing the immense strain of a medical emergency.\u201d\n\nThe signatories of the letter include Representatives Seth Magaziner, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Alma Adams, Jake Auchincloss, Becca Balint, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Suzanne Bonamici, Yadira Caraveo, Tony C\u00e1rdenas, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jim Costa, Danny Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Dwight Evans, Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda, Sylvia Garcia, Jared Golden, Daniel Goldman, Vicente Gonzalez, Al Green, Ra\u00fal Grijalva, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Marcy Kaptur, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Susie Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Ilhan Omar, Jimmy Panetta, Donald Payne, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Mary Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Abigail Spanberger, Shri Thanedar, Rashida Tlaib, Ritchie Torres, David Trone, Juan Vargas, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Susan Wild, Nikema Williams and Frederica Wilson.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found HERE and the full text of the letter is below:\n\nDear Director Chopra,\n\nWe are writing to express strong support for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s (CFPB) proposed rulemaking to end unfair medical debt collection and coercive credit reporting practices that put a strain on American families. Specifically, we support the CFPB\u2019s proposals to remove medical bills from consumers\u2019 credit reports and prevent creditors from using medical bills to make determinations about credit eligibility. Medical emergencies are not a reliable predictor of overall financial well-being and should not hold Americans back from accessing financial opportunities.\n\nWhile medical debt currently impacts people\u2019s credit like other debt, people do not have control over whether they are forced to take on medical debt. In fact, two thirds of medical debt is the result of a one-time or short-term medical expense arising from an acute medical need. When people are ill, they usually don\u2019t have the ability to shop around for best prices when obtaining medical services and have to navigate medical services that often lack pricing transparency. This is particularly true in the case of emergency care, but applies even to scheduled procedures because consumers are rarely told the costs of medical services in advance. The billing and payment process for medical debts is often opaque because of the complex interactions between providers, consumers, and third-party insurers.\n\nMedical debt is not an accurate predictor of a person\u2019s credit worthiness and should not impact their ability to access credit and build for the future. A low credit score or the presence of collections on a person\u2019s credit report can jeopardize their ability to take out a loan or credit card, and those that can access credit often face higher interest rates. This may make it hard for people with medical debt to buy a house or car, take out loans to send their kids to college, or start a small business. Medical debt should not be used to prevent people from renting an apartment, turning on their water, electricity, gas or heat, or buying car or homeowners insurance. Medical debt should not imperil someone\u2019s ability to get a job, as employers often pull consumer credit reports before deciding who to hire or promote. The presence of medical debts on credit reports can put an individual\u2019s financial wellbeing and future at risk, ultimately punishing people unfairly for getting sick or injured.\n\nWe appreciate the CFPB\u2019s attention to this crucial issue and urge the CFPB to move swiftly to prevent creditors from using medical debt collection information to make determinations about consumers\u2019 credit eligibility and to prevent consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt collection tradlines on consumer credit reports.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-joins-congressional-armenian-caucus-and-supports-security-assistance-to-armenia", "Amo Joins Congressional Armenian Caucus and Supports Security Assistance to Armenia", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Congressional Armenian Caucus, co-signed a bipartisan letter to the House and Senate leaders that expresses support for the inclusion of funds in any supplemental appropriations bill to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia security partnership and help address the severe humanitarian challenges caused by Azerbaijan\u2019s recent aggression. The letter expresses funding needs as a result of the unprovoked military offensive that began in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19th.\n\n\u201cAt this inflection point for the Caucasus, U.S. leadership is needed to deter further Azerbaijani aggression and enable Armenians to defend their democracy. To this end, we respectfully request that at least $10 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Armenia be included in the forthcoming supplemental appropriations package,\u201d the Members wrote. \u201cWe are also pleased that the President\u2019s supplemental request includes robust funding for humanitarian aid, and we\u2019re hopeful that a portion of these funds will be made available to Armenia to meet the humanitarian needs of the 120,000 refugees who were recently forced from their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh.\u201d\n\nLast week, Congressman Amo joined the bipartisan Congressional Armenian Caucus, which actively works in Congress to address the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. Members of the caucus strive to foster public awareness in support of a free, united, and independent Armenia, and represent the collective Armenian American viewpoint on matters of public policy.\n\nThe letter was signed by a total of 60 bipartisan members of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate including Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Alma Adams (D-NC), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Don Beyer (D-VA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Joaqu\u00edn Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Susie Lee (D-NV), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), James McGovern (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Deborah Ross (D-NC), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Trone (D-MD), David Valadao (R-CA), and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-tuberville-dropping-military-promotions-hold", "Reed Statement on Tuberville Dropping Military Promotions Hold", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014For nearly a year, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has blocked the promotions of all senior military leaders, now totaling 445 officers, over his partisan disagreement with a Department of Defense reproductive healthcare policy. Today, Senator Tuberville announced that he is dropping most of his holds, with the exception of four-star generals and admirals.\n\nFollowing this announcement, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am glad that hundreds of our nation\u2019s finest military leaders will finally receive their hard-won, merit-based promotions. They, and their families, have shown us what grace and grit look like in the face of hardship.\n\n\u201cSenator Tuberville\u2019s actions have been an affront to the United States military and the Senate. He has jeopardized our national security and abused the rights afforded to all Senators.\n\n\u201cNo Senator should ever attempt to advance their own partisan agenda on the backs of our troops like this again.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-says-new-streamlined-fafsa-will-mean-less-paperwork-and-more-aid-for-ri-students", "Reed Says New Streamlined FAFSA Will Mean Less Paperwork & More Aid for RI Students", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Applying for college financial aid is about to get a little bit easier.\n\nLater this month, college financial aid applicants can expect the release of the new, streamlined Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). And U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who worked for over a decade to successfully simplify the key FAFSA form, says it should mean less paperwork and reach more students across Rhode Island for the 2024-25 school year.\n\nBy December 31, the U.S. Department of Education plans to go live with the new, simplified FAFSA form. Nationwide, the changes will help an estimated 610,000 more students from low-income backgrounds receive Pell Grants and 1.5 million more students access the maximum Pell Grant -- including 2,859 new students in Rhode Island who are set to receive Pell Grants and 6,096 more set to receive the maximum Pell Grant, which now stands at $7,395 per year. Pell Grant eligibility will be linked to family size and the federal poverty level.\n\nThe new law also mandates that the U.S. Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid use federal tax information received directly from the IRS to calculate Pell Grant eligibility.\n\nThe FAFSA is used to help determine a family\u2019s ability to pay for college and the amount of need-based federal aid, such as Pell Grants they can receive. It is also the form Rhode Island residents complete to determine eligibility for the Rhode Island Promise and Hope Scholarships, programs that are available to Rhode Island residents attending the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) or Rhode Island College.\n\n\u201cA better, simpler FAFSA is on its way and it should help thousands of families save time and money. I\u2019ve worked for years to try to make the FAFSA application process more user-friendly so more families can access the financial aid they are qualified for,\u201d said Senator Reed, who helped pass the FAFSA Simplification Act as part of the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations law (P.L. 116-260). \u201cWith fewer questions and enhanced eligibility, this represents a much needed overhaul. I will continue working to make college more affordable and the financial aid process easier for students and families. The recent reforms we made to FAFSA helped remove one of the main barriers to aid, but we still need to spread the word and help more students access critical federal grants and loans.\u201d\n\nReed, who hosts an annual college financial aid workshop for Rhode Island families, says the new FAFSA is being reduced from a cumbersome and complicated 108-question application down to fewer than 20 questions for many applicants. It also offers larger Income Protection Allowances (IPA). An applicant\u2019s IPA covers a family\u2019s basic daily living expenses, and is excluded from FAFSA's financial aid eligibility formula. Larger IPAs will lower the income students and parents can contribute to college expenses. As a result, it will increase their financial aid eligibility.\n\nSenator Reed says the overhauled FAFSA will also mean that schools must start making more information about their costs of attendance publicly available to students and their families, including fees and other expenses that students may directly or indirectly pay to complete their program of study.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-passing-of-supreme-court-justice-sandra-day-oconnor", "Reed Statement on Passing of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O\u2019Connor", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement regarding the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O\u2019Connor, 93, the first woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court:\n\n\u201cJustice O\u2019Connor was a trailblazer and dedicated public servant. She served the nation with honor, distinction, and steadfast devotion to the Constitution. She was a thoughtful and pragmatic jurist who vigorously upheld the values of judicial independence. She earned her place in history and continues to serve as an inspiration for so many.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-urges-regulators-to-scrutinize-synthetic-risk-transfers", "Reed Urges Regulators to Scrutinize Synthetic Risk Transfers", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to strengthen the U.S. banking sector, protect the U.S. economy and investors, and hold banks accountable, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is urging top federal regulators to scrutinize the risks associated with \u2018synthetic risk transfers\u2019 \u2013 exotic transactions that allow banks to reduce their capital requirements by offloading risks to the opaque private market.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m concerned we could be seeing a return to the pre-2008 exuberance through exotic forms of financial engineering, unless the banking agencies take a comprehensive and rigorous look at the risks. These new transactions are different than the 2008 ones in critical ways, but the risks may yet not be fully understood,\u201d said Reed, a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, who sent a letter to Michael Barr, the Federal Reserve\u2019s vice chairman of supervision, along with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) chief Martin Gruenberg, and the acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Michael Hsu, urging the financial regulators to evaluate systemic risk associated with synthetic risk transfers.\n\n\u201cI write to urge the banking agencies to evaluate the risks associated with \u201csynthetic risk transfer\u201d transactions, which allow banks to reduce their capital requirements by offloading risk to private market investors. I am concerned that synthetic risk transfers may not be conducted in a safe and sound manner by the banks under your supervision and that they may increase risk across the financial system,\u201d Reed wrote.\n\n\u201cAccording to industry reports and recent Federal Reserve legal interpretations, banks\u2019 interest in synthetic risk transfers have picked up in recent months and years. These complex arrangements are a potentially lucrative way for banks to arbitrage the capital rules by selling debt instruments or derivatives to unregulated nonbanks who assume the risk that a consumer or corporate borrower will default on a loan. While synthetic risk transfers are generally permitted, they have been strongly disfavored since the 2008 financial crisis when abuse of similar transactions magnified and obscured risks leading to devastating economic consequences,\u201d Reed continued. \u201cWithout a full assessment of the risks associated with synthetic risk transfers, I am concerned that widespread efforts to avoid stronger capital requirements put in place as a response to the 2008 crisis could expose the financial system to new risks.\u201d\n\nReed\u2019s letter notes the risks fall into two categories:\n\n\u201cFirst, synthetic risk transfers move risk outside the banking system into opaque private markets where it may not be adequately managed and cannot be properly measured. Private market investors who assume credit risk from banks include private equity funds, hedge funds, private credit funds, and other big nonbank financial institutions. They are not subject to consolidated regulation and supervision, do not need to meet risk management requirements, and do not need to make public disclosures. While synthetic risk transfers are purportedly designed to diversify and disperse credit risk among many players in the financial markets, these transactions may in fact have the opposite effect by concentrating risk among a small number of very large shadow banks.\n\n\u201cSecond, synthetic risk transfers can encourage more risk-taking by banks. These transactions may free up additional capacity for banks to make more loans. But when risks of defaults and losses are shifted onto others, banks have fewer incentives to make prudent loans and to monitor how those loans perform. Instead of making additional loans, banks could take advantage of lower capital requirements through buying back shares or paying dividends to shareholders. But that may leave banks less able to absorb losses in a crisis.\u201d\n\nGiven these potential risks, Reed is asking financial regulators to \u201ctake a very careful and judicious approach to synthetic risk transfers.\u201d\n\nHe requested the following information from the Fed, the FDIC, and the OCC:\n\n\u201c1. Volume of synthetic risk transfers conducted by the institutions under your supervision for each of the past ten years.\n\n2. The amount by which institutions have been permitted to reduce their capital over the same time period.\n\n3. The degree to which the identity and regulated status of a bank\u2019s counterparties affects the availability of synthetic risk transfers.\n\n4. Whether there should be limits on how much capital can be reduced for different classes of assets, especially consumer loans.\n\n5. Assessment of the risks to individual banks and of systemic risks based on experience to date.\n\nFinally, if the banking agencies notice a significant increase in the use of synthetic risk transfers, I urge you to initiate a notice-and-comment process that would provide both for public input and for a public explanation by the agencies of their positions.\u201d\n\nReed\u2019s letter comes on the heels of a Banking Committee hearing earlier this month where he asked Barr, Gruenberg, and Hsu about oversight of synthetic risk transfers:\n\nJACK REED: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And I would note that the Federal Reserve recently approved synthetic risk transfers in which banks use derivatives to reduce their capital requirements by shifting risk of losses onto private equity funds and hedge funds having survived the 2008 and Dodd Frank when I hear derivatives, I get nervous.\n\nWhen I hear synthetic, I get very nervous. Mr. Barr, what are the risks of the financial stability of banks are permitted to engage in these synthetic risk transfers on a significant scale and what guardrails are appropriate to protect the financial system and ensure that we don't relive the past?\n\nMICHAEL BARR: Thank you, senator. It's an important question. We looked carefully at these sets of transactions. The transactions are different from transactions that we permit by rule under the existing authorities to offset credit risk that banks might face. We wanted to take a careful and cautious approach with respect to these transactions.\n\nSo we have approved them on a case-by-case basis subject to limitations. We're going to wait and see how those instruments perform. If they perform as intended, then they might be more generally available. If we see risks arising in those transactions, then we would limit their use for capital mitigation.\n\nJACK REED: How much visibility do you have in the private equity and hedge funds that are involved in these transactions?\n\nMICHAEL BARR: We have very strong visibility into the bank side of the transaction that is how the bank engages with third parties with respect to these risks. We'll be monitoring those risks. We have of course much less visibility into hedge funds and private equity funds. That is a long-standing issue in supervision.\n\nJACK REED: Well, you know, I think you have to have really good perception of both sides of the transaction to conduct these because there's a possibility that one of the private equity firm could -- could be undercapitalized or mismanaged and the transactions would fail.\n\nMICHAEL BARR: In these particular transaction, senator, the transaction that we approved, the cash is actually provided upfront to the bank and then it diminishes over time as the -- as the credit continues to perform. So in these particular transactions, I agree with you that that's a general concern. But in these particular transactions, the cash is actually provided at the beginning of the transaction rather than at the end of the transaction.\n\nJACK REED: Thank you. Mr. Gruenberg and Mr. Hsu, do you see any risk to the financial system in these types of synthetic risk transfers?\n\nMARTIN GRUENBERG: I think there is considerable uncertainty and we need to approach it with great caution and attention, senator.\n\nJACK REED: Thank you. Mr. Hsu?\n\nMICHAEL HSU: So I agree. They do require heightened attention, especially when risk transfer is thought of as risk elimination, which is not. However when done appropriately in a safe and sound manner with controls, it can help to be part of an effective risk management program, but that does require a careful look.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nNovember 29, 2023\n\nDear Vice Chair Barr, Chair Gruenberg, and Acting Comptroller Hsu:\n\nI write to urge the banking agencies to evaluate the risks associated with \u201csynthetic risk transfer\u201d transactions, which allow banks to reduce their capital requirements by offloading risk to private market investors. I am concerned that synthetic risk transfers may not be conducted in a safe and sound manner by the banks under your supervision and that they may increase risk across the financial system.\n\nAccording to industry reports and recent Federal Reserve legal interpretations, banks\u2019 interest in synthetic risk transfers have picked up in recent months and years. These complex arrangements are a potentially lucrative way for banks to arbitrage the capital rules by selling debt instruments or derivatives to unregulated nonbanks who assume the risk that a consumer or corporate borrower will default on a loan. While synthetic risk transfers are generally permitted, they have been strongly disfavored since the 2008 financial crisis when abuse of similar transactions magnified and obscured risks leading to devastating economic consequences.\n\nWithout a full assessment of the risks associated with synthetic risk transfers, I am concerned that widespread efforts to avoid stronger capital requirements put in place as a response to the 2008 crisis could expose the financial system to new risks. These risks seem to fall into two categories.\n\nFirst, synthetic risk transfers move risk outside the banking system into opaque private markets where it may not be adequately managed and cannot be properly measured. Private market investors who assume credit risk from banks include private equity funds, hedge funds, private credit funds, and other big nonbank financial institutions. They are not subject to consolidated regulation and supervision, do not need to meet risk management requirements, and do not need to make public disclosures. While synthetic risk transfers are purportedly designed to diversify and disperse credit risk among many players in the financial markets, these transactions may in fact have the opposite effect by concentrating risk among a small number of very large shadow banks.\n\nSecond, synthetic risk transfers can encourage more risk-taking by banks. These transactions may free up additional capacity for banks to make more loans. But when risks of defaults and losses are shifted onto others, banks have fewer incentives to make prudent loans and to monitor how those loans perform. Instead of making additional loans, banks could take advantage of lower capital requirements through buying back shares or paying dividends to shareholders. But that may leave banks less able to absorb losses in a crisis.\n\nGiven these potential risks, I believe the banking agencies should take a very careful and judicious approach to synthetic risk transfers. In particular, I request the following information:\n\n1. Volume of synthetic risk transfers conducted by the institutions under your supervision for each of the past ten years.\n\n2. The amount by which institutions have been permitted to reduce their capital over the same time period.\n\n3. The degree to which the identity and regulated status of a bank\u2019s counterparties affects the availability of synthetic risk transfers.\n\n4. Whether there should be limits on how much capital can be reduced for different classes of assets, especially consumer loans.\n\n5. Assessment of the risks to individual banks and of systemic risks based on experience to date.\n\nFinally, if the banking agencies notice a significant increase in the use of synthetic risk transfers, I urge you to initiate a notice-and-comment process that would provide both for public input and for a public explanation by the agencies of their positions.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt reply.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-reaffirms-support-for-israel-denounces-rise-in-hate-and-announces-foreign-affairs-subcommittee-appointments", "Amo Reaffirms Support for Israel, Denounces Rise in Hate, and Announces Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Appointments", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) spoke in support of H.Res. 888, which reaffirms the State of Israel\u2019s right to exist, and H.Res. 793, which calls on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Congressman Amo voted in favor of both measures that passed the House of Representatives.\n\nIn his remarks, he also encouraged an urgent and collective response to the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia around the country. Congressman Amo announced today that he will serve as a member of two important subcommittees as a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Congressman Amo was appointed to the Subcommittee on Europe and Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Both Subcommittees counted former Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01) as a member.\n\n\u201cToday, I am honored to announce that I will join the Subcommittee on Europe and Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. As the son of Liberian and Ghanaian immigrants, I look forward to bringing my unique background to our Committee during this important time for our nation and the world,\u201d Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cRhode Islanders should know that I am proud to be a powerful advocate for the Ocean State and continue the leadership of my predecessor on these Subcommittees. We are seeing the importance of America\u2019s engagement and diplomacy in the world unfold in real time. With a Rhode Island perspective, I look forward to helping shape our country\u2019s foreign policy, grounded in our values of defending freedom, championing economic opportunity, upholding human rights, and ensuring the rule of law is respected.\u201d\n\nThe Subcommittee on Europe and the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia have jurisdiction over the following within its region:\n\nMatters affecting the political relations between the United States and the countries of the region, including resolutions or other legislative measures directed to such relations.\n\nLegislation with respect to disaster assistance outside the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, and international claims.\n\nLegislation with respect to region- or country-specific loans or other financial relations outside the Foreign Assistance Act.\n\nLegislation and oversight regarding human rights practices in particular countries.\n\nOversight of regional lending institutions.\n\nOversight of matters related to the regional activities of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of other multilateral institutions.\n\nIdentification and development of options for meeting future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the region.\n\nOversight of base rights and other facilities access agreements and regional security pacts.\n\nConcurrent oversight jurisdiction with respect to matters assigned to the functional subcommittees insofar as they may affect the region.\n\nOversight of foreign assistance activities affecting the region, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee.\n\nSuch other matters as the Chairman of the full Committee may determine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-leads-bicameral-pass-the-gavel-meeting-as-lawmakers-hammer-out-final-details-of-national-defense-bill", "Reed Leads Bicameral \u2018Pass the Gavel\u2019 Meeting as Lawmakers Hammer Out Final Details of National Defense Bill", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today delivered remarks at the annual \u201cpass the gavel\u201d meeting, which is an opportunity for members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to meet and work together to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nChairman Reed was joined by SASC Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS), as well as House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), and senior members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees for a joint, bicameral meeting of the NDAA conference committee, which negotiates the annual defense bill.\n\nEach year, the chairmanship of the NDAA conference committee alternates between the two chambers. This year, SASC Chairman Reed \u2018passed the gavel\u2019 to HASC Chairman Rogers, who chaired the conference meeting.\n\nBoth chambers have approved bills authorizing about $886 billion in total defense funding for fiscal year 2024. However, the Senate and House bills have several key differences, which resulted in the U.S. Senate previously approving a strong, bipartisan NDAA on a vote of 86-11 while the House bill contains many partisan, controversial riders that resulted in a narrow 219-210 vote by the Republican-controlled House in July.\n\nReed said that significant progress has been made over the last several weeks on hammering out a bipartisan, bicameral defense bill and expressed hope that the members of the conference committee could resolve remaining differences and enact a bipartisan NDAA for the 63rd year in a row.\n\nReed said he hoped the conference committee could conclude its work this week and the NDAA could be readied for floor consideration by both chambers next week.\n\nDuring today\u2019s meeting, Senator Reed stated:\n\n\u201cThe United States faces a dangerous set of national security challenges. China has emerged as our primary competitor, possessing both the intent and the capability to mount a sustained challenge to our interests around the world.\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s illegal invasion of Ukraine and Iran and North Korea\u2019s provocations continue to push the boundaries of military brinksmanship. Further, war in the Middle East requires our continued focus, both militarily and diplomatically.\n\n\u201cThe world is growing more dangerous by the day, and our national security is on the line.\n\n\u201cThe bottom line is this: Congress has a Constitutional duty to provide for the common defense.\n\n\u201cWe are responsible for ensuring that our servicemembers and defense civilians have the resources, training, equipment, and capabilities they need to keep our nation safe.\n\n\u201cThe fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act will do just that. We are creating a strong, bipartisan NDAA that addresses the long-term challenges posed by China, Russia, and other adversaries \u2013 a priority of both parties.\n\n\u201cWe must stay laser-focused on preparing our troops to deter, and if necessary, fight and win any conflict.\n\n\u201cI look forward to hearing everyone\u2019s thoughts on how we best approach the challenges ahead.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:33:57Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/van-hollen-schatz-reed-release-joint-statement-following-white-house-meeting-on-situation-in-israel-and-gaza", "Van Hollen, Schatz, Reed Release Joint Statement Following White House Meeting on Situation in Israel & Gaza", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI) released the following statement on their meeting yesterday with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and over a dozen of their colleagues to discuss the letter the Senators led with 23 of their colleagues to President Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel\u2019s defensive systems, and seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\n\u201cFollowing the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel, America has stood united in our support for Israel\u2019s duty to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. As we noted in our letter, we believe the U.S. should immediately provide Israel with funding to support this effort, including funds to replenish its defensive systems.\n\n\u201cBut to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we requested answers from the President on how these funds are being used in order to ensure they support an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas while taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza. In our letter to President Biden, we raised several key issues, including maintaining a focus on returning hostages, reducing civilian casualties, delivering humanitarian aid, establishing a plan for post-war governance and the future of the region, and addressing extremist violence in the West Bank. During yesterday\u2019s briefing, we had an opportunity to discuss with the Administration each of the questions raised in our letter.\n\n\u201cAs we expressed in the meeting, we are grateful for their leadership in negotiating a temporary ceasefire to secure the release of many hostages and to allow some desperately needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza. We also expressed our appreciation for President Biden\u2019s strong statements on the rising extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank as well as their intention to place visa restrictions and their consideration of other forms of sanctions, on these extremist settlers. We support these efforts.\n\n\u201cBut as the end of the temporary ceasefire looms ahead, we must do more to ensure the protection of innocent civilians. With the Netanyahu government\u2019s indication that it intends to continue its ground invasion into the South and Khan Yunis, humanitarian considerations must remain front and center. This city \u2013 at the heart of southern Gaza \u2013 has nearly doubled in population as many of the 1.7 million Palestinians who have fled the north in compliance with IDF orders have sought refuge there. To aid civilians, as we noted in our letter, \u2018we must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief.\u2019\n\n\u201cWe are gravely concerned that a resumption in fighting threatens to once again renew the high rate of civilian casualties and further deepen the humanitarian crisis. We expressed these concerns in our meeting, and we appreciated the Administration\u2019s acknowledgment of these issues. We are committed to working with the President and his Administration to address these concerns and to secure assurances from the Netanyahu coalition on them.\n\n\u201cAs we made clear yesterday, this meeting was not a substitute for a public response to our questions \u2013 the Administration must provide transparent responses to the American people on these matters \u2013 but we appreciated the opportunity to discuss these issues in depth.\n\n\u201cWe continue to support additional assistance to Israel in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas attacks \u2013 but we are all in agreement that this assistance must be consistent with our interests and values and used in a manner that adheres to international humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict, and U.S. law. We need to find a better path toward helping Israel achieve legitimate military and security objectives. U.S. assistance has never come in the form of a blank check \u2013 regardless of the recipient.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-announces-348-million-innovative-fishing-gear-boost-north", "RI Delegation Announces $3.48 Million for Innovative Fishing Gear to Boost North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation Efforts", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo announced $3,483,190 in grants to support the adoption of innovative fishing gear in Rhode Island and across New England to reduce the risk of gear entanglement for the endangered North Atlantic right whales.\n\nThese grants, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will provide additional resources to aid lobster and other fixed-gear fishermen in developing and bringing new ropeless gear technology onto their boats.\n\nFunding for the grant program, which was informed by the Right Whale Coexistence Act that Whitehouse and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced, was included in the bipartisan FY2023 government spending bill.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s fishermen are a vital component of our local economy. This federal funding will ensure that our fishermen have the tools and latest technology they need while helping to protect endangered right whales,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to announce this funding to support innovation in the fishing industry and help equip fishermen with the latest ropeless technology. Fewer ropes in the water will mean fewer entanglements for the endangered North Atlantic right whales,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help Rhode Island\u2019s fishing industry by making ropeless gear more affordable while also avoiding entanglements and protecting endangered species,\u201d said Congressman Magaziner, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.\n\n\u201cThe federal funding I am pleased to announce with my colleagues will bolster our conservation efforts, help us improve the fishing industry in our region, and reduce human impacts on North Atlantic right whales,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cEnsuring the hardworking men and women in Rhode Island\u2019s fishing industry have the latest equipment will benefit fishery operations by helping to reduce entanglements in fishing gear. Thanks to Senator Whitehouse\u2019s leadership, our state will continue to be a shining example of how federal investments can improve our oceans and protect highly endangered species.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to pursuing innovative approaches to recover and conserve the endangered North Atlantic right whales through our Road to Recovery efforts,\u201d said Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, Janet Coit. \u201cThis grant program and collaboration with NFWF will ensure funding can quickly support an array of projects and accelerate progress towards ropeless technologies to reduce entanglement in fishing gear.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-announces-348-million-for-innovative-fishing-gear-to-boost-north-atlantic-right-whale-conservation-efforts", "RI Delegation Announces $3.48 Million for Innovative Fishing Gear to Boost North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation Efforts", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo announced $3,483,190 in grants to support the adoption of innovative fishing gear in Rhode Island and across New England to reduce the risk of gear entanglement for the endangered North Atlantic right whales.\n\nThese grants, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will provide additional resources to aid lobster and other fixed-gear fishermen in developing and bringing new ropeless gear technology onto their boats.\n\nFunding for the grant program, which was informed by the Right Whale Coexistence Act that Whitehouse and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced, was included in the bipartisan FY2023 government spending bill.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s fishermen are a vital component of our local economy. This federal funding will ensure that our fishermen have the tools and latest technology they need while helping to protect endangered right whales,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to announce this funding to support innovation in the fishing industry and help equip fishermen with the latest ropeless technology. Fewer ropes in the water will mean fewer entanglements for the endangered North Atlantic right whales,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help Rhode Island\u2019s fishing industry by making ropeless gear more affordable while also avoiding entanglements and protecting endangered species,\u201d said Congressman Magaziner, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.\n\n\u201cThe federal funding I am pleased to announce with my colleagues will bolster our conservation efforts, help us improve the fishing industry in our region, and reduce human impacts on North Atlantic right whales,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cEnsuring the hardworking men and women in Rhode Island\u2019s fishing industry have the latest equipment will benefit fishery operations by helping to reduce entanglements in fishing gear. Thanks to Senator Whitehouse\u2019s leadership, our state will continue to be a shining example of how federal investments can improve our oceans and protect highly endangered species.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to pursuing innovative approaches to recover and conserve the endangered North Atlantic right whales through our Road to Recovery efforts,\u201d said Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, Janet Coit. \u201cThis grant program and collaboration with NFWF will ensure funding can quickly support an array of projects and accelerate progress towards ropeless technologies to reduce entanglement in fishing gear.\u201d\n\nThe grants were awarded through the New England Gear Innovation Fund, a partnership between NFWF and NOAA, with additional support from Shell USA. Grant recipients include Ropeless Systems Inc., Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, EdgeOne LLC, and the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The projects supported by the grants will advance promising technologies that remove the need to rely upon vertical buoy and gear marking lines in the water. These grants also provide funding to ensure close coordination and partnership with fishermen to develop and refine technology that will be affordable, integrate seamlessly into fishery operations, and enable safe and efficient use.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-delivers-773k-fuel-local-small-business-growth", "RI Delegation Delivers $773k to Fuel Local Small Business Growth", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 In an effort to help Rhode Island small business owners unlock the resources they need to succeed, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that the Ocean State is set to receive $773,624 to help very small and underserved businesses access more federal, state, and local funding opportunities and contracts.\n\nThis federal investment in growing Rhode Island\u2019s small and underserved businesses flows from the U.S. Department of the Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Reed and Whitehouse voted to establish the original SSBCI program in 2010 and helped to reauthorize it and deliver a $10 billion boost to the program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.\n\nThe federal funds announced today are from the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program and will be used to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services to help eligible small businesses apply for the SSBCI capital program and access other governmental small business programs. Earlier this year, Senators Reed and Whitehouse and former Congressman David Cicilline secured $61.7 million in SSBCI funding for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to establish new small business credit-assistance programs to improve Rhode Island small businesses and entrepreneurs access to capital.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and help to drive our economy forward. When we invest in the resources they need to thrive, we are helping to grow their ventures and boost job creation throughout our state,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cThis technical assistance funding through SSBCI will help our very small and underserved businesses access additional investments and will have a positive impact on economic development for our Main Street businesses, neighborhoods, and communities that need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than half of all working Rhode Islanders are employed by a small business,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis investment from our American Rescue Plan will help underserved and very small businesses tap into federally funded sources of capital and create jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the foundation of a strong economy, and they are an essential part in creating good-paying jobs and expanding opportunities for working Rhode Islanders,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThis federal funding will increase access to capital, support entrepreneurs, and give local small business owners a fair shot at success.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses across our district are the backbone of our economy. The federal investments Rhode Island secured today will support job creation throughout our state by increasing funding opportunities,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cI am proud these resources were made possible because Congress passed President Biden's American Rescue Plan. We need to continue to ensure that all small and underserved businesses thrive and are part of our state\u2019s economic recovery.\u201d\n\nSSBCI was first created under President Obama as part of the Small Business Jobs Act, which became law on September 27, 2010. Under the program, the Treasury Department allocated $1.5 billion to fund state programs across the country that support small businesses, including small manufacturers.\n\nAs a result of this law, over $13 million in SSBCI funds were made available to Rhode Island to support businesses and the local economy. Rhode Island used the first SSBCI funding wave years ago to leverage $15 in outside financing for each $1 in SSBCI funds invested, providing nearly 90 loans/investments to small businesses with a median principal loan/investment of $70,545.\n\nUnder the law, each state designs its own small business programs, and Rhode Island has implemented credit and equity initiatives to fund small business credit expansion activities in the state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-delivers-773k-to-fuel-local-small-business-growth", "RI Delegation Delivers $773k to Fuel Local Small Business Growth", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 In an effort to help Rhode Island small business owners unlock the resources they need to succeed, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that the Ocean State is set to receive $773,624 to help very small and underserved businesses access more federal, state, and local funding opportunities and contracts.\n\nThis federal investment in growing Rhode Island\u2019s small and underserved businesses flows from the U.S. Department of the Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Reed and Whitehouse voted to establish the original SSBCI program in 2010 and helped to reauthorize it and deliver a $10 billion boost to the program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.\n\nThe federal funds announced today are from the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program and will be used to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services to help eligible small businesses apply for the SSBCI capital program and access other governmental small business programs. Earlier this year, Senators Reed and Whitehouse and former Congressman David Cicilline secured $61.7 million in SSBCI funding for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to establish new small business credit-assistance programs to improve Rhode Island small businesses and entrepreneurs access to capital.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and help to drive our economy forward. When we invest in the resources they need to thrive, we are helping to grow their ventures and boost job creation throughout our state,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cThis technical assistance funding through SSBCI will help our very small and underserved businesses access additional investments and will have a positive impact on economic development for our Main Street businesses, neighborhoods, and communities that need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than half of all working Rhode Islanders are employed by a small business,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis investment from our American Rescue Plan will help underserved and very small businesses tap into federally funded sources of capital and create jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the foundation of a strong economy, and they are an essential part in creating good-paying jobs and expanding opportunities for working Rhode Islanders,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThis federal funding will increase access to capital, support entrepreneurs, and give local small business owners a fair shot at success.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses across our district are the backbone of our economy. The federal investments Rhode Island secured today will support job creation throughout our state by increasing funding opportunities,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cI am proud these resources were made possible because Congress passed President Biden's American Rescue Plan. We need to continue to ensure that all small and underserved businesses thrive and are part of our state\u2019s economic recovery.\u201d\n\nSSBCI was first created under President Obama as part of the Small Business Jobs Act, which became law on September 27, 2010. Under the program, the Treasury Department allocated $1.5 billion to fund state programs across the country that support small businesses, including small manufacturers.\n\nAs a result of this law, over $13 million in SSBCI funds were made available to Rhode Island to support businesses and the local economy. Rhode Island used the first SSBCI funding wave years ago to leverage $15 in outside financing for each $1 in SSBCI funds invested, providing nearly 90 loans/investments to small businesses with a median principal loan/investment of $70,545.\n\nUnder the law, each state designs its own small business programs, and Rhode Island has implemented credit and equity initiatives to fund small business credit expansion activities in the state.\n\nRI Commerce, which administers the state\u2019s SSBCI capital programs, anticipates that this funding will provide technical assistance to approximately 242 underserved and very small businesses, potentially resulting in about 121 successful applications to the state\u2019s SSBCI capital programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-joins-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-in-calling-for-more-federal-funding-to-fight-antisemitism", "Amo Joins Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers in Calling for More Federal Funding to Fight Antisemitism", "2023-11-21", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PAWTUCKET, RI \u2013 Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) co-signed a letter urging the leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to provide robust funding to implement the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism for Fiscal Year 2024.\n\n\u201cAs you enter into negotiations to reconcile House and Senate Fiscal Year 2024 spending measures, we write to urge robust funding to implement the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism,\u201d the Members wrote. \u201cWe hope that the strong bipartisan and stakeholder support for the President's plan to reverse the spread of hatred will be reflected in our nation\u2019s budget.\u201d\n\nThe first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism announced by President Joe Biden has tasked Congress with funding programs and initiatives to fight antisemitism. These programs include enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to stop antisemitic harassment on college campuses, funding Nonprofit Security Grants to protect synagogues and other centers of Jewish life, and empowering state and local law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools they need to prevent hate crimes from happening in the first place and effectively prosecute them when they do occur.\n\nFully funding and implementing the strategy would help combat the rise in antisemitic incidents across our nation. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reported that antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have reached the highest level ever recorded, with nearly 3,700 cases documented. Since the brutal massacre and kidnapping of over 1,400 Israeli civilians by Hamas, the ADL reports that antisemitic incidents were 316% higher than the 200 incidents reported between the October 7 and November 7 period in 2022.\n\nThe letter was signed by a total of 51 bipartisan members, including Wasserman Schultz and Fitzpatrick as well as Reps. Gabe Amo, Jake Auchincloss, Don Bacon, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Gerald Connolly, Angie Craig, Donald Davis, Lloyd Doggett, Lois Frankel, Maxwell Frost, Daniel Goldman, Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n, Josh Gottheimer, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Derek Kilmer, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Greg Landsman, Barbara Lee, Susie Lee, Ted Lieu, Nicole Malliotakis, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Grace Meng, Marcus Molinaro, Jared Moskowitz, Jerrold Nadler, Jimmy Panetta, Dean Phillips, Jamie Raskin, Patrick Ryan, Maria Salazar, Janice Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, Terri Sewell, Darren Soto, Haley Stevens, Eric Swalwell, Ritchie Torres, David Trone, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams.\n\nThe letter received support from the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, Jewish on Campus, Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, Hadassah, the Women\u2019s Zionist Organization of America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-hosts-us-secretary-of-veterans-affairs-for-tour-of-key-ri-vet-programs-and-facilities", "Reed Hosts U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Tour of Key RI Vet Programs & Facilities", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed today welcomed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to Rhode Island for a series of meetings with local veterans, support organizations, and VA professionals. Their engagements focused on meeting with the workers and employees providing Rhode Island veterans with the care, benefits, and services they earned.\n\n\u201cI was pleased to join Secretary McDonough today to meet with some of Rhode Island\u2019s finest \u2013 our courageous veterans. We have heard from organizations that support veterans about how we can work together to improve services and outcomes,\u201d said Senator Reed, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, who served in the U.S. Army after graduating from West Point. \u201cSecretary McDonough is a dedicated public servant who I\u2019ve known since his time as a congressional staffer focused on foreign policy and advising former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. I\u2019m pleased to work with him now as he leads the Biden Administration\u2019s efforts to provide high-quality care and benefits for our nation\u2019s veterans. Today\u2019s sessions gave us numerous takeaways that we can bring back to Washington and continue to build on for the benefit of Rhode Island\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\nSenator Reed and Secretary McDonough began their tour of the Ocean State with a tour of Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), where they saw first-hand how the organization is working to support veterans experiencing homelessness and provide other legal and support services for at-risk veterans.\n\nUnder the direction of Secretary McDonough, ending veteran homeless is a priority for the VA. The department is on track to meet its goal of housing 38,000 homeless veterans this year. OSDRI is a key local partner in this effort. The organization helps Rhode Island veterans to secure stable housing, employment, basic human needs, and legal and benefit assistance.\n\nFollowing the tour of OSDRI, Senator Reed and Secretary McDonough met with medical professionals, staff, and patients at the Providence VA Medical Center. Through a series of meetings and discussions, the group highlighted latest efforts to increase access and improve outcomes for veterans in need of VA care and services. Last Congress, Senator Reed supported and helped to pass the PACT Act, the largest expansion of access to VA healthcare and benefits in recent history. Secretary McDonough is now overseeing the implementation of the law.\n\nA Minnesota native, McDonough previously served as White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama. Following his time with the Obama Administration, McDonough worked for the Markle Foundation, focusing on employment and job training for Americans, before he was tapped by President Joe Biden to helm the VA. He was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs with the support of 87 U.S. Senators in February of 2021.\n\nAs the head of the VA, McDonough is responsible for caring for some 9 million veterans nationwide, including some 800,000 aging Vietnam War veterans. The VA employs more than 377,000 people and supports 170 medical centers and more than 1,000 outpatient sites nationwide.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-the-passing-of-former-first-lady-rosalynn-carter", "Reed Statement on the Passing of Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter", "2023-11-19", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after the Carter Center announced the passing of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, 96, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cRosalynn Carter was a remarkable First Lady and an incredible life partner for President Jimmy Carter. Married over 77 years, theirs was a love that was built to last. And they made it their life\u2019s work to help and uplift others. Together and as individuals, in both public and private life, they succeeded beyond measure. They embodied the American values of family, community, faith, and civic pride and responsibility.\n\n\u201cAmerica owes a debt of gratitude to First Lady Carter for championing the Equal Rights Amendment and working to make mental health care more accessible for all. She was a trusted advisor to her husband and a national leader in her own right.\n\n\u201cRosalynn Carter set an example of hard work, honesty, grace, and care for others. She led by example and her example continues to inspire us. May we all be so lucky to give and receive the kind of love and compassion that Mrs. Carter showed and bestowed unto others each and every day.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ccri-us-department-energy-teaming-help-ri-manufacturers-go-green-save-money", "CCRI, U.S. Department of Energy Teaming Up to Help RI Manufacturers Go Green & Save Money", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) adds tremendous workforce value to local manufacturers and helps them improve efficiency and productivity in a variety of ways. Today, CCRI\u2019s efforts to assist local businesses with energy savings is getting a major boost thanks to the Biden Administration selecting CCRI as one of seventeen new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) nationwide. And with the new designation comes the potential for significant federal funding.\n\nToday, Rhode Island\u2019s Congressional delegation joined Community College of Rhode Island Interim President Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan to celebrate CCRI\u2019s selection by the U.S. Department of Energy as an IAC to help local businesses with energy expenditures. This designation will help CCRI conduct energy audits and expand clean energy workforce training opportunities for in-demand, high-quality jobs.\n\nWith the designation, CCRI will deliver technical expertise and assistance to conduct assessments at small- and medium-sized manufacturers and commercial and institutional buildings throughout Rhode Island while training CCRI students and incumbent manufacturing workers for quality careers. Trained CCRI experts will be able to provide small and medium enterprises with energy efficiency reports that help identify potential savings with detailed calculations and implementation cost estimates.\n\nAccording to the Department of Energy: \u201cIACs typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings opportunities for every manufacturer assessed, nearly $50,000 of which is implemented during the first year following the assessment. Over 20,000 IAC assessments have been conducted.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnergy costs are a big concern for businesses of all sizes. This is a major accomplishment for CCRI and a win for local companies, particularly manufacturers, that are sure to benefit and achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings in the future,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made the program a reality. \u201cI commend CCRI for their outstanding work in terms of smart manufacturing and energy efficiency. Not only are they identifying new ways for businesses to save money and energy, but they are strengthening Rhode Island\u2019s workforce and industrial base too.\u201d\n\n\u201cCCRI is a leader in preparing the next generation of talent for well-paying jobs in growing industries,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThe Industrial Assessment Center designation is a testament to CCRI\u2019s strength in workforce training and building industry partnerships. I commend their commitment to helping meet Rhode Island\u2019s clean energy goals.\u201d\n\n\u201cCCRI is honored to be selected as an Industrial Assessment Center,\u201d said Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan, interim President of CCRI. \u201cThis designation aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education that prepares individuals for in-demand, high-paying jobs and reinforces our commitment to expand training opportunities, particularly in the clean energy sector, while fostering energy efficiency and sustainability.\n\n\u201cWe need to lower costs for Rhode Island businesses, and this designation will help local companies identify ways to save money and become more energy efficient,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cI look forward to seeing CCRI\u2019s work to support businesses across our state and train students for good-paying jobs in clean energy.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to see CCRI\u2019s designation to play a pivotal role in supporting manufacturers and small-and-medium sized enterprises reduce energy costs,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cIt is also heartening to see CCRI build upon its role as a hub for workforce development and opportunities for a wide range of Rhode Islanders to get good-paying jobs in our green economy. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the delegation to continue investing significant federal resources in our state.\u201d\n\nUntil recently, IAC designations were limited to four-year institutions. Expanding IACs to include community colleges, trade schools and union training programs, made possible by President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, brings training opportunities to organizations that serve disadvantaged and minoritized communities for in-demand, high-quality jobs while identifying opportunities for organizations to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste.\n\nIn addition to naming CCRI one of seventeen IACs, the Biden Administration also announced an inaugural cohort of 10 Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC). Together, these 27 selectees are expected to receive a combined $40.8 million in federal funding.\n\nSelectees will also work with hundreds of industrial facilities and buildings across more than 25 states and territories, expanding the existing network to 54 IACs and 10 BTACs. Aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Justice40 commitment, over 75 percent of these awards will go to organizations that serve disadvantaged communities, help reduce energy burdens, and increase access to high-quality, good-paying jobs for Americans facing barriers to employment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ccri-us-department-of-energy-teaming-up-to-help-ri-manufacturers-go-green-and-save-money", "CCRI, U.S. Department of Energy Teaming Up to Help RI Manufacturers Go Green & Save Money", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) adds tremendous workforce value to local manufacturers and helps them improve efficiency and productivity in a variety of ways. Today, CCRI\u2019s efforts to assist local businesses with energy savings is getting a major boost thanks to the Biden Administration selecting CCRI as one of seventeen new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) nationwide. And with the new designation comes the potential for significant federal funding.\n\nToday, Rhode Island\u2019s Congressional delegation joined Community College of Rhode Island Interim President Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan to celebrate CCRI\u2019s selection by the U.S. Department of Energy as an IAC to help local businesses with energy expenditures. This designation will help CCRI conduct energy audits and expand clean energy workforce training opportunities for in-demand, high-quality jobs.\n\nWith the designation, CCRI will deliver technical expertise and assistance to conduct assessments at small- and medium-sized manufacturers and commercial and institutional buildings throughout Rhode Island while training CCRI students and incumbent manufacturing workers for quality careers. Trained CCRI experts will be able to provide small and medium enterprises with energy efficiency reports that help identify potential savings with detailed calculations and implementation cost estimates.\n\nAccording to the Department of Energy: \u201cIACs typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings opportunities for every manufacturer assessed, nearly $50,000 of which is implemented during the first year following the assessment. Over 20,000 IAC assessments have been conducted.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnergy costs are a big concern for businesses of all sizes. This is a major accomplishment for CCRI and a win for local companies, particularly manufacturers, that are sure to benefit and achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings in the future,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made the program a reality. \u201cI commend CCRI for their outstanding work in terms of smart manufacturing and energy efficiency. Not only are they identifying new ways for businesses to save money and energy, but they are strengthening Rhode Island\u2019s workforce and industrial base too.\u201d\n\n\u201cCCRI is a leader in preparing the next generation of talent for well-paying jobs in growing industries,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThe Industrial Assessment Center designation is a testament to CCRI\u2019s strength in workforce training and building industry partnerships. I commend their commitment to helping meet Rhode Island\u2019s clean energy goals.\u201d\n\n\u201cCCRI is honored to be selected as an Industrial Assessment Center,\u201d said Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan, interim President of CCRI. \u201cThis designation aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education that prepares individuals for in-demand, high-paying jobs and reinforces our commitment to expand training opportunities, particularly in the clean energy sector, while fostering energy efficiency and sustainability.\n\n\u201cWe need to lower costs for Rhode Island businesses, and this designation will help local companies identify ways to save money and become more energy efficient,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cI look forward to seeing CCRI\u2019s work to support businesses across our state and train students for good-paying jobs in clean energy.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to see CCRI\u2019s designation to play a pivotal role in supporting manufacturers and small-and-medium sized enterprises reduce energy costs,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cIt is also heartening to see CCRI build upon its role as a hub for workforce development and opportunities for a wide range of Rhode Islanders to get good-paying jobs in our green economy. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the delegation to continue investing significant federal resources in our state.\u201d\n\nUntil recently, IAC designations were limited to four-year institutions. Expanding IACs to include community colleges, trade schools and union training programs, made possible by President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, brings training opportunities to organizations that serve disadvantaged and minoritized communities for in-demand, high-quality jobs while identifying opportunities for organizations to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste.\n\nIn addition to naming CCRI one of seventeen IACs, the Biden Administration also announced an inaugural cohort of 10 Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC). Together, these 27 selectees are expected to receive a combined $40.8 million in federal funding.\n\nSelectees will also work with hundreds of industrial facilities and buildings across more than 25 states and territories, expanding the existing network to 54 IACs and 10 BTACs. Aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Justice40 commitment, over 75 percent of these awards will go to organizations that serve disadvantaged communities, help reduce energy burdens, and increase access to high-quality, good-paying jobs for Americans facing barriers to employment.\n\nToday\u2019s announcement is the latest in CCRI\u2019s effort to support academic pathways and workforce training in the green economy. On Wednesday, CCRI celebrated the topping off ceremony of the state\u2019s first GWO offshore wind safety training center at the CCRI Flanagan Campus in Lincoln.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-touts-738000-for-ri-food-policy-council-to-help-local-farmers-grow-their-business", "Reed Touts $738,000 for RI Food Policy Council to Help Local Farmers Grow Their Business", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to help beginning farmers and food producers in Rhode Island grow their business and achieve success, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced a new $737,929 federal grant for the Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP).\n\nThe funding will support RIFPC\u2019s Advancing Equity in Capital Access for Beginning Farmers project which will lead state and regional partners to provide customized education, mentoring, and networking services to more than 100 Rhode Island farmers. This support will build farmers' financial literacy and allow them to access the capital they need to succeed.\n\nPartnering organizations on this project include the African Alliance of RI, the Carrot Project, the RI Association of Conservation Districts, Farm Credit East, Young Farmer Network, and the Sankofa Program of West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation.\n\n\u201cNew farmers don\u2019t grow on trees. We have to invest in ensuring the next generation of Rhode Island farmers and beginning food producers can succeed and thrive here in the Ocean State. The Rhode Island Food Policy Council does a fantastic job of helping beginners break into the agricultural business and offers them tools and resources to build profitable businesses. This federal funding will help expand their reach and help diversify Rhode Island\u2019s agricultural sector and landscape,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cThis federal funding will help beginning farmers in Rhode Island gain new skills, access capital, and gain hands-on skill building, connections, and experience.\u201d\n\nRhode Island\u2019s BFRDP grant is one of 45 nationwide being awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the program and awarded a total of $27.9 million in BFRDP grants nationwide.\n\nCo-project directors Nessa Richman and Josh Daly of RIFPC stated: \u201cLocal farms are critical to our state\u2019s food security and economy, now and in the future. We need our beginning farmers to grow and thrive. This critical investment will go a long way to building a more just and self-reliant local food system. We and our partners are excited to start doing this innovative and important work together.\u201d\n\nThe Rhode Island Food Policy Council is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2011 as a statewide collaboration of diverse, committed, and engaged stakeholders from all sectors of the food system with a goal of increasing community food security while simultaneously growing Rhode Island\u2019s local food system.\n\n\u201cThis investment reflects USDA\u2019s commitment to helping new farmers and ranchers realize their dreams,\u201d said USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. \u201cAs the average age of our U.S. producers continues to increase, USDA is accelerating efforts to provide meaningful support to a rising cadre of farmers and ranchers\u2014including military veterans interested in starting new careers after their service\u2014so they can cultivate the skills needed to be productive, profitable and resilient.\u201d\n\nAccording to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service\u2019s Ag Census data, one-third of the United States\u2019 3.4 million farmers are over the age of 65.\n\n\u201cEnsuring there will be a new generation of beginning farmers and ranchers \u2013 regardless of age or production choice \u2013 is essential to the continuation of agricultural production in the United States,\u201d said USDA NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra. \u201cBeginning farmers and ranchers have unique educational, training, technical assistance and outreach needs. Access to capital, land and knowledge that assists in ensuring profitability and sustainability are vital to farmers and ranchers in their first 10 years of operation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-office-is-open-and-ready-to-serve", "Amo Office is Open and Ready to Serve", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Amo begins first week in Congress speaking on House floor, hiring senior staff, and planning ceremonial swearing-in for Rhode Islanders\n\nPAWTUCKET, RI \u2013 Following his swearing-in on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) addressed his colleagues, highlighting his inspiration for service to the people of the First Congressional District. Today, Congressman Amo is proud to announce that Dylan Sodaro will serve as Chief of Staff and Kate Michaud as District Director.\n\nDylan Sodaro brings over a decade of Capitol Hill experience to his role as Congressman Amo\u2019s Chief of Staff, having worked for senior members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. of New Jersey (NJ-09) and Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois (IL-05).\n\n\u201cI am eager to welcome Dylan to our office to serve Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cHe has both the legislative and management experience to effectively lead our office and deliver results for the District. Having served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Representative Pascrell, Dylan has a deep understanding of the Congress.\u201d\n\nKate Michaud is serving as the District Director after serving as the Town Manager for the Town of Warren since 2018. Prior to her current role, Kate worked as the Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Warren and in municipal government in Tiverton.\n\n\u201cI am excited that Kate is joining our team because she brings over two decades of experience serving communities in the First District,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cKate understands the importance of robust constituent services, delivering federal resources, and coordination between local, state, and federal agencies.\u201d\n\nCongressman Amo's floor remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nThank you Mr. Speaker. Thank you Representative Magaziner for the warm introduction.\n\nAnd thank you to Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse who, alongside Representative Magaziner and now me, make up our small but very mighty Rhode Island congressional delegation.\n\nAnd of course, to my predecessor, former Representative David Cicilline, I\u2019m grateful for your service to Rhode Island. I look forward to our work together in both of our new roles.\n\nThank you to my family, friends, community leaders, and all those who supported me along the way. And of course, thank you to the people of the First Congressional District and those across Rhode Island, for giving me the opportunity to serve in the People\u2019s House.\n\nI want to tell you a story about Rhode Island. Reverend Mahlon Van Horne was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1885, making him the first Black person elected to the state legislature. Just think, Reverend Van Horne was elected as a Black man nearly two decades after the end of the Civil War.\n\nIn a 1887 sermon, Reverend Van Horne said,\n\n\"I believe the day is coming, is not far off, when in the commonwealth of Rhode Island, the stomping ground of soul, liberty will become the home of the free and the land of the truly brave. The home of the free, where fair play in all the walks of life will be accorded.\u201d\n\nThose words are top of mind for me today. Reverend Van Horne\u2019s dream, and the dreams of those who have called Rhode Island home across generations, allow me to stand before you all today. While we have not arrived at our final destination in the project of this democracy, I am optimistic.\n\nAs a Rhode Islander, it\u2019s easy for me. After all, our state\u2019s motto is \u201cHope.\u201d\n\nIt is hope that led my parents to come from West Africa \u2013 my dad from Ghana and my mom from Liberia \u2013 to pursue opportunity in the greatest country in the world. And they\u2019ve been driven by hard work throughout: my dad as the owner of a liquor store and my mom as a union nursing home nurse.\n\nBut this is not just my story. It\u2019s a Rhode Island story. It\u2019s an American story.\n\nAnd that shared story is why today, I am proud to be the Representative from Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District. What is beautiful about hope is that it cares not about your race, your religion, your gender, or where your ancestors came from.\n\nThis belief has inspired people who arrived in Rhode Island from:\n\nItaly and Ireland,\n\nPortugal and France,\n\nDominican Republic and Haiti and Colombia,\n\nArmenia and yes, countries in West Africa,\n\nAnd so many places in between.\n\nWe must also acknowledge those whose family branches extend from the native tribes of our shores, to the settlers who came for religious freedom, to those who did not choose their journey as enslaved people \u2013 but whose hope persisted nonetheless.\n\nTogether, we must ensure that our great hope for the future is met with profound action.\n\nAction to:\n\nProtect and strengthen retirement security,\n\nSupport our seniors,\n\nCreate economic opportunity and good-paying jobs,\n\nSecure reproductive freedom and keep politics out of the doctor\u2019s office,\n\nEnsure the livability of our planet for our children and their grandchildren,\n\nBan assault weapons and end gun violence,\n\nAnd stand up to the threats facing our democracy.\n\nThis hallowed space, this House floor, is where we have always had to work vigorously towards the promise of our nation\u2019s highest ideals and aspirations.\n\nI cannot wait to work on behalf of the people of the First Congressional District. Everyone from:\n\nWoonsocket to Newport,\n\nEast Providence to Cumberland,\n\nProvidence to Bristol,\n\nAnd of course, the great city of Pawtucket.\n\nThank you for putting your trust in me to bring our Rhode Island values of hard work, grit, determination, resilience in the face of adversity all the way from the Ocean State to the halls of the United States Congress.\n\nRhode Island, I will work for you every single day.\n\nThank you.\n\nMr. Speaker, I yield back.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-biden-xi-agreement-to-crackdown-on-chinas-fentanyl-production-will-disrupt-trafficking", "Reed: Biden, Xi Agreement to Crackdown on China\u2019s Fentanyl Production will Disrupt Trafficking", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 After the Biden Administration implemented a series of comprehensive sanctions and legal actions against China-based companies, entities, and Chinese nationals for manufacturing and selling illicit fentanyl and related chemicals, the White House announced a new agreement between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at slowing the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. The two leaders reached the joint agreement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California.\n\nUnder terms of the agreement, China will clamp down on chemical companies to halt the manufacture and export of the precursor materials used to make fentanyl. The U.S. and China will also restart bilateral cooperation on counter-narcotics and create a counter-narcotics working group to discuss and exchange information on law enforcement efforts.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a lead cosponsor of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, says the Biden-Xi agreement will help save lives and curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.\n\n\u201cThis agreement has the potential to help save lives, attack the problem at the source, and dismantle fentanyl trafficking networks. President Biden is taking bold action to address this crisis, strengthening collaboration to counter drug traffickers and those who profit by providing the ingredients. While this is a positive step forward, we will need to ensure that China lives up to its end of the deal,\u201d said Reed, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n\nThe fight against fentanyl presents significant challenges and requires international cooperation, including with China.\n\nFentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opiate, and is linked to more deaths of Americans under the age of 50 than any other cause. Its abuse and illicit trafficking have triggered a public health and security crisis in many countries, requiring international cooperation to effectively address this problem.\n\nFentanyl was responsible for the majority of overdoses that killed a record 110,000 Americans last year \u2013 including 434 Rhode Islanders. Often, overdose victims had no clue the drug they were ingesting was laced with fentanyl.\n\nUnder the Biden Administration, the United States has increased pressure on drug cartels in Mexico that manufacture fentanyl from precursor chemicals made in China and smuggle it through border points of entry into the U.S. Both the U.S. and Mexico have pressured China to do more to control exports of fentanyl precursor chemicals.\n\nReed is also urging Congress to pass an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that includes an additional $1.55 billion in emergency spending to combat fentanyl trafficking and counter the scourge of fentanyl in communities across the country.\n\nThe Fend Off Fentanyl Act, which Reed helped bass through the U.S. Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), would:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-delivers-877000-to-help-ride-advance-school-modernization-plans", "Reed Delivers $877,000 to Help RIDE Advance School Modernization Plans", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to help modernize Rhode Island\u2019s public schools, prevent environmental health risks, improve maintenance, and conduct long-term planning, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced a new $876,792 federal grant for the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) under the Supporting America\u2019s School Infrastructure Grant Program.\n\nWith this funding, RIDE\u2019s School Building Authority would increase necessary supports to assist local education agencies (LEAs) with improving building conditions and educational environments for students and teachers. Additional staff would coordinate energy efficiency and air quality audits, while aiding districts with procurement, technical assistance, and professional development.\n\nSenator Reed helped the U.S. Department of Education recently launch the Supporting America\u2019s School Infrastructure Grant Program, to enhance the ability of state departments of education to address school facilities matters.\n\n\u201cSchools are community assets. Modernizing school facilities can improve the learning experience for students, boost educational outcomes, and enhance student health and well-being. This federal funding will help identify opportunities for infrastructure upgrades and a blueprint to effectively implement these building improvements,\u201d said Senator Reed, the author of the Rebuild America\u2019s Schools Act (S. 2608), a bill that seeks to invest $130 billion in modernizing classrooms across the country.\n\n\u201cRIDE is committed to ensuring more Rhode Island students learn in modern, safe, and welcoming school facilities that inspire them to reach their highest potential, and we are deeply appreciative of Senator Reed\u2019s advocacy for critical federal funds to improve school infrastructure,\u201d said Commissioner Ang\u00e9lica Infante-Green. \u201cWe know that the condition of the spaces our students learn in matter. When we invest in improvements and enhancements in learning spaces, we send a clear message to our kids and school staff that we care about their experiences and want them to learn, teach, and thrive in the best environments possible. We look forward to leveraging these funds to support local education agencies maintain and enhance their school facilities.\u201d\n\nRIDE plans to use this new federal grant to focus efforts on five high-need and urban districts that, combined, serve more than 300,000 students. Promoting healthy school facilities in these areas will not only support greater environmental justice and health equity among historically underserved communities -- it will also provide a blueprint for statewide deployment of a comprehensive system of assistance for LEAs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-helps-pass-stopgap-bill-to-avert-a-shutdown-but-decries-republicans-for-wasting-time-and-taxpayer-money-while-failing-to-address-nations-long-term-needs", "Reed Helps Pass Stopgap Bill to Avert a Shutdown But Decries Republicans for Wasting Time & Taxpayer Money While Failing to Address Nation\u2019s Long-term Needs", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Shortly before midnight, the U.S. Senate voted 87-11 to pass a short-term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that will avert a federal government shutdown ahead of tomorrow\u2019s deadline. The measure, which also passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, keeps some federal agencies open at current spending levels until mid-January, with others set to have their funding lapse in early February.\n\nThe bill must now be signed into law by President Joe Biden before federal funding expires on Friday, November, 17 in order to prevent a government shutdown. The White House signaled the President\u2019s intention to sign the bill into law.\n\nCiting the need to keep the government open and working for the American people, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, supported the measure, but criticized Congressional Republicans for bringing the federal government to the brink of a shutdown for the second time in the last 45 days.\n\nReed issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cI voted to keep the government open and working for the people.\n\n\u201cWhen Republicans shut the government down, working families pay the price and our economy, security, and democracy suffers as a result.\n\n\u201cInfighting amongst House Republicans wasted several weeks.\n\n\u201cCongress should be passing bipartisan spending bills that address the nation\u2019s long-term needs. Instead, Republicans are only agreeing to short-term, stop gap measures and threatening the paychecks of millions of Americans, including members of the military.\n\n\u201cElected leaders have a responsibility to appropriate funds in an orderly process. But far-right extremists are holding the country back and threatening to force another shutdown in the new year.\n\n\u201cCongress must work together and fund the government and pass emergency aid for Ukraine, Israel, national security, disaster funding, childcare, LIHEAP, homeless assistance, and other pressing needs. House Republicans need to get serious and come to the table to negotiate responsible, bipartisan full-year funding bills, without draconian cuts or poison pills that won\u2019t pass in either chamber.\u201d\n\nOnce the President signs the bill into law, it will set up two new deadlines:\n\nOn January 19 federal funding for agencies covered by the Agriculture; Energy-Water; Military Construction-VA; and Transportation-HUD bills will expire. Funding for all other federal departments and agencies will lapse after February 2.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-and-labor-caucus-co-chairs-urge-swift-adoption-executive-order", "Magaziner and Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Swift Adoption of Executive Order on Project Labor Agreements", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus, and the Co-Chairs of the Labor Caucus Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Steven Horsford (NV-04) led 87 Members of Congress in a letter urging the swift adoption of President Biden\u2019s executive order requiring federal agencies to use project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects.\n\n\u201cWe strongly support the objectives of this executive order and, given the significant amount of new planned Federal construction projects, it is critical that the executive order be finalized and implemented as soon as possible,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201c[PLAs] not only serve the federal government by being a successful project delivery model, but also advance the interests of contractors and subcontractors (including small businesses), and especially workers, who deserve fair pay and benefits on the job.\u201d\n\nProject labor agreements (PLAs) are collective bargaining agreements negotiated between construction unions and contractors that establish the terms and conditions of employment for construction projects. They help ensure that federal projects are completed on-time and on-budget while also creating high-quality, stable jobs for workers, including those historically excluded from construction. Ultimately, both taxpayers and workers benefit.\n\nUnder the President\u2019s executive order, PLAs will be required for large-scale Federal construction projects that exceed $35 million in cost, but the executive order cannot go into effect until the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council finalizes a rule to implement the order. The FAR Council proposed its rule on August 19, 2022 and the comment period on the proposal closed in October 18, 2022.\n\nThis letter has been endorsed by AFL-CIO; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Workers International Association (SMART); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); United Association - Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, and Service Techs (UA); and the Operative Plasterers\u2019 and Cement Masons\u2019 International Association (OPCMIA).\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found HERE and the full text of the letter is below:\n\nDear Chair Harada,\n\nWe are writing today to urge the swift finalizing of the rule that will fully implement President Biden\u2019s Executive Order 14063 on Use of Project Labor Agreements For Federal Construction Projects. We strongly support the objectives of this executive order and, given the significant amount of new planned Federal construction projects, it is critical that the executive order be finalized and implemented as soon as possible.\n\nAs you know, in February 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order on Use of Project Labor Agreements For Federal Construction Projects. This order states: \u201cIt is the policy of the Federal Government for agencies to use project labor agreements in connection with large-scale construction projects to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement,\u201d subject to certain exceptions. The order directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council to propose regulations implementing the order, to consider and evaluate public comments, and to \u201cpromptly issue a final rule.\u201d The FAR Council issued its proposed rule in August 2022 and the public comment period closed in October 2022, over one year ago.\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s leadership on this issue must be realized with the widespread adoption of project labor agreements (PLA) across the federal government. Project labor agreements are effective tools for providing structure and stability to federal construction projects. According to the Department of Labor, PLAs increase the probability that construction projects will be completed on time and on budget. In addition, they provide employers with a reliable source of skilled workers, support equitable and diverse workforce development, and improve workers\u2019 health and safety on the job. They not only serve the federal government by being a successful project delivery model, but also advance the interests of contractors and subcontractors (including small businesses), and especially workers, who deserve fair pay and benefits on the job.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/on-two-year-anniversary-of-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-reed-celebrates-18-billion-for-ri-infrastructure-upgrades-and-more-in-the-pipeline", "On Two-Year Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Reed Celebrates $1.8 Billion for RI Infrastructure Upgrades & More in the Pipeline", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Two years after U.S. Senator Jack Reed helped pass the landmark Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Biden signed on November 15, 2021, this historic legislation continues to deliver necessary infrastructure funding for Rhode Island.\n\nTo date, Rhode Island, along with cities, towns, and municipal entities have netted $1.8 billion from the law to finance infrastructure improvements across the state. The federal funds are enhancing the state\u2019s transportation network, as well as public transit, passenger and freight rail, ports, and airports.\n\nThis historic level of investment, which includes about $1.4 billion that has already been announced for transportation upgrades \u2013 to invest in 49 specific projects, including roads, bridges, public transit, ports and airports \u2013 and another $158 million that has been announced for clean water and water system improvements.\n\nAdditionally, the state has already started tapping into $108.7 million to connect more Rhode Islanders to reliable high-speed internet and, as of today, more than 79,000 Rhode Island households are already saving on their monthly internet bills thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nThe federal funds are also being put to work to modernize Rhode Island\u2019s electric grid, reduce pollution, replace lead pipes, and build a cleaner energy future.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure law kick started $1.8 billion in infrastructure upgrades across Rhode Island to benefit people, communities, and our economy. Soon, more projects will be added, more jobs will be created, and more lasting improvements will be made to our roads, bridges, water systems, and broadband networks. These federal funds are being put to work on an array of innovative projects to make lasting infrastructure investments,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD). \u201cThis law is having a positive impact and it\u2019s just getting started in terms of creating jobs, easing congestion, reducing pollution, strengthening our economy and better connecting people and communities.\u201d\n\nBased on formula funding alone, Rhode Island is expected to receive over $1.8 billion over five years in federal funding for highways and bridges and to help improve road safety, reduce congestion and vehicle emissions, help Americans save fuel, and pave the way for new innovations and investments. Senator Reed estimates that when the law is fully implemented, Rhode Island will also receive $292 million for mass-transit; $45 million for airports; and $23 million for new electric vehicle charging stations.\n\nIn addition to federal formula funds that will go directly to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC), and other state entities, Senator Reed noted that Rhode Island can apply for billions in available competitive funding provided under the law. Rhode Island has already seen significant success in applying for competitive funds, securing an additional $82.5 million in transportation funding under the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program, a supplemental $55.2 million through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, and nearly $15 million for clean public transit and school buses and the related infrastructure.\n\nAdditionally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already invested $57 million for Rhode Island\u2019s lead pipe and service line replacement, with another $39 million for safe drinking water investments that can also support lead pipe replacement.\n\nThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed the U.S. Senate on August 10, 2021 by a vote of 69-30. It cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on November 5, 2021, when it passed by a vote of 228-206.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-condemns-house-republicans-proposed-cuts-education-funding-house", "Magaziner Condemns House Republicans\u2019 Proposed Cuts to Education Funding on House Floor", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) spoke on the House Floor to condemn House Republicans\u2019 proposed cuts to education funding in the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. In Rhode Island, these cuts will eliminate access to Head Start for 200 children and remove up to 800 teachers from classrooms serving low-income students.\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves access to a high-quality education. But House Republicans are proposing harmful cuts that would close the doors of opportunity for millions of children at a time when we're facing a nationwide teacher shortage,\u201d said Rep. Magaziner.\n\n\u201cAll told, this bill would cut $22.5 billion dollars from the Department of Education. And many of my Republican colleagues who are advocating for these cuts, who are saying we just can't find the money to pay teachers and help kids, had no problem voting for a tax cut program of $1.9 trillion that went disproportionately to billionaires and big corporations.\n\n\u201cPlease, if you can find trillions of dollars to give to billionaires and big corporations, you can sure as heck find money for teachers and students.\n\n\u201cSo instead of handouts for those at the top, let's focus on policies that will help working people. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. Fight back against extremism and stand up for our kids.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/whitehouse-collins-magaziner-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-spur-use", "Whitehouse, Collins, Magaziner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Spur Use of Innovative Materials in Rebuilding American Infrastructure", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 With a generational investment in the nation\u2019s infrastructure underway thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI) today reintroduced the Innovative Materials for America\u2019s Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded (IMAGINE) Act to encourage research and deployment of innovative construction materials in transportation and water infrastructure projects nationwide. Investing in new techniques and materials has the potential to help extend the life of critical public works.\n\n\u201cWe came together on a bipartisan basis to make historic investments in our nation\u2019s infrastructure. To maximize those efforts, we need to use the most resilient, cost-effective composite materials available to rebuild our roads, bridges and water systems,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will foster innovation and save taxpayers money along the way.\n\n\u201cLeveraging the skills of engineers in Maine and across the country, the IMAGINE Act would support innovative research of construction materials and techniques to help revitalize our nation's manufacturing and transportation infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cBy investing in cutting-edge materials and methods, like those being pioneered at the University of Maine\u2019s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, we can extend the lifespan of critical public works, improve their performance, increase construction efficiency, and stimulate job creation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is putting people to work rebuilding our nation\u2019s infrastructure, but we must make sure these projects are built to last,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the IMAGINE Act with Senators Whitehouse and Collins to include cutting edge technology and climate resiliency into American infrastructure so that our nation\u2019s road and bridges remain strong and dependable for generations.\u201d\n\nThe IMAGINE Act would create a task force to examine standards and methods used to assess the federal government\u2019s approval of materials for infrastructure projects. It would promote research into new materials and building techniques, and spur federal investment in bridge and water infrastructure projects that utilize innovative materials, prioritizing coastal and rural projects.\n\n\u201cMaterials innovation is critical to realize important advancements in the infrastructure that enables growth and opportunity across our nation. The IMAGINE Act will encourage and support research, design and construction to strengthen the country\u2019s infrastructure,\u201d said Christian Cowan, Executive Director of 401 Tech Bridge, an advanced materials and technology commercialization center in Rhode Island. \u201cI applaud this proposal and the important role of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) to bring together academia, government and private industry to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and create new jobs through material commercialization for important industries including infrastructure and the Blue Economy.\u201d\n\nOne provision of the bill would call on the Secretary of Transportation to form innovative materials hubs throughout the country to continue to drive research into the development of innovative materials for use in infrastructure projects. The legislation was inspired by the success of communities of materials manufacturers \u2013 like advanced composites makers in Rhode Island and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation in Knoxville, Tennessee \u2013 that have leveraged their innovations and expertise to grow their industry.\n\nThe IMAGINE Act is also endorsed by the American Composites Manufacturers Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/rules-committee-votes-9-7-to-advance-resolution-to-override-tubervilles-blockade-of-merit-based-military-promotions", "Rules Committee Votes 9-7 to Advance Resolution to Override Tuberville\u2019s Blockade of Merit-Based Military Promotions", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Thousands of military members up and down the chain of command have had their careers left in limbo for months as Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues to block the merit-based promotions of hundreds of top officers over political objections that have nothing to do with those in uniform, as he seeks to limit the rights of women to seek and access reproductive care.\n\nOver the last nine months, Senator Tuberville has halted over 350 senior military officers from being promoted, receiving pay raises, and taking on new assignments. His blanket holds have negatively impacted military readiness, leaving critical senior military posts unfilled and forcing some senior officers to work multiple jobs.\n\nToday, the Senate Rules Committee voted 9-7 to advance a temporary standing order resolution (S. Res. 444) sponsored by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that would allow for a bipartisan super-majority of 60 or more Senators to override Tuberville\u2019s blanket blockade of military promotions.\n\nThis resolution is not a rule change. Rather, it temporarily establishes a standing order for the remainder of the 118th Congress to provide for the en bloc consideration of military nominations \u2013 with the exception of nominees to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders \u2013 that have been favorably reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cSenator Tuberville used a hyper-partisan maneuver to try and weaponize the military promotion process. Indefinitely blocking all these merit-based military promotions has harmed the national security of the United States. We\u2019re now using a bipartisan standing order to prevent him from further hampering the U.S. military at a time of global strife. This resolution offers every member of the Senate a chance to vote to either support or overcome this irresponsible blockade. I have faith that Senators from both parties care deeply about our service men and women and will do the right thing,\u201d said Reed.\n\nNow that the Senate Rules Committee advanced the bill, it may be considered by the full U.S. Senate. However, the Senate must first contend with passing appropriations legislation to prevent a government shutdown.\n\nFor generations, confirming military promotions and nominations has been considered a bipartisan responsibility for members of the U.S. Senate. The merit-based promotion of outstanding U.S. military officers has long been insulated from the partisan pressures of politics.\n\nOver the last nine months, Senator Tuberville\u2019s blockade has ensnared the promotions of over 350 general and flag officers, representing every military branch. According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, it would take the Senate nearly 1,000 hours and forgoing all other business in order to process these nominations without routine cooperation and unanimous consent from all one hundred U.S. Senators.\n\n\u201cSenator Tuberville broke precedent to try and impose his partisan views on our servicemembers. Senator Tuberville has been offered a number of off-ramps for his unprecedented abuse of military promotions, and this resolution offers him yet another. It\u2019s a way to solve the current crisis through the end of next year, but it cannot undo the damage Senator Tuberville has already inflicted on our military, nor should it be seen as a permanent solution. This resolution is limited in scope and duration. It automatically expires at the end of this Congress, and we may need to debate this issue at the outset of the next Congress to ensure a sustainable solution. Hopefully we can build bipartisan consensus that no senator should ever place this type of months-long blanket hold on military promotions for political demands, because the only ones benefitting here are Senator Tuberville and America\u2019s adversaries.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/collins-reed-push-bipartisan-plan-to-protect-working-waterfronts", "Collins, Reed Push Bipartisan Plan to Protect Working Waterfronts", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to protect working waterfronts, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) have teamed up to introduce the Working Waterfront Preservation Act (S. 3180). This bipartisan bill would create a grant program to fund improvements to existing working waterfront areas, supporting the commercial fishing, aquaculture, boatbuilding, and for-hire recreational fishing industries that are so vital to the culture, heritage, and economies of seaside towns and cities.\n\n\u201cThe hard working men and women that make up Maine\u2019s maritime industries continue to lose access to the waterfronts that sustain them. Recent demand for coastal property has only intensified the problem both in Maine and across the nation,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation would create a grant program to provide funding for municipal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, and participants in maritime industries to preserve and improve working waterfront property in our coastal states.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorking waterfronts are valuable resources that are absolutely critical to our economic future. Today, our working waterfronts face a growing number of competing pressures, from rising sea levels to surging real estate prices and economic development challenges. This new federal grant program would provide a lifeline to coastal communities to preserve, protect, and enhance working waterfronts, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure public access to the water,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cPassing this bill would help support and sustain fishermen and other hardworking men and women who make their living on the waterfront.\u201d\n\n\u201cProviding a robust Working Waterfront is imperative to maintaining and sustaining a vibrant fishing community throughout Rhode Island. A healthy marine infrastructure is necessary to preserve the growth of our existing fleet, attract vessels from neighboring states and build incentives for shoreside businesses to invest in our communities. This is the Cornerstone of enriching our future for generations to come,\u201d said Fred Mattera, the Executive Director of East Farm Commercial Fisheries.\n\n\u201cThe key to maintaining the vibrant character and economic productivity of any American port is adequate support for its working waterfront,\u201d said Noah Oppenheim, Coordinator of the Fishing Communities Coalition. \u201cUnfortunately, fishing communities across the country have been struggling to maintain working waterfront access in the face of gentrification, infrastructure issues, sea level rise, and countless additional challenges. This new program will preserve public access to working waterfronts in communities from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, and Southern California to Western Alaska. The members of the Fishing Communities Coalition express their heartfelt thanks to Senator Collins and Senator Reed for their leadership in introducing this key legislation.\u201d\n\nAccording to the most recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), commercial and recreational fisheries are responsible for more than 1.7 million jobs in the U.S., $253 billion in sales, and $117 billion in value-added impacts.\n\nThe Working Waterfront Preservation Act would establish a $20 million annual grant program for five years to help municipal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, and participants in maritime industries improve working waterfront property in coastal states. Grants would be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s Economic Development Administration (EDA).\n\nApplicants would be required to receive endorsements from relevant state agencies to be eligible for these grants. Eligible projects would be required to comply with state coastal shoreline access laws and regulations. Projects may include the construction or repair of wharfs or related facilities, improvements to help existing working waterfront properties withstand the impacts of climate change, and more.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be read here.\n\nCollins and Reed are both senior members of the Appropriations Committee and have encouraged EDA to make federal investments in supporting commercial fishing and shorefront businesses, upgrade working waterfront infrastructure, and improving coastal resilience.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-seeks-to-boost-funding-for-child-care-and-help-lower-energy-bills-for-working-families", "Reed Seeks to Boost Funding for Child Care & Help Lower Energy Bills for Working Families", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WATCH: At Key Appropriations Committee Hearing, Reed Questions HHS Sec. Becerra & DHS Sec. Mayorkas About Supplemental Funding for Child Care, LIHEAP, Border Security and More\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As the U.S. Senate considers President Joe Biden\u2019s supplemental appropriations request for domestic priorities to support public health, energy assistance, economic development, and more, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today attended a key hearing to review the need for additional funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\n\nThe panel heard testimony on a wide range of issues from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who each discussed their respective departments, and the need for additional funding for priorities like child care and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).\n\nTo help more working families afford high-quality child care, the Biden Administration is seeking $16 billion in supplemental funding to help child care providers keep their staff paid and their doors open. And as winter approaches, the Biden Administration requested an additional $1.6 billion to help Americans in need lower their energy bills.\n\nImportantly, the President\u2019s request also includes $1.55 billion for the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program, which has provided tens of millions of dollars to Rhode Island to combat the fentanyl epidemic.\n\nIn supporting these requests, Senator Reed noted: \u201cCongress must take bipartisan action to help lower costs for families, strengthen our economy, and keep people safe. The President\u2019s supplemental funding request includes critical funding to tackle urgent priorities. Congress should work together to advance this package and help working families afford the necessities of life.\u201d\n\nIn addition to bolstering child care and lower energy bills, the Biden Administration\u2019s supplemental appropriations package requests $13.6 billion to strengthen border security and migrant initiatives, including funding to hire 1,600 new asylum officers and processing personnel; 1,300 new border patrol agents; and 375 immigration judges and legal staff to address immigration court backlogs. The request also includes over $23.5 billion for disaster response, including $9 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund under DHS, to help communities recover and rebuild after disasters.\n\nThe Biden Administration\u2019s request also includes $1.3 billion for the State Department to respond to regional migration in the Western Hemisphere, including a new effort to encourage would-be migrants to legally apply for asylum outside the U.S. before crossing the deadly Darien gap between South and Central America.\n\nA partial transcript of the hearing follows:\n\nSEN. JACK REED: Thank you, Madam Chairman. First, let me address Secretary Becerra. Secretary Becerra, this issue has come up by my colleagues also that's the LIHEAP program. We expect this winter heating prices to go up and we expect the number of people seeking assistance to go up. So the administration's supplemental request of $1.6 billion seems to be a step in the right direction. Do you have any additional comments in terms of how we can help people in this heating season?\n\nSEC. XAVIER BECERRA: Senator, first, thank you and many of your colleagues for the work that you've done to make sure that we can keep pace because essentially what the president is requesting is to keep pace with you and many of your colleagues were able to secure last year. So we're not getting more money, we're just trying to make sure we don't fall behind because as you know the cost of heating is going up. The global energy crisis and the global climate crisis are having an impact for families.\n\nAnd so this money simply makes sure that during the dead of winter, people don't die as we know they do if they don't have the money to pay for heating expenses.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: Well, thank you very much. And Secretary Mayorkas, could you explain the procedures at the border when you encounter someone who is on a list of a possible --\n\nSEC. ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: Senator, we screen and vet individuals whom we encounter at the border. If an individual is determined to be a public safety threat or a threat to our national security, they are a priority for removal. If we do not believe it is safe to release an individual when they are subject to immigration enforcement proceedings, then we detain them in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. That is pursuant to the policy memorandum that I promulgated on September 30th of 2021.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: Now if an individual reaches the border, your emphasis is to sort of come -- presume if there\u2019s any doubt at all the worst and to hold that person. Is that a fair --\n\nSEC. ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: We make an individualized determination. Our U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel are expert in doing so. We screen and vet individuals against a number of holdings across the federal enterprise and we make a decision of custody or not custody depending on the profile of the individual and our professional assessment based on the information we have.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: And those individuals who are paroled in the United States have basically cleared this process? And in fact, typically as I understand it, they have sponsors that will accept them and the sponsors are also evaluated for their credibility and their reliability. Is that accurate?\n\nSEC. ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: That is correct, Senator.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: And in fact, in many cases, the sponsors are religious organizations, is that -- that's my understanding.\n\nSEC. ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: There are religious organizations, there are faith based organizations, there are nonprofit organizations, that are businesses, and there are individuals as well that serve as sponsors for parolees from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, or Venezuela. But we do indeed screen the individual potential parolees as well.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: And do you have a feedback loop with local law enforcement authorities about the behavior of these individuals in the United States?\n\nSEC. ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: We work very closely with our state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement partners.\n\nSEN. JACK REED: Thank you very much. Secretary Becerra, again this issue touched upon, but I think it\u2019s critical. We learned in the pandemic that child care was not something nice to have, it was essential in order to get to work, in order to maintain really family coherence and being able to succeed. We provided additional resources in ARPA to do that.\n\nThose resources have been exhausted. So now we have to go ahead and I believe we are doing that in this legislation, $16 billion request to help our child care system. In Rhode Island, local organizations calculated that child care in my state is unaffordable for 90 percent of families. It means that it costs more than seven percent of total income. And the irony of course is child care workers are paid about $13 an hour, which is not exactly extravagant. So we have this dilemma. That's why I think we need to get this money out as quickly as possible. Can you comment?\n\nSEC. XAVIER BECERRA: I fully concur and to save not just those families but our economy, we should get to work and get those moneys out there. It was used those stabilization dollars, kept businesses afloat and kept families with decent quality childcare.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/van-hollen-murphy-schatz-and-reed-lead-majority-of-democratic-caucus-in-push-for-more-information-around-strategy-to-defeat-hamas-protect-civilians-in-gaza", "Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, and Reed Lead Majority of Democratic Caucus in Push for More Information around Strategy to Defeat Hamas, Protect Civilians in Gaza", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI) led the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to President Joe Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel\u2019s defensive systems, and seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\nIn addition to Senators Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, and Reed the letter was signed by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ed Markey (D-MA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).\n\n\u201cWe have joined you in condemning the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel and agree with you that Israel has the right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. We applaud your actions to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage and support your continued efforts to free the remaining hostages. In the days and weeks since these attacks, you have rightly demonstrated America\u2019s commitment to support Israel in this dark hour,\u201d the 26 Senators begin.\n\nThey continue, \u201cThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza,\u201d the Senators write.\n\nThe Senators go on to ask for responses on a series of wide-ranging points, including an assessment of the viability of Israel\u2019s military strategy in Gaza, and whether it prioritizes the release of hostages, whether there is an achievable plan for governing Gaza when the Israeli military operation ends, and if Israel supports the conditions necessary to ultimately achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Senators also ask what specific mechanisms the Administration is putting in place to ensure that Israeli military operations conducted inside Gaza are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure that any U.S.-provided equipment is used in a manner consistent with U.S. law. They request an assessment of whether Israel\u2019s military rules of engagement, particularly regarding mitigation of civilian casualties, align with U.S. policy and practice. And they ask the Administration to seek immediate public assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that his coalition government will immediately stop the escalating extremist settler violence directed against unprotected Palestinians there, as well as assurances from President Abbas that his government take steps to quell any violence against Israelis.\n\nLastly, in their letter, the Senators press for answers on how assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, noting, \u201cwe must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children. That includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\u201d\n\nThey close, \u201cWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\nNovember 8, 2023\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe have joined you in condemning the brutal terror attacks that Hamas conducted against Israel and agree with you that Israel has the right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable. We applaud your actions to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage and support your continued efforts to free the remaining hostages. In the days and weeks since these attacks, you have rightly demonstrated America\u2019s commitment to support Israel in this dark hour.\n\nThe attacks of October 7th brought back chilling memories of the United States\u2019 own confrontation with terror twenty-two years ago. In light of our own experience, we want to underscore how critical it is that Israel: (1) learn from the mistakes the United States made in our fight against terrorism by focusing on realistic and achievable military goals; and (2) abide by the laws of war, including the protection of civilians. Doing so also offers Israel the very best chance of success against Hamas in the days and weeks ahead. These steps are also necessary to create the conditions for a lasting peace, including two states for two peoples.\n\nWe believe the United States should immediately provide Israel with the funding it needs to replenish its defensive systems, including Iron Dome and other air defense capabilities. But to better understand the efficacy of U.S. funding that supports Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza, we respectfully ask your team to provide us with information relative to these two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.\n\nFirst, it is in America\u2019s interest to ensure that any military plans to fight Hamas do not produce the same strategic mistakes as many U.S. military operations over the past few decades. As we review the Administration\u2019s supplemental request for military assistance to Israel, we respectfully ask that you share with us your assessment of the viability of Israel\u2019s military strategy in Gaza, and whether it prioritizes the release of hostages. We would also like to better understand whether there is an achievable plan for governing Gaza when the Israeli military operation ends. We further seek to understand if Israel supports the conditions necessary to ultimately achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n\nSecond, we ask you to inform us about what specific mechanisms you are putting in place to ensure that Israeli military operations conducted inside Gaza are carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and to ensure that any U.S.-provided equipment is used in a manner consistent with U.S. law. Relatedly, we would like to know your assessment of whether Israel\u2019s military rules of engagement, particularly regarding mitigation of civilian casualties, align with U.S. policy and practice. In addition, to prevent another front from opening in the West Bank, we ask that you obtain public assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that his coalition government will immediately stop the escalating extremist settler violence directed against unprotected Palestinians there, as well as assurances from President Abbas that his government take steps to quell any violence against Israelis.\n\nFinally, we request information on how our assistance will advance our efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. As we consider additional military assistance to Israel, we must not only do our part to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, but also insist that Israel take all necessary measures to help us facilitate such relief to the two million civilians living there, half of them children. That includes fully restoring water, electricity, and communication services, expediting fuel deliveries through already well-established systems for avoiding diversion to Hamas, and opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel to increase urgently needed humanitarian relief to Gaza. Aid workers and civilian sites like schools, hospitals, and UN facilities must be protected.\n\nWe support additional assistance to Israel that: 1) aligns with an Israeli strategy that you believe will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas; 2) prioritizes the release of hostages; 3) advances a viable and achievable military plan that supports a long-term vision for peace, security and Palestinian self-determination in the form of a two-state solution; 4) abides by U.S. and international law, including the protection of civilians; and 5) advances efforts to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The information requested in this letter will help us assure that U.S support for Israel\u2019s operations inside Gaza achieves these objectives.\n\nMr. President, your leadership at this time of crisis has been vital. We appreciate your attention to these urgent matters.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-on-need-to-pass-national-security-supplemental-appropriations-package", "Reed on Need to Pass National Security Supplemental Appropriations Package", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "REED: Mr. President, reserving my right to object, I, too, believe, with my colleague from Washington State, that we must move forward with emergency funding for our allies--all of our allies, not just the State of Israel but also Ukraine. I also think we have to move quickly to head off a closure or shutdown of our government next week, and we have to address the pressing needs of the American people in this process.\n\nBut it is very clear that this proposal before us--this unanimous consent to pass the bill including only funds for Israel--is just an attempt to deny assistance to Ukraine. It is not really about helping Israel. It is about making sure we don't continue to keep our commitments to Ukraine.\n\nAnd we have had a debate about Ukraine. We have talked over 2 years about Ukraine, how dangerous Russian aggression can be, not just with respect to the people of Ukraine but to the rest of the world.\n\nAs my colleague said, China is watching. In fact, I think they are paying more attention to Ukraine than the current issue in Israel because Putin's imperialistic dreams of restoring the Russian Empire resonate more closely to the Xi Jinping's imperialist dreams to reunite Taiwan to China.\n\nSo if we fail in Ukraine, I think that will send a very strong and unfortunate message to China that you can attack, wait the West out, and, eventually, they will concede. That is not good strategy or policy.\n\nMy colleagues argue that this will deny Israel getting the means to defend itself. Well, we have already been supporting the State of Israel. We have moved two aircraft carrier strike groups into the region. We are moving marines into the region. We are sending signals that we are strongly protecting them. Indeed, we have already engaged and shot down missiles from our naval forces. We have also suffered more than 40 injuries of American military personnel because of actions against the United States' positions in the Middle East because of our protection of Israel.\n\nWe cannot abandon Ukraine. They have lost hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel.\n\nIf you want to talk about horrors, October 7 was a horrible day. I was in Israel. I saw photographs--some that have not yet been released--of the tragedy. It was traumatic for the entire State of Israel.\n\nBut go to Ukraine. Go to Bucha. Dig up the graves of people shot in the back of the head while their hands were tied.\n\nYou want to talk about atrocities? Those were atrocities. So we are fighting forces that are dark and evil, and we have to support all of those democratic nations--Israel and Ukraine--that are struggling against that darkness.\n\nNow, this is not my opinion alone. Last week, Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State for Donald Trump and a former Congressman from Senator Marshall's home State of Kansas wrote: Make no mistake: the outcome of this war will have a direct impact on U.S. national security. He was speaking of Ukraine. Should Putin prevail--whether on the battlefield or through a war of attrition that leads to ill-conceived diplomacy--the war would be felt well beyond Ukraine's borders. Indeed, I would add, if we fail to support Ukraine with funding and equipment, then it is more likely that young American servicemembers will be called upon to fight and die and suffer in Eastern Europe, because, as so many of my colleagues have suggested and as Secretary Pompeo suggested, Putin will not be satisfied with simply taking Ukraine, and we could see ourselves engaged in defending one of our NATO allies.\n\nI have a very simple sort of notion about American military policy. I would rather send resources to a country fighting than send American soldiers to do the fighting, and, if we don't support Ukraine, that will happen.\n\nNow, this is a situation that calls on us to do the right thing, and we have to do the right thing. But this is not something that we can do separate one from another, because, as we have all said, there is a connectivity here, and this connectivity has to be recognized.\n\nNow, the other point I would make, too, is that this bill is paid for. Now, this to me is one of the most startling aspects of the legislation that the Senator from Kansas is promoting because they pay for it by taking money away from the Internal Revenue Service. Some would say they are using the Israeli crisis as a way to do what so many of my Republican colleagues like to do--give tax breaks to the wealthy--because when you take money away from the IRS, you go ahead and ensure that people can feel much more comfortable about not paying their taxes.\n\nThe Wall Street Journal published an article a few days ago. In 2021, the IRS failed to collect $688 billion that was owed to the United States of America. That is many times this supplemental that we are talking about. No financial institution would take money away from its bill collectors on the notion that, oh, that is OK. Only in Washington would we do that.\n\nThis bill is, thus, irresponsible in the way it is paid for and irresponsible in ignoring our commitment to Ukraine.\n\nIt is time to get serious. We have 10 days before our government runs out of funding. Israel needs our support. Ukraine needs our support.\n\nAmerican families and communities are counting on us to deliver critical disaster assistance. They need support for affordable, high- quality childcare. They need many things that are also at a crisis level. And we don't have time--we don't have time--to entertain political gestures to send a signal to Israel and a signal to the rich in America that we are with you and neglect and leave out Ukrainians, who have been struggling and fighting against a foe that is determined to continue this fight in Europe. Ultimately, I feel if we don't respond appropriately, this forces us to send our men and women into the fight.\n\nI commend Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins for standing up for this country and for our allies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-us-senate-must-urgently-approve-emergency-aid-for-israel-and-ukraine-to-further-us-national-security-and-save-lives", "Reed: U.S. Senate Must Urgently Approve Emergency Aid for Israel & Ukraine to Further U.S. National Security and Save Lives", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WATCH: Sen. Reed makes case for comprehensive package to support U.S. national security interest in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific and deliver vital humanitarian aid\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 With Israel and Ukraine in urgent need of U.S. assistance, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says it is important for Congress to rapidly approve emergency assistance and humanitarian relief that will help save lives and strengthen America\u2019s national security.\n\nThe Republican-led House is playing politics with the crisis in Israel -- delaying aid at this critical time by tying support to cutting funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). And despite bipartisan support to provide aid to Ukraine to help repel Putin\u2019s illegal invasion, House Republicans insisted on not including a cent for Ukraine.\n\nReed, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, joined both Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Senate floor today to reject the House bill and vowed to work together to swiftly advance a strong, bipartisan package.\n\nReed stated: \u201cThe House Republican messaging bill represents a misguided attempt to deny needed assistance to Ukraine. It\u2019s not really about helping Israel. It\u2019s about failing to keep our commitments to Ukraine. And we know how dangerous Russian aggression can be, not just with respect to the people of Ukraine, but to the rest of the world. As my colleague said: China is watching. In fact, I think China is paying more attention to Ukraine than the current issue in Israel because Putin\u2019s imperialistic dreams of restoring the Russian empire resonate most closely to Xi Jinping\u2019s imperialist dreams to reunite Taiwan to China. So if we fail in Ukraine, I think that will send a very strong and unfortunate message to China that \u2018you can attack, wait the West out, and eventually they\u2019ll concede.\u2019 That\u2019s not good strategy or policy.\u201d\n\nDuring his floor speech today, Reed also reiterated that both Israel and Ukraine need timely U.S. support and this is not the time to entertain partisan political gestures.\n\nRepublican Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) who traveled with Reed to the Middle East last month, delivered a similar message, stating: \u201cI question what will happen if we don\u2019t support Ukraine. \u2026 There\u2019s little question that a Russian victory in Ukraine would embolden not just Putin but other malign actors, notably China. If Russia is successful at taking over part or all of Ukraine, why shouldn\u2019t China think it can successfully take over Taiwan? We should be supporting Ukraine, not just because peoples fighting for freedom against tyranny are worth of support, but because supporting Ukraine\u2014like supporting Taiwan and Israel and other free countries\u2014is in our national interest. \u2026 The Senate will soon take up a supplemental spending bill to address defense issues and any such bill should promote security abroad by providing support for our allies\u2014specifically right now: Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.\u201d\n\nReed said it is vital that the Senate act swiftly to pass a responsible emergency supplemental that helps save lives and makes America stronger, safer, and more secure.\n\nText of Senator Reed\u2019s floor speech follows:\n\nMR REED: Reserving my right to object, I too believe with my colleague from Washington state, we must move forward with emergency funding for our allies, all of our allies. Not just the state of Israel but also Ukraine.\n\nI also think we have to move quickly to head off closure or a shutdown of our government next week. And we have to address the pressing need of the American people in this process.\n\nBut it's very clear that this proposal before us, this unanimous consent to pass the bill including only funds for Israel is just an attempt to deny assistance to Ukraine.\n\nIt's not really about helping Israel. It's about making sure we don't continue to keep our commitments to Ukraine. And we have had a debate about Ukraine. We have talked over two years about Ukraine. How dangerous Russian aggression can be not just with respect to the people of Ukraine, but to the rest of the world.\n\nAs my colleague said, China is watching. In fact, I think they're paying more attention to Ukraine than the current issue in Israel because Putin's imperialistic dreams of restoring the Russian empire resonate most closely to Xi Jinping's imperialist dreams to reunite Taiwan to China.\n\nSo if we fail in Ukraine, I think that will send a very strong and unfortunate message to China that you can attack, wait the West out, and eventually they'll concede. That's not good strategy or policy.\n\nMy colleagues argue that this will deny Israel getting the means to defend themselves. Well, we have already been supporting the state of Israel. We have moved two Aircraft Task Forces into the region. We're moving Marines into the region. We are sending signals that we are strongly protecting them. Indeed, we have already engaged and shot down missiles aimed at Israel from our naval forces. And we have also suffered 40 injuries of American military personnel because of actions against the United States positions in the Middle East because of our protection for Israel.\n\nWe cannot abandon Ukraine. They have lost hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel.\n\nIf you want to talk about horrors, October 7 was a horrible day. I was recently in Israel. I saw photographs, some that have not yet been released, of the tragedy. It was traumatic for the entire state of Israel.\n\nBut go to Ukraine. Go to Bucha. Dig up the graves of people shot in the back of the head while their hands were tied.\n\nYou want to talk about atrocities? Those are atrocities.\n\nSo we are fighting forces that are dark and evil, and we have to support all of those democratic nations, Israel and Ukraine, who are struggling against that darkness.\n\nNow, this is not my opinion alone.\n\nLast week Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State for Donald Trump and a former Congressman from Senator Marshall's home state of Kansas wrote, quote: \u201cmake no mistake, the outcome of this war will have a direct impact on U.S. national security\u201d -- speaking of Ukraine. Should Putin prevail, whether on the battlefield or through a war of attrition that leads to ill-conceived diplomacy, the war will be felt well beyond Ukrainians' borders.\n\nIndeed i would add if we fail to support Ukraine with funding and equipment that it is more likely that young American servicemembers will be called upon to fight and die and suffer in eastern Europe. Because as so many of my colleagues have suggested, as Secretary Pompeo suggested, Putin will not be satisfied with simply taking Ukraine, and we could see ourselves engaged in defending one of our NATO allies.\n\nThat is a very simple sort of notion about American military policy. I would rather send resources to a country fighting than send American soldiers to do the fighting.\n\nAnd if we don't support Ukraine, that will happen.\n\nNow this is a situation that calls on us to do the right thing, and we have to do the right thing. But this is not something that we can do separate one from another, because as we have all said, there is a connectivity here, and this connectivity has to be recognized.\n\nNow the other point I would make too is that this House bill is paid for. Now this, to me, is one of the most startling aspects of the legislation that the gentleman from Kansas is promoting, because they've paid for it by taking money away from the Internal Revenue Service. Some would say they are using the Israeli crisis as a way to do what so many of my republican colleagues like to do, give tax breaks to the wealthiest.\n\nBecause when you take money away from the IRS, you go ahead and ensure that people can feel much more comfortable about not paying their taxes as they should.\n\nThe Wall Street Journal published an article a few days ago. In 2021, the IRS failed to collect $660 billion-plus that was owed to the United States of America. That is many times this supplemental we're talking about. No financial institution would take money away from its bill collectors on the notion that, \u2018oh, that's okay.\u2019 Only in Washington would we do that.\n\nThis bill is thus irresponsible in the way it is paid for and irresponsible in ignoring our commitment to Ukraine. It's time to get serious.\n\nWe have ten days before our government runs out of funding. Israel needs our support. Ukraine needs our support. American families and communities are counting on us to deliver critical disaster assistance. They need support for affordable, high-quality child care. They need home energy, they need many things that are also at a crisis level.\n\nAnd we don't have time.\n\nWe don't have time to entertain political gestures -- to send a signal to Israel and a signal to the rich in America that we're with you, and neglect and leave out Ukrainians, who are struggling and fighting against a foe that is determined to continue this fight in Europe.\n\nUltimately, I feel if we don't respond appropriately forcing us to send our men and women into the fight.\n\nI commend Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins for standing up for this country and for our allies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/defending-abortion-rights-and-ensuring-transparency-political-spending", "Defending Abortion Rights and Ensuring Transparency in Political Spending: Magaziner Leads Charge on Two Critical Provisions for Funding Bill", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) introduced and co-sponsored two amendments for the upcoming H.R. 4664 \u2013 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill that would protect abortion rights and require the disclosure of political contributions by corporations. Both amendments would eliminate extreme language House Republicans included in their proposed version of the bill, which is scheduled for a vote later this week.\n\n\u201cWomen should have the right to decide whether to have an abortion, and voters deserve full transparency about who is spending money to try to influence elections,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cI\u2019m calling on House Republicans to include these critical provisions into this upcoming funding bill, both of which have overwhelming support from the vast majority of Americans.\u201d\n\nRep. Magaziner introduced an amendment to HR 4664 that strikes a section of the bill that prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission from undertaking a political spending disclosure rulemaking \u2013 helping ensure the American people know where their money is going, and whether it is fueling political activities including election denialism, environment degradation, or draconian abortion restrictions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-urge-humanitarian-pause", "Reed & Whitehouse Urge Humanitarian Pause", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse issued a joint statement urging Israel to pause military operations against Hamas in Gaza in order to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian people:\n\n\u201cWe support President Biden\u2019s call for a humanitarian pause. Pauses in military operations should be for specific purposes like providing additional humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people or releasing the innocent hostages kidnapped by Hamas. The U.S. is taking action to help save innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives and prevent the conflict from spreading.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/passed-magaziner-funding-requests-community-projects-totaling-nearly-2-million", "PASSED: Magaziner Funding Requests for Community Projects Totaling Nearly $2 Million for Water Management in RI", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced the House passage of federal funding that Magaziner requested for two community projects across Rhode Island\u2019s 2nd Congressional district totaling $1,919,504 in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.\n\n\u201cMy number one priority is to deliver results for Rhode Islanders, and I am proud to announce the House passage of two community projects that will benefit working people across the state,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThese projects will ensure clean drinking water, reduce pollutants entering waterways, and increase water quality for residents in Johnston and West Warwick.\u201d\n\nThe following projects passed the House, and will now be considered in the Senate for final passage before being signed into law by the President.\n\n$959,752 to manage, reduce, and recapture stormwater in the Town of Johnston.\n\n$959,752 to inspect, test, and clean sewer interceptors located within the Town of West Warwick to correct deficiencies within the collection system to prevent catastrophic failure and prevent sewage overflows entering the Pawtuxet River.\n\n\u201cThe Town of Johnston is grateful for Congressman Magaziner securing funding to assist the Town in managing, reducing, and recapturing stormwater,\u201d said Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. \u201cRecently, Johnston faced massive levels of flooding, which severely impacted our homes, parks, and roadways. Johnston residents deserve their voices to be heard, and we are thankful for this opportunity presented to us by Congressman Magaziner and his office.\"\n\n\u201cThe management team and users of the West Warwick Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility thank Rep. Magaziner for requesting this federal funding that will allow us to address pressing maintenance needs within our aging infrastructure that will ultimately benefit the health of our communities \u2013 including residents from West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick, Cranston and Scituate \u2014 as well as the Pawtuxet River,\u201d said Mark Knott (Col. Ret.), Town Manager/Director of Public Safety for West Warwick.\n\nMagaziner noted that the bill also included several unrelated provisions authored by House Republicans to reduce agency funding that he disagrees with. While the inclusion of those provisions compelled Magaziner to vote against the bill in its current form, he is pleased that his request for funding these Rhode Island projects was included in the legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-brown-hail-fsocs-steps-to-enhance-oversight-of-shadow-banks", "Reed & Brown Hail FSOC\u2019s Steps to Enhance Oversight of Shadow Banks", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, after the multi-regulator Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) -- a group of the top U.S. financial regulators led by the U.S. Treasury Department -- finalized a framework on financial stability risks and nonbank financial company oversight, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Banking Committee, and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, who led a joint letter encouraging FSOC to adopt the guidance, issued the following joint statement:\n\n\u201cFSOC\u2019s new guidance is a prudent, balanced, and necessary step toward protecting the U.S. economy and ensuring adequate oversight of shadow banks like private equity and hedge funds.\n\n\u201cIt is a forward-looking effort to rein in unregulated financial giants before their overleveraged, interconnected activities threaten the economy with a repeat of the 2008 financial collapse. Remember, many of these entities have benefited from trillions of dollars in bailouts in the wake of that collapse and the pandemic. Shadow banks need stronger oversight and regulation.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s guidance wisely corrects Trump-era changes that weakened FSOC oversight and rolled back protections which left taxpayers with the bill for Wall Street\u2019s excess. This new guidance will revitalize FSOC\u2019s powerful tools for policing shadow banks.\n\n\u201cIt will also bring more transparency to FSOC\u2019s regulatory approach. Both the public and the financial sector will benefit from the rigorous and transparent regulatory process that FSOC will use.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Secretary Yellen and the Council for their work today to protect our economy from shadow bank risks.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-hails-33-million-in-cops-grants-for-local-law-enforcement-to-hire-more-officers-and-improve-public-safety", "Reed Hails $3.3 Million in COPS Grants for Local Law Enforcement to Hire More Officers and Improve Public Safety", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Several local police departments will soon have more backup and federal resources thanks to a new round of federal COPS grants totaling over $3.3 million that is being awarded to local law enforcement agencies across Rhode Island.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who helped make the funds available through the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, says the federal grants will allow three local police departments to hire additional officers, support school violence prevention, and invest in the implementation of crisis intervention teams.\n\n\u201cThis federal investment will help put more cops on the beat to reduce crime and enhance public safety. It also invests in improving school safety and data-driven de-escalation programs to prevent violence in our communities. Our police officers do an outstanding job and it\u2019s important that the federal government be a reliable partner when it comes to ensuring local police departments have the resources and staffing they need to keep people safe,\u201d said Reed, who helped create the COPS program in the 1990s.\n\nUnder the COPS grant program, local police departments can use the federal funding to help pay for hiring and retaining officers or for new equipment.\n\nThis round of federal COPS grants includes:\n\n\u2022 $2.5 million for the Providence Police Department to hire twenty police officers;\n\n\u2022 $400,000 to the South Kingstown Police Department to implement Crisis Intervention Teams;\n\n\u2022 $220,514 to fund a Providence Police Department De-Escalation Program;\n\n\u2022 $132,518 to the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission to enhance existing law enforcement accreditation entities; and\n\n\u2022 $67,500 to fund a Tiverton Police Department School Violence Prevention Program.\n\nCreated in 1994, the COPS program has advanced community-oriented policing nationwide, providing over 13,000 grants to state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies. This includes the cops hiring program (CHP), the community policing development program (CPD), and the school violence prevention program (SVPP).\n\nCHP grants provide critical funding to support entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to preserve jobs while increasing community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. This year, the Providence Police Department was awarded $2.5 million to help with the hiring of twenty additional police officers. CHP grants provide 75 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.\n\nCPD program funds are used to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. Rhode Island was the recipient of three CPD awards this year to help implement Crisis Intervention Teams in South Kingstown; fund a Providence Police Department De-Escalation Program; and help the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission enhance the accreditation process for law enforcement entities to meet professional standards.\n\nSVPP provides funding to school districts, state and local governments, and other public agencies to improve safety and security at school and on school grounds. The Tiverton Police Department won a $67,500 SVPP award to enhance school safety efforts.\n\nA champion of the COPS program, Senator Reed helped include $324 million for COPS CHP grants, $45 million for CPD, and $53 million for SVPP in the FY 2023 Appropriations law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-magaziner-budzinski-call-equitable-access-restrooms-women-workplace", "Reps. Magaziner, Budzinski Call for Equitable Access to Restrooms for Women in the Workplace", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led ten members of Congress in a letter to Assistant Secretary Douglas L. Parker, calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assess current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers have adequate access to bathroom facilities.\n\nInadequate sanitation standards are denying workers, especially women in male-dominated industries, dignity, and respect in the workplace. Some women report restricting their water intake in an attempt to use the restroom less, while others report having to travel miles away from a worksite to access an adequate restroom.\n\n\u201cWe are alarmed by the growing reports from workers, particularly women, who are sharing disturbing testimonials about their lack of access to adequate bathroom facilities at their place of work,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cWe request OSHA assess the adequacy of current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers actually have prompt access to bathroom facilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorkers everywhere, across all industries should have their basic human rights met,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found HERE and the full text of the letter is below:\n\nDear Assistant Secretary Parker:\n\nWe are alarmed by the growing reports from workers, particularly women, who are sharing disturbing testimonials about their lack of access to adequate bathroom facilities at their place of work. We request OSHA assess the adequacy of current sanitation standards and to evaluate the extent to which workers actually have prompt access to bathroom facilities.\n\nWhile OSHA requires employers to provide all workers with sanitary and immediately-available restrooms to ensure that workers do not suffer adverse health effects, we\u2019ve learned that\u2019s not the case for many workers across industries. Women working on construction sites have reported limiting their intake of liquids during the workday or habitually delaying use of the bathroom to avoid having to walk to a facility off-site, or of having to wait in long lines during breaks. We know this problem extends beyond construction workers, to workers in poultry or meat processing facilities, warehouses, farmworkers, and many more.\n\nAn assessment of current sanitation standards will make American job sites more accessible for all, including women and those with medical conditions and disabilities.\n\nWe believe workers should not have to compromise their dignity to make a living. We implore you to take swift and meaningful steps to conduct oversight of sufficient access to adequate sanitary facilities in historically male-dominated industries.\n\nWorkers everywhere, across all industries should have their basic human rights met.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-delivers-38-million-port-infrastructure-quonset", "RI Delegation Delivers $3.8 Million for Port Infrastructure at Quonset", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner today announced $3.8 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to construct a ramp at the Port of Davisville\u2019s Pier 1 to accommodate stern offload roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels that carry automobiles and other wheeled cargo.\n\nQuonset Development Corporation, which manages the Port of Davisville, is currently in the process of reconstructing the perimeter of Pier 1. The new award will support continued improvements to Pier 1, including the construction of a stern ramp that will accommodate a growing and diverse fleet of ro-ro vessels that are more commonly being used for cargo transfer due to a shortage of other kinds of transport vessels.\n\nThe Port of Davisville, Rhode Island\u2019s only public port, is a key part of the Quonset Business Park, which is home to more than 200 companies and over 13,000 jobs. Last year, the delegation secured $11.25 million through PIDP to support upgrades to the port\u2019s North Berth at Pier 1. In 2020, an additional $11.14 million was secured under PIDP for the first phase of improvements to Pier 1.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to once again deliver federal funding to help the Port of Davisville make long-term infrastructure investments that will lead to substantial efficiency gains and extend the operational capabilities of the port. We have worked hard to make Quonset a strategic gateway for the import and movement of automobiles and other cargo. The new stern off-load ramp will help drive more business to Rhode Island by allowing different types of vessels to process more cargo, safely and efficiently,\u201d said Reed.\n\n\u201cThanks in part to frequent federal infrastructure investments, the Port of Davisville has become a regional leader in car imports and an economic engine for the Ocean State,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cThis new award will support ongoing investments in the Port\u2019s infrastructure and overall capacity that help create well-paying jobs and keep our economy competitive.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical to invest in Rhode Island\u2019s ports to create good-paying, union jobs and spur economic activity in our state,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cThe Port of Davisville is an economic engine for Rhode Island, and this federal funding will be used to increase the port\u2019s capacity to handle stern offload roll-on/roll-off vessels and other cargo while bringing commerce to our state.\u201d\n\nDavisville is in the top ten ports in North America for import of finished automobiles, and imports through the Port make up approximately 11 percent of all finished vehicles brought to the United States. This cargo supports approximately $375 million in business output in the State of Rhode Island, and is nationally important to the success of the automobile supply chain.\n\n\u201cQuonset\u2019s Port of Davisville is a tangible example of Rhode Island's economic momentum,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cI thank our Congressional Delegation for securing these funds because investments in Quonset are investments in good-paying jobs that help keep our economy moving forward.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/as-healthsourceri-open-enrollment-begins-reed-urges-riers-to-shop-compare-and-save-big", "As HealthSourceRI Open Enrollment Begins, Reed Urges RIers to Shop, Compare, & Save Big", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 When it comes to health insurance, HealthSourceRI\u2019s got Rhode Island covered \u2013 and now that open enrollment season is here, Rhode Islanders can pick out a plan that\u2019s right for them.\n\nAs open enrollment begins for consumers across the nation to sign up for health insurance under the historic Affordable Care Act (ACA), which U.S. Senator Jack Reed helped pass to make health coverage more accessible and affordable, Reed is encouraging Rhode Islanders to check out the options available and choose a plan that fits their needs at a price that\u2019s right for them.\n\nRhode Islanders can use HealthSourceRI\u2019s (HSRI) online marketplace to compare dozens of affordable health plans and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance that helps make health insurance coverage easier to afford. In the past year, 6 out of 7 HSRI customers received assistance to help them get coverage, including nearly $9.6 million in Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC). Furthermore, 31 percent of HSRI customers pay less than $20 a month to stay covered.\n\nHealthSourceRI\u2019s annual Open Enrollment Period began on November 1st and runs through the end of January 2024. Those seeking coverage starting on January 1, 2024 must pick and pay for a plan by December 23, 2023.\n\nSenator Reed says, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2) and the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), which President Biden signed into law, many Rhode Islanders can save even more. For instance, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, most HSRI customers may qualify for financial help to lower their monthly coverage cost \u2013 even those who weren\u2019t eligible in the past. And the Inflation Reduction Act included key health provisions to deliver cost savings to Rhode Islanders, such as lower premiums, capping insulin copays, and allowing Medicare to negotiate for reduced costs for prescription drugs.\n\nIndividuals who wish to enroll, change, or renew their health coverage through HSRI may do so at: HealthSourceRI.com/OE or by calling: 1-855-840-HSRI (1-855-840-4774).\n\n\u201cPicking the right health insurance coverage can be tricky, but HealthSourceRI provides helpful tools and resources online, over the phone, and through face-to-face personal assistance that make navigating the process much easier. They have supports that help you shop, compare, and identify the plan that fits your needs. I encourage all Rhode Islanders to get coverage and learn more about the options available that may help you save big,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cHealth care is essential and I will continue working to pass laws that make it more affordable. When people have access to health insurance, they have a chance to lead healthier, more productive lives. So don\u2019t delay \u2013 enroll today.\u201d\n\nEven if you don\u2019t get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, the law promotes affordability for Rhode Island consumers and businesses and provides federal protections for all Americans with pre-existing conditions (including 443,900 Rhode Islanders who live with a pre-existing condition, according to the Center for American Progress).\n\nIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many health insurers have sought to hike rates, but changes to the law such as enhanced APTCs have helped millions of families pay less for health coverage. These credits that help consumers lower their monthly health insurance payment, or premiums, based on expected yearly income were extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nSince its inception in 2013, HealthSourceRI has helped cut Rhode Island\u2019s uninsured rate by two-thirds. Last year, 28,661 Rhode Islanders enrolled in health insurance through HealthSourceRI, including more than 4,000 new customers. Today, 97 percent of Rhode Island residents have health coverage, an all-time high for the state, which ranks Rhode Island among the highest in the country.\n\nThe last possible day to enroll and pay for a 2024 plan is January 31, for coverage that starts February 1, 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-applauds-senate-confirmation-of-navy-and-air-force-chiefs-and-assistant-commandant-of-the-marine-corps", "Reed Applauds Senate Confirmation of Navy and Air Force Chiefs and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm the nominations of Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti to be Chief of Naval Operations, General David W. Allvin to be Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and General Christopher J. Mahoney to be Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am proud to congratulate each of these leaders on their hard-earned confirmations. America is safer because of their service, and our forces will benefit from their leadership.\n\n\u201cAdmiral Lisa Franchetti brings remarkable experience and expertise to the top Navy post. She has served in leadership roles at every level throughout the Navy, both ashore and at sea, and with postings around the globe. Admiral Franchetti\u2019s promotion is historic, as she is the first woman to serve as CNO and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I am glad we have finally reached this moment. I know that Admiral Franchetti will provide the nation\u2019s sailors, their families, and Navy civilian employees with the leadership they deserve.\n\n\u201cGeneral David Allvin is the right leader at the right time for the U.S. Air Force. As the current Vice Chief of the Air Force, he has helped lead the service through a critical period of modernization, and he is well positioned to continue that progress. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours in over 30 aircraft, including 100 combat hours. Air power is key to our strategic competition with China and other adversaries, and General Allvin will lead the Air Force with skill and vision.\n\n\u201cGeneral Christopher Mahoney is one of our nation\u2019s finest Marines, and I am glad to see him lead at this critical moment. General Mahoney is fighter pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours, and command experience at the squadron and group level. He has led Marines around the world and now stands ready to guide the service as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.\n\n\u201cI am glad that we were able to fill these key leadership posts, but hundreds more military promotions remain blocked on the Senate floor. Every one of those officers earned their promotions through merit, and they each deserve swift Senate action. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to release this hold.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-delivers-38-million-for-port-infrastructure-at-quonset", "RI Delegation Delivers $3.8 Million for Port Infrastructure at Quonset", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner today announced $3.8 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to construct a ramp at the Port of Davisville\u2019s Pier 1 to accommodate stern offload roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels that carry automobiles and other wheeled cargo.\n\nQuonset Development Corporation, which manages the Port of Davisville, is currently in the process of reconstructing the perimeter of Pier 1. The new award will support continued improvements to Pier 1, including the construction of a stern ramp that will accommodate a growing and diverse fleet of ro-ro vessels that are more commonly being used for cargo transfer due to a shortage of other kinds of transport vessels.\n\nThe Port of Davisville, Rhode Island\u2019s only public port, is a key part of the Quonset Business Park, which is home to more than 200 companies and over 13,000 jobs. Last year, the delegation secured $11.25 million through PIDP to support upgrades to the port\u2019s North Berth at Pier 1. In 2020, an additional $11.14 million was secured under PIDP for the first phase of improvements to Pier 1.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to once again deliver federal funding to help the Port of Davisville make long-term infrastructure investments that will lead to substantial efficiency gains and extend the operational capabilities of the port. We have worked hard to make Quonset a strategic gateway for the import and movement of automobiles and other cargo. The new stern off-load ramp will help drive more business to Rhode Island by allowing different types of vessels to process more cargo, safely and efficiently,\u201d said Reed.\n\n\u201cThanks in part to frequent federal infrastructure investments, the Port of Davisville has become a regional leader in car imports and an economic engine for the Ocean State,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cThis new award will support ongoing investments in the Port\u2019s infrastructure and overall capacity that help create well-paying jobs and keep our economy competitive.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical to invest in Rhode Island\u2019s ports to create good-paying, union jobs and spur economic activity in our state,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cThe Port of Davisville is an economic engine for Rhode Island, and this federal funding will be used to increase the port\u2019s capacity to handle stern offload roll-on/roll-off vessels and other cargo while bringing commerce to our state.\u201d\n\nDavisville is in the top ten ports in North America for import of finished automobiles, and imports through the Port make up approximately 11 percent of all finished vehicles brought to the United States. This cargo supports approximately $375 million in business output in the State of Rhode Island, and is nationally important to the success of the automobile supply chain.\n\n\u201cQuonset\u2019s Port of Davisville is a tangible example of Rhode Island's economic momentum,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cI thank our Congressional Delegation for securing these funds because investments in Quonset are investments in good-paying jobs that help keep our economy moving forward.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/us-senate-passes-trio-of-appropriations-bills", "U.S. Senate Passes Trio of Appropriations Bills", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Last night, the U.S. Senate voted 82-15 to pass an appropriations package including the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Agriculture-FDA); and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bills as part of a bipartisan appropriations package. The package combines three appropriations bills that were passed out of Committee unanimously earlier this year. Passage of the spending legislation marks the first and only bipartisan appropriations bills to clear either chamber of Congress this year. The Senate considered a total of 40 amendments to the package in an open process\u2014and adopted 30 of those amendments.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hailed the bipartisan vote, stating:\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan appropriations package is a strong step toward improving our infrastructure, supporting our veterans and farmers, and making critical investments that benefit communities nationwide. Now that the Senate has acted in a bipartisan manner, I hope the House will do the same. Members of Congress were sent here to govern and it would be an abdication of responsibility to not take up and pass the full-year funding measures we need to keep our country strong, safe, and competitive.\n\n\u201cIn Rhode Island, the federal funding in these bills will help feed the hungry, and support our National Guard, our veterans, and their families. The bills will also make investments in transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, economic development, and more.\u201d\n\nReed noted the appropriations package includes several key wins for Rhode Island, including $73.6 million in earmarks he secured, including:\n\nMilCon-VA: $154.352 billion in discretionary funding, including $19.07 billion in defense funding and $135.282 billion in non-defense funding and $31.9 million in Reed-backed Congressionally-directed spending projects, also known as earmarks, including:\n\n- $30 million for a new National Guard Readiness Center in North Kingstown\n\n- $1.9 million in planning and design funds for a Collective Training Unaccompanied Housing Open Bay facility at Camp Fogarty Training Site\n\nAgriculture: $25.993 billion in discretionary funding and $7.7 million in Reed-backed earmarks, including:\n\n- $3.5 million for a Block Island Public Safety Complex\n\n- $2.025 million for Flood Mitigation in the Pocasset River Watershed Floodplain\n\n- $1.95 million for Aquaculture Diagnostics at Roger Williams University\n\n- $165,000 for the Town of Richmond to construct a Radio Tower\n\n- $55,000 for a new elevator at the Richmond Senior Center\n\nSenator Reed racked up several other key wins for the Ocean State in this section of the bill, including:\n\n- A $1 million increase for East Coast Shellfish research\n\n- $1 million for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) surveillance, testing, prevention, and research in impacted states like Rhode Island\n\nTransportation, Housing and Urban Development: $98.931 billion in discretionary funding, as well as nearly $34 million in Reed-backed earmarks, including:\n\n- $5 million for Repairs to the Newport Cliff Walk\n\n- $3.8 million for Pedestrian- and Bicycle-Safe Street Improvements in Pawtucket\n\n- $3 million for Amos House to Create Affordable Housing for Abuse Victims\n\n- $3 million to Update the Central Falls Public Safety Complex\n\n- $3 million for the Ten Mile River Greenway\n\n- $2.08 million to Alleviate Roadway Flooding in Johnston\n\n- $2 million for Pierce Field in East Providence\n\n- $2 million for the Travelers Aid Tower, Housing Expansion at Crossroads Rhode Island\n\n- $1.95 million for Knightsville Park in Cranston\n\n- $1.7 million for Streetscape Improvements in Centredale\n\n- $1.2 million to Resurface the Washington Secondary Bike Path\n\n- $1 million for Pawtucket Housing Authority Upgrades to Galego Court\n\n- $1 million for the Sheridan Village Housing Development in Olneyville\n\n- $875,000 for Trinity Repertory Company to Make Accessibility Improvements\n\n- $800,000 for Pawtucket Central Falls Development to Create Affordable Housing\n\n- $500,000 for the Jonnycake Center to Construct Affordable Housing in South Kingstown\n\nOther key wins Senator Reed secured in the THUD section of the bill:\n\n- $1.145 billion for the Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. In FY23, Rhode Island received $60 million under this provision, the highest amount of any state, through this funding.\n\n- $105 million for the Healthy Homes Initiative \u2013 a $30 million increase over FY23.\n\nWhile the Senate has taken a bipartisan approach resulting in a strong vote and support across the political spectrum, House Republicans are taking a party-line approach to appropriations bills that deeply cut spending and include poison pill policy measures that are non-starters in the Senate and strongly opposed by the White House.\n\nWith a short-term continuing resolution (CR) set to expire on November 17, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have about two and a half weeks left to pass their 12 respective appropriations bills and deliver them to a conference committee, where legislation is sent to sort out differences. Should lawmakers miss the November 17 deadline, they would need to approve another CR, or the federal government would be forced to shut down.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/reed-whitehouse-magaziner-help-secure-56m-federal-financing-block-island-water", "Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Help Secure $5.6M in Federal Financing for Block Island Water Infrastructure Upgrades", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In a significant win for public health, safety, and fresh water supply on Block Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced that the federal government is investing $5,581,000 to upgrade water infrastructure on Block Island.\n\nAs an island ecosystem, Block Island relies on rainfall and wells to replenish the island\u2019s supply of freshwater. Additionally, Block Island Water Company uses reverse-osmosis to treat brackish water wells and provide fire protection and potable water supply for residents and businesses.\n\nThe new federal funds will flow to the Town of New Shoreham through a $2,509,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $3,072,000 low-interest USDA loan. The Town of New Shoreham and the New Shoreham Water District will be responsible for providing $120,000 for the projects, which include:\n\nAdding a 248,000-gallon water storage tank.\n\nConstructing a reverse-osmosis treatment system to produce an additional 144,000 gallons per day of treated water; and\n\nDeveloping a well field which can generate 100 gallons per minute raw water supply.\n\nWith these elements, the Block Island Water Department will:\n\nIncrease water storage capacity to 548,000 gallons;\n\nIncrease treatment system production to 231,000 gallons per day; and\n\nTotal raw water production will exceed 184 gallons per minute.\n\n\u201cA reliable, sustainable supply of clean water is vital to maintaining public health, generating economic activity, and protecting our environment,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who worked with town officials and USDA to cut red tape for Block Island\u2019s grant and loan application. \u201cI am pleased to help deliver these federal funds so Block Island can meet its water needs now and in the future. This is a smart investment in clean, reliable water that is necessary for public health and safety. It\u2019s good for homeowners, local businesses, and tourism. The fire at the Harborside Inn was a solemn reminder of the need to ensure adequate water capacity on Block Island. We\u2019ve got to continue to invest wisely in public health and safety and these water infrastructure upgrades are part of that effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlock Island faces unique challenges when it comes to providing reliable, affordable utilities to homes and small businesses. The unfortunate fire at the Harborside Inn last summer demonstrated how important water access can be to saving lives and livelihoods,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. \u201cBuilding on previous federal investments we\u2019ve secured, this new funding will significantly increase the town\u2019s capacity to supply clean water in abundance to yearround residents and the much larger summer population.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring Block Island residents have access to an abundant, reliable source of clean freshwater is crucial not just for public health, but also public safety,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThe devastating fire at the Harborside Inn limited water for residents and underscored the need to increase water storage capacity on Block Island. This federal funding will upgrade New Shoreham\u2019s water infrastructure to meet the needs of the community and build long-term resiliency into Block Island\u2019s water systems.\u201d\n\n\u201cI extend the Town of New Shoreham\u2019s gratitude to our Congressional delegation for securing this funding. We also appreciate the assistance of USDA, who worked with the Water Commissioners, Water Superintendent and the Town to procure funding. This will facilitate the ability to secure more water capacity, which is much needed within the Water District for years to come,\u201d said Town Manager Maryanne Crawford.\n\n\u201cThere is a growing need for potable water within The New Shoreham Water District due to aging private wells that service both residences and businesses. Also, there are several public projects on the horizon that include affordable housing that require additional water capacity. Thanks to USDA and our congressional delegation for supporting a viable year-round community and tourist economy on Block Island,\u201d said John Breunig, superintendent of Block Island Water Company.\n\nIn anticipation of this federal USDA funding becoming available, the Block Island Water Company has begun work on engineering and design. The new water storage tank is expected to take over a year to complete and could be ready by fall of 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-urge-ftc-investigation-of-big-oil-industry-mergers-for-anticompetitive-harms", "Reed & Whitehouse Urge FTC Investigation of Big Oil Industry Mergers for Anticompetitive Harms", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with 20 Senate Democrats, in sending a letter to the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan, demanding the FTC protect American consumers by investigating two major proposed oil industry mergers and warning that the consolidations could hurt consumers.\n\nThe 23 U.S. Senators want the FTC to take a closer look at record Big Oil mergers, including ExxonMobil\u2019s (Exxon) proposed $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources (Pioneer) and Chevron\u2019s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation (Hess). The senators say the FTC should oppose those mergers if any anticompetitive harms are discovered.\n\n\u201cBy allowing Exxon and Chevron to further integrate their extensive operations into important oil-and-gas fields, these deals are likely to harm competition, risking increased consumer prices and reduced output throughout the United States,\u201d the 23 Senators wrote, noting these proposed acquisitions could be disastrous for Americans consumers \u2013 greatly reducing competition and driving up gas prices at the pump.\n\nThe letter states: \u201cExxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s operations downstream would enable them to redirect Pioneer\u2019s and Hess\u2019s crude supply to themselves, away from (and possibly to the detriment of) their midstream competitors. These new market dynamics could result in price hikes for midstream customers, and such added costs are often passed downstream to retail customers, including drivers at gas stations.\u201d\n\nAmericans continue to feel the negative effects of petroleum industry mergers that occurred decades ago. A wave of nearly three thousand mergers in the 1990s has caused the number of major U.S. energy companies to plummet \u2013 creating a Big Oil oligopoly. That decrease in competition led to higher prices up and down the supply chain, and any further consolidation risks hurting American consumers even more.\n\nThe letter goes on to note: \u201cBy 2005, due to the wave of mergers, the top five controlled 55 percent of the market, and the largest ten had 81.4 percent. This increase in concentration enabled the largest players to manipulate the industry by withholding supply in order to drive up prices, and since most of the firms were also vertically integrated, they benefited from higher prices at the retail level, as well.\u201d\n\nSince taking office, President Biden and Senate Democrats have shown that they are not afraid to stand up to Big Oil. Whether it is protecting our environment or protecting consumers at the pump, the Biden Administration has taken on these companies and scored critical wins for Americans. With the unprecedented gas prices of last summer potentially caused by price gouging by oil companies \u2013 that continue into this year \u2013 more consolidation of Big Oil companies will only leave American consumers paying more at the pump.\n\nThe Senators said the FTC has a responsibility to investigate these proposed mergers and consider all of the anticompetitive harms that they could pose.\n\n\u201cIn our view, the FTC should not have approved the ExxonMobil merger in 1999, which created the largest corporate successor of Standard Oil\u2019s original illegal monopoly, or the merger between Chevron and Texaco in 2001,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cLax enforcement during that period resulted in market manipulation, unstable supply, and price hikes for Americans. We must avoid similar mistakes going forward. It is incumbent upon the FTC to closely review the Exxon-Pioneer and Chevron-Hess acquisitions and take appropriate action should such reviews uncover any possible anticompetitive effects enabled by the acquisitions.\u201d\n\nThe Senators concluded their letter by calling for the FTC to investigate whether today\u2019s Big Oil conglomerates should be broken up in order to promote competition, as was done in the case of Standard Oil in 1911.\n\nJoining Leader Schumer, Reed, and Whitehouse on the letter are U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nFull text of the letter follows and is available here.\n\nNovember 1, 2023\n\nDear Chair Khan:\n\nWe write regarding our concerns about two blockbuster oil-and-gas deals announced in October: ExxonMobil\u2019s (Exxon) proposed $60 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources (Pioneer) and Chevron\u2019s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation (Hess) \u2013 two of the largest oil-and-gas deals of the 21st century. By allowing Exxon and Chevron to further integrate their extensive operations into important oil-and-gas fields, these deals are likely to harm competition, risking increased consumer prices and reduced output throughout the United States. At the regional level, the deals threaten to harm small operators and suppress wages. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must carefully consider all of the possible anticompetitive harms that these acquisitions present. Should the FTC determine that these mergers would violate antitrust law, we urge you to oppose them.\n\nThis Industry Is Already Too Concentrated, and Americans Are Already Paying the Price.\n\nIn the 1990s, over 2,600 mergers occurred throughout all segments of the U.S. petroleum industry. Between 1990 and 2001, the number of major U.S. energy companies plunged by more than half, dropping from 19 to 9, due to merger activity. Most notably, Exxon merged with Mobil in 1999; Chevron merged with Texaco in 2001 (after Chevron had already acquired Gulf Oil and Texaco had already bought Getty Oil in the 1980s).\n\nSuch consolidation enabled better industry coordination, and the remaining firms were well aware that they were members of an oligopoly with a \u201csmall number of companies involved, all of whom share[d] a motivation to recoup costs and not undermine the market.\u201d For example, according to internal Mobil and BP documents, the majors understood that \u201c[f]looding the market and depressing margins on the base volume\u201d they marketed was unprofitable. Likewise, they knew that directing their individual supplies into, or away from, particular regions of the country enabled them to achieve \u201cprice uplift scenarios\u201d and to \u201cleverage up\u201d prices. The Government Accountability Office found that five specific mergers from that time period \u2013 Marathon-Ashland, Shell-Texaco I (Equilon), BP-Amoco, MAP-UDS, and Exxon-Mobil \u2013 led to wholesale gasoline price increases ranging from 0.39 to 5.00 cents per gallon. Of those five, the price increase due to the Exxon-Mobil merger was the greatest.\n\nAfter these huge mergers took place, the majors\u2019 upstream operations were skewed to the detriment of consumers. Studies at the time demonstrated that spending on drilling for new oil supplies by the merged giants fell significantly compared to the drilling budgets before their mergers. Strangely enough, the majors cut back on upstream production at a time when crude prices were sky high and exploration costs had fallen by more than half, \u201cone of the biggest potential disconnects between supply and demand in the 150-year history of the oil business.\u201d These anticompetitive tactics resulted in a fragile supply for the nation where isolated mishaps at refineries or broken pipelines caused enormous price spikes for consumers (as took place in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005) \u2013 all of which financially benefited the oligopolists, providing them no incentive to stabilize national supply.\n\nConsolidation in midstream operations hurt Americans consumers, as well. In 1993, the largest five oil refiners had a collective share of about one-third of the American market, and the largest ten controlled 55.6 percent. By 2005, due to the wave of mergers, the top five controlled 55 percent of the market, and the largest ten had 81.4 percent. This increase in concentration enabled the largest players to manipulate the industry by withholding supply in order to drive up prices, and since most of the firms were also vertically integrated, they benefited from higher prices at the retail level, as well.\n\nSimilar market dynamics exist today. The oil-and-gas industry is still dominated by a handful of corporate giants, led by the top-two players Exxon and Chevron. Any further consolidation could harm American consumers. This is especially true given the inelastic demand for gas products; those who drive to work rarely have substitutes for gas, so as prices rise, people do not purchase less gas. In April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began, retail gasoline prices averaged $1.84. Prices steadily rose for two years, hitting a historic height of $4.93 in June 2022, and remain relatively high today at $3.84. Meanwhile, Exxon and Chevron posted their own historic heights in 2022: $56 billion in profits for Exxon and $36.5 billion for Chevron. They were not alone; Big Oil corporations collectively earned an industry high of nearly $200 billion last year. President Biden rightfully called for the FTC to investigate the oil industry for price gouging since such surges cannot be explained away by increased production costs from the pandemic or inflation, especially in light of these firms\u2019 astronomical profits.\n\nThe Deals Could Harm Competition and Lead to Even Higher Prices for Americans.\n\nExxon is the largest oil-and-gas corporation in the United States, operating up and down the supply chain and across the entire industry. Its acquisition target, Pioneer, is an upstream petroleum operator drilling in Texas\u2019s Permian Basin. Pioneer owns more drilling acreage than any other producer in the Permian where Exxon is also a top producer. A merged Exxon-Pioneer could produce a staggering 1.2 million barrels per day \u2013 more than twice the amount of the next competitor. Accordingly, this deal would enable the new Exxon to dominate the Permian \u2013 the most prolific oil-and-gas field in the world and America\u2019s most important.\n\nChevron is America\u2019s 2nd largest oil-and-gas firm with integrated operations rivaling Exxon\u2019s. Hess is one of the largest producers in North Dakota\u2019s Bakken Shale, the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and offshore Guyana.\n\nSupporters of the deals have argued that the global market for oil and gas is so enormous that dominant firms in the relevant basins would not have enough supply to restrict capacity or raise prices in any meaningful way. Focusing only on the global market is improper. Even if these energy firms represent a small fraction of the global petroleum market, the question before the FTC is whether these proposed transactions are likely to harm American consumers. Thus, the FTC must consider how Exxon\u2019s or Chevron\u2019s vertically integrated operations may harm American competition in spite of the global market. For example, Exxon owns extensive midstream operations in the Permian Basin, meaning Exxon controls storage, refining, and transportation for a significant amount of capacity in the region where it will acquire Pioneer\u2019s drilling operations. Exxon has an extensive pipeline system that transfers crude supply from the Permian to the Texas Gulf Coast. Recently, Exxon expanded its refinery operations on the Texas Gulf Coast by an additional capacity of 250,000 barrels per day and announced plans to ramp up its exporting operations on the Texas Gulf Coast, suggesting that Exxon-Pioneer intends to move significantly more oil and gas out of the United States than the two companies exported separately. Exxon\u2019s CEO Darren Woods put it more bluntly in 2020: \u201cThese projects are export machines, generating products that high-growth nations need to support larger populations with higher standards of living. Those overseas markets are the motivation behind our investments. The supply is here; the demand is there. We want to keep connecting those dots.\u201d This export strategy \u2013 in the nation\u2019s most important oil-and-gas field, no less \u2013 could reduce the amount of their capacity ultimately available to American consumers and thereby increase prices throughout the energy supply chain, including at the gas pump. Furthermore, as we described above, the major energy firms already have a history of artificially reducing supply and increasing prices following rounds of consolidation.\n\nIf this \u201cconsolidation trend in the US\u201d continues accelerating, competing exploration-and-production companies will find it increasingly difficult to operate without Exxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s networks, which creates new abilities and incentives for Exxon and Chevron to engage in anticompetitive tactics. Exxon\u2019s and Chevron\u2019s operations downstream would enable them to redirect Pioneer\u2019s and Hess\u2019s crude supply to themselves, away from (and possibly to the detriment of) their midstream competitors. These new market dynamics could result in price hikes for midstream customers, and such added costs are often passed downstream to retail customers, including drivers at gas stations.\n\nWe also urge you to investigate how an Exxon-Pioneer merger might impact local operators in the Permian as well as oilfield employees such as geologists and engineers. Potential anticompetitive harms at any level of the supply chain and in any market merit consideration by the FTC.\n\nThe FTC Must Protect Americans from Big Oil.\n\nThese deals also demonstrate how corporate consolidation can frustrate self-governing democracy. At a time when Americans overwhelmingly support governmental efforts to clean up the environment and protect our nation from climate disasters, Exxon and Chevron are doubling down on fossil-fuel production. The proposed transactions would augment these corporations\u2019 outsized political power, further enabling them to spend millions on lobbyists against climate legislation, litigation to slash environmental rules, and misinformation disputing scientific facts about climate change.\n\nUnder President Biden, the FTC has been willing to stand up to Big Oil. Just last year, the FTC required an energy private-equity fund to divest its entire crude-oil business in Utah before allowing a similar transaction to close, expressing concerns that the deal would lead to higher prices for refiners and consumers at the pump.\n\nThe fight against Big Oil is not new. When the Justice Department took on Standard Oil in the early twentieth century, the Supreme Court protected competition by breaking up Standard Oil into 43 different firms. Eventually, the global industry reorganized into seven dominant global players, including five prominent American companies \u2013 three of which (Standard Oil of California, Gulf Oil, and Texaco) combined into today\u2019s Chevron, and two of which were Standard Oil of New Jersey (now known as Exxon) and Standard Oil of New York (now known as Mobil). In our view, the FTC should not have approved the ExxonMobil merger in 1999, which created the largest corporate successor of Standard Oil\u2019s original illegal monopoly, or the merger between Chevron and Texaco in 2001. Lax enforcement during that period resulted in market manipulation, unstable supply, and price hikes for Americans. We must avoid similar mistakes going forward. It is incumbent upon the FTC to closely review the Exxon-Pioneer and Chevron-Hess acquisitions and take appropriate action should such reviews uncover any possible anticompetitive effects enabled by the acquisitions.\n\nIf anything, the FTC should be investigating the past anticompetitive mergers of Big Oil conglomerates like ExxonMobil and Chevron to determine whether these energy giants should be broken up once again.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these serious matters.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-senate-action-to-break-tuberville-blockade", "Reed Statement on Senate Action to Break Tuberville Blockade", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Tonight, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after several Senate Republicans took to the Senate floor for hours to implore Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to allow votes on the merit-based promotions of dozens of U.S. military officers:\n\n\u201cTonight, Senator Tuberville\u2019s obstinacy was once again exposed. Senate Republicans took the honorable step of holding the Senate floor for hours, attempting to promote dozens of individual officers by Unanimous Consent requests.\n\n\u201cDespite claiming for months that he would allow individual votes on military promotions, Senator Tuberville blocked every single promotion that was requested.\n\n\u201cAfter tonight, one has to wonder why Senator Tuberville persists in his obstruction, which only benefits America\u2019s enemies.\n\n\u201cOver the last ten months Senator Tuberville has undermined our military readiness and callously mistreated military families.\n\n\u201cMy Republican colleagues and I may disagree on policy, but I admire the patriotism of the Senators who spoke up tonight. They demonstrated their commitment to faithfully serve those who volunteer and sacrifice so much to defend our nation.\n\n\u201cSenator Tuberville has had ample opportunity to do the right thing and change course. Members of his own party have counseled him to put the welfare of our troops and the safety of the American people above his own political ambitions. He has refused.\n\n\u201cOnly willful ignorance or stubborn hubris could lead Senator Tuberville to continue to stick with this tactic. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle must work together to bypass him.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-whitehouse-and-magaziner-help-secure-56m-in-federal-financing-for-block-island-water-infrastructure-upgrades", "Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Help Secure $5.6M in Federal Financing for Block Island Water Infrastructure Upgrades", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In a significant win for public health, safety, and fresh water supply on Block Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced that the federal government is investing $5,581,000 to upgrade water infrastructure on Block Island.\n\nAs an island ecosystem, Block Island relies on rainfall and wells to replenish the island\u2019s supply of freshwater. Additionally, Block Island Water Company uses reverse-osmosis to treat brackish water wells and provide fire protection and potable water supply for residents and businesses.\n\nThe new federal funds will flow to the Town of New Shoreham through a $2,509,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $3,072,000 low-interest USDA loan. The Town of New Shoreham and the New Shoreham Water District will be responsible for providing $120,000 for the projects, which include:\n\nAdding a 248,000-gallon water storage tank.\n\nConstructing a reverse-osmosis treatment system to produce an additional 144,000 gallons per day of treated water; and\n\nDeveloping a well field which can generate 100 gallons per minute raw water supply.\n\nWith these elements, the Block Island Water Department will:\n\nIncrease water storage capacity to 548,000 gallons;\n\nIncrease treatment system production to 231,000 gallons per day; and\n\nTotal raw water production will exceed 184 gallons per minute.\n\n\u201cA reliable, sustainable supply of clean water is vital to maintaining public health, generating economic activity, and protecting our environment,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who worked with town officials and USDA to cut red tape for Block Island\u2019s grant and loan application. \u201cI am pleased to help deliver these federal funds so Block Island can meet its water needs now and in the future. This is a smart investment in clean, reliable water that is necessary for public health and safety. It\u2019s good for homeowners, local businesses, and tourism. The fire at the Harborside Inn was a solemn reminder of the need to ensure adequate water capacity on Block Island. We\u2019ve got to continue to invest wisely in public health and safety and these water infrastructure upgrades are part of that effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlock Island faces unique challenges when it comes to providing reliable, affordable utilities to homes and small businesses. The unfortunate fire at the Harborside Inn last summer demonstrated how important water access can be to saving lives and livelihoods,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. \u201cBuilding on previous federal investments we\u2019ve secured, this new funding will significantly increase the town\u2019s capacity to supply clean water in abundance to yearround residents and the much larger summer population.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring Block Island residents have access to an abundant, reliable source of clean freshwater is crucial not just for public health, but also public safety,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThe devastating fire at the Harborside Inn limited water for residents and underscored the need to increase water storage capacity on Block Island. This federal funding will upgrade New Shoreham\u2019s water infrastructure to meet the needs of the community and build long-term resiliency into Block Island\u2019s water systems.\u201d\n\n\u201cI extend the Town of New Shoreham\u2019s gratitude to our Congressional delegation for securing this funding. We also appreciate the assistance of USDA, who worked with the Water Commissioners, Water Superintendent and the Town to procure funding. This will facilitate the ability to secure more water capacity, which is much needed within the Water District for years to come,\u201d said Town Manager Maryanne Crawford.\n\n\u201cThere is a growing need for potable water within The New Shoreham Water District due to aging private wells that service both residences and businesses. Also, there are several public projects on the horizon that include affordable housing that require additional water capacity. Thanks to USDA and our congressional delegation for supporting a viable year-round community and tourist economy on Block Island,\u201d said John Breunig, superintendent of Block Island Water Company.\n\nIn anticipation of this federal USDA funding becoming available, the Block Island Water Company has begun work on engineering and design. The new water storage tank is expected to take over a year to complete and could be ready by fall of 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-rebukes-house-republicans-for-obstructing-support-for-israel-and-ukraine", "Reed Rebukes House Republicans for Obstructing Support for Israel & Ukraine", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after House Republicans unveiled their legislation to offset new funding for Israel by reducing funds for IRS tax code enforcement, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe U.S. has a responsibility to help the Israeli and Ukrainian people defend themselves. But now, after weeks of dysfunction and delay caused by the chaos of choosing a new Speaker, House Republicans only want to provide U.S. aid to Israel by weakening the IRS\u2019s ability to crack down on wealthy tax cheats. Their proposal abandons Ukraine and also eliminates humanitarian assistance.\n\n\u201cThe House Republican proposal would increase the deficit and let wealthy tax evaders off the hook.\n\n\u201cIsrael and Ukraine are in a fight for their very existence. This is an emergency supplemental bill, and it needs to be passed quickly with bipartisan support and without poison pills.\n\n\u201cThe Senate is moving forward in a responsible, bipartisan manner. But as House Republicans hold up aid to Israel and Ukraine, Russia and Iran are emboldened and the risk of these conflicts spreading only grows. Now is the time to take a stand against terrorists and tyrants. Decisive congressional action and U.S. leadership will help save lives and prevent a widening war.\u201d\n\nToday, Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, attended an Appropriations Committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the President\u2019s national security supplemental funding request. Text of Senator Reed\u2019s Q&A with the witnesses follows and video can be viewed here.\n\nRUSH TRANSCRIPT: Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on National Security Supplemental Request (Oct. 31, 2023)\n\nSen. Reed: The first point I would like to raise is with respect to our colleagues in the House, their proposal, the Republican leadership: Not only do they not fund Ukraine, which I think your testimonies indicate is of vital importance to the United States, they also want to offset the funding by taking money from the IRS.\n\nObviously, I don't think they read the Wall Street Journal. Because just a few days ago the Wall Street Journal reported that in 2021, Americans failed to pay $688 billion in taxes. So, if we don't invest in the IRS, we are giving up billions and billions of dollars. I think that point has to be recognized as we go forward and negotiate with the House.\n\nLet me turn now to the issue at hand. You were talking about, Secretary Austin, sending resources to Ukraine. You are now the civilian Secretary of Defense but you were a distinguished Army officer and commander of CENTCOM.\n\nIf we don\u2019t send them resources, does that increase the probability that someday we will have to send young Americans into the European theater?\n\nSec. Austin: Absolutely, Senator Reed. I think, as we have said earlier, if Putin is successful he will not stop at Ukraine. And if you\u2019re a Baltic state, you are thinking: I\u2019m next. There is no question in my mind that sooner or later there will be -- he will challenge NATO and we will find ourselves in a shooting range.\n\nSen. Reed: In one sense this comes down to a choice between lending them the tools to do the job or seeing young Americans facing combat.\n\nSec. Austin: I agree, Senator.\n\nSen. Reed: Secretary Austin, you pointed out with respect to the efforts in Gaza that humanitarian assistance is not just a good thing to do. It is a strategic necessity for the operations of Israeli forces. Is that correct?\n\nSec. Austin: That is absolutely correct.\n\nSen. Reed: It would seem to me that they could and should move into positions in areas they control: hospitals, shelter, and food \u2013 and make it available to the Palestinian people and do all they can to assist those people to reach those areas. Is that appropriate?\n\nSec. Austin: Absolutely, senator. Just so you know, I talk to my counterpart, the minister of defense Gallant nearly every day. Every day I talk to him, I remind him of the necessity of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza. We just had such a conversation yesterday. This is really important for a number of reasons. But I'm delighted to see that the flow has increased. But to the Secretary's (Blinken) point, we need to increase it much, much more.\n\nSen. Reed: I think, not only do we need to increase it but also in terms of the strategy, the perception of the world with respect to Israel, is that they have to make it clear that their foe is Hamas, not the Palestinian people. And that they will go out of their way to try to protect the Palestinian people.\n\nI think that\u2019s essential. And it is not just a humanitarian impulse. It is very practical strategic operational technique.\n\nSec. Austin: I agree, senator.\n\nSen. Reed: We tried to make this point also, Mr. Secretary, Secretary Blinken, in our trips.\n\nWe suggested to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia that he can put resources into humanitarian relief. I would urge you and your colleagues to try to get all the nations in that area to provide the resources.\n\nThe Israelis control the ground. They can control the operations but the money for aid to Palestinian people should come from the international community.\n\nSec. Blinken: Senator, I very much agree with that. The United States is by far the leading donor to the Palestinians. We\u2019ve provided $1.6 billion in assistance through various agencies to the Palestinians over the pendency of this administration. And we would like to see other partners, other allies step up and do the same thing. That is something we have been very clear about in our own conversations. I really applaud the members of this committee and others who have been to the region recently and have been pushing that as well.\n\nSen. Reed: A final point as my time is expiring. We have also a necessity to get many American citizens out of Gaza. Can you assure us that you are doing all you can to achieve that objective?\n\nSec. Blinken: We are, senator. We are working on this every single day. We have about 400 American citizens and their family members. So it is roughly 1000 people who are stuck in Gaza and want to get out. I am focused on this intensely. My entire department is as well, both in the region and here. We are working with various parties to try to facilitate their departure from Gaza. The impediment is simple. It\u2019s Hamas.\n\nWe have not yet found a way to get them out through whatever place and by whatever means that Hamas is not blocking. But we are working that with intermediaries. We are working that for them.\n\nThere are also another roughly 5000 third country nationals from other countries seeking to get out. So, this is something that we are intensely focused on. We have been in close communication as best we can with Americans who are stuck in Gaza. We have had about 5,500 communications that we have initiated \u2013 phone calls, emails, What\u2019s App \u2013 to be in touch with them, to try to guide them as best we can and to work through their ability to leave.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-urge-the-biden-administration-to-require-insurers-to-fully-cover-over-the-counter-birth-control-pill", "Reed & Whitehouse Urge the Biden Administration to Require Insurers to Fully Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to ensure women can access the reproductive health care they need and remove cost barriers, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and 45 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill\u2014the first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill, which will become available in early 2024\u2014with no copays or out of pocket costs, and without a prescription requirement.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to improve health insurance coverage, both public and private, of the full range of FDA-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive products\u2014including birth control that is available over-the-counter (OTC) without requiring a prescription for coverage,\u201d the 48 senators wrote today in their letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and the Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su. \u201cOver 19 million women live in counties with limited access to health care providers that offer comprehensive contraceptive services, and about one-third of women who have received prescription contraceptives have reported barriers to access. Expanding access to affordable coverage for eligible, uninsured populations would improve the quality of contraceptive care that patients receive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe availability of safe and effective OTC birth control products has enormous potential to help people overcome significant barriers to consistent contraceptive use, including the many logistical and financial challenges to obtaining a prescription. The FDA\u2019s approval of Opill is a milestone; however, for an OTC birth control pill to meet its potential and be truly accessible, federal departments must ensure that it is covered without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription as a condition of coverage,\u201d the letter continued.\n\n\u201cTo expand access to affordable contraception, we urge the tri-departments to issue new guidance that reflects current HRSA guidelines and clarifies that federally and state-regulated private health plans must cover OTC contraceptive products without cost-sharing, including when purchased without a prescription\u2026 Given the increased need for access to contraception in the wake of the Dobbs decision, this issue is incredibly timely and important,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nReed and Whitehouse previously joined Senator Murray in introducing the Affordability is Access Act (S. 1698). This legislation would require insurers to fully cover over-the-counter birth control with no out-of-pocket costs or prescription requirement, recognizing the reality that for many people\u2014especially those with the tightest budgets\u2014true access requires affordability.\n\nIn addition to Senators Murray, Reed and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary Becerra, Secretary Yellen, and Acting Secretary Su:\n\nWe urge you to improve health insurance coverage, both public and private, of the full range of FDA-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive products\u2014including birth control that is available over-the-counter (OTC) without requiring a prescription for coverage. Over 19 million women live in counties with limited access to health care providers that offer comprehensive contraceptive services, and about one-third of women who have received prescription contraceptives have reported barriers to access. Expanding access to affordable coverage for eligible, uninsured populations would improve the quality of contraceptive care that patients receive.\n\nIn recent months, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken several major steps toward this goal. First, on June 23, President Biden issued an executive order on \u201cStrengthening Access to Affordable, High-Quality Contraception and Family Planning Services,\u201d which directed each of your departments to take steps to improve access to contraception. Second, on July 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever OTC birth control pill for sale in the United States, a groundbreaking advancement in contraceptive access. Most recently, on September 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Internal Revenue Service, and the Employee Benefit Services Administration (EBSA) issued a Request of Information regarding the application of the preventive services requirements under section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act to OTC preventive services, including OTC contraceptive products.\n\nWe applaud these efforts and ask that you undertake additional actions to ensure coverage for OTC contraceptive products\u2014including the new OTC birth control pill once it becomes available in 2024\u2014without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription in all federally and state-regulated private health plans and federally and state-regulated and run coverage programs.\n\nThe availability of safe and effective OTC birth control products has enormous potential to help people overcome significant barriers to consistent contraceptive use, including the many logistical and financial challenges to obtaining a prescription. The FDA\u2019s approval of Opill is a milestone; however, for an OTC birth control pill to meet its potential and be truly accessible, federal departments must ensure that it is covered without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription as a condition of coverage. Even prior to the FDA\u2019s approval of Opill, several states have expanded access to OTC contraceptives and other lifesaving ACA preventive services to ensure that patients continue to receive quality care. Additional training and billing guidance for pharmacists and other health care providers would support state efforts to expand access to covered ACA preventive services like OTC contraceptives.\n\nCurrently, existing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guidance on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s (ACA) contraceptive coverage requirement from the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (\u201ctri-departments\u201d) allows federally and state-regulated private health plans to require a prescription for OTC contraceptives as a condition of coverage without cost sharing. This significantly reduces the advantages to consumers of an OTC product. To expand access to affordable contraception, we urge the tri-departments to issue new guidance that reflects current HRSA guidelines and clarifies that federally and state-regulated private health plans must cover OTC contraceptive products without cost-sharing, including when purchased without a prescription. We request that you do this as soon as possible and encourage the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to adopt parallel changes for the next plan year.\n\nIn addition to new guidance, your departments may need to take one or more discrete steps as soon as possible to:\n\nCover the new OTC birth control pill and other OTC contraceptives by adding it to an existing coverage requirement and/or formulary;\n\nEliminate any otherwise-required cost-sharing and prior authorization for OTC contraceptives;\n\nEliminate any prescription requirement for OTC contraceptive coverage;\n\nWork with providers, pharmacy chains, health plans, and other stakeholders to make coverage for OTC contraceptives function as smoothly as possible at pharmacies and via mail order;\n\nProvide notice to beneficiaries, providers, and other stakeholders about any changes to coverage, as well as information about how to navigate and facilitate coverage of OTC contraceptives without a prescription;\n\nProvide guidance to encourage state Medicaid programs to cover OTC contraceptives without a prescription for Medicaid beneficiaries; and\n\nProvide guidance to pharmacies, health care providers, and insurers to improve claims processing and reimbursement for OTC contraceptives.\n\nThese steps would be in line with the goals and directives of the June 2023 executive order, including its directive to \u201cpromote increased access to affordable over-the-counter contraception, including emergency contraception.\u201d\n\nWe appreciate your ongoing commitment to these goals for improving coverage of and access to the full range of contraceptives, including OTC contraception, and look forward to continuing to work together to achieve them. Given the increased need for access to contraception in the wake of the Dobbs decision, this issue is incredibly timely and important. Thank you in advance for considering this request.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-brings-imls-director-crosby-kemper-to-ri", "Reed Brings IMLS Director Crosby Kemper to RI", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "NEWPORT, RI \u2013 As the leading champion of public libraries in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today hosted the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Crosby Kemper in Rhode Island.\n\nDirector Kemper joined Senator Reed on Monday morning for a meeting with chief officers of state libraries from across the nation, including Rhode Island. Following this meeting, Reed and Kemper toured the Newport Historical Society\u2019s Richard I. Burnham Resource Center to meet with librarians, curators, and researchers and to discuss local efforts to expand community engagement at libraries and museums across Rhode Island.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to bring Director Kemper to the Ocean State today to hear directly from some of our tremendous local librarians, museum curators, and historical experts about how Rhode Island\u2019s network of public libraries and museums are teaming up to promote civic engagement, boost literacy, and bolster public health,\u201d said Senator Reed, who helps oversee federal funding for libraries and museums as a key member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cOur libraries offer so much more than books. They are community centers that help Rhode Islanders learn new skills, identify opportunities for growth, and find new passions that help enrich our lives. When we invest in our public libraries and museums, we are helping to support and expand opportunities for Rhode Islanders of all ages.\u201d\n\nCrosby Kemper is the sixth director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Kemper comes to IMLS from the Kansas City Public Library, where as director, he established the library as one of the city\u2019s leading cultural destinations and a hub of community engagement. Under his direction, the library made special event programming a high-profile focus, with more than half a million people attending its evening programs or visiting exhibits in the art galleries. During his tenure, the Kansas City Public Library received multiple awards, including IMLS\u2019s National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2008.\n\nThe Richard I. Burnham Resource Center serves as the main offices of the Newport Historical Society and is home to the Edward W. Kane Library, Hugh D. Auchincloss III Reading Room, and secure collections storage. The collections of the Resource Center document the history of Newport County and consist of approximately 10,000 objects, 12,000 books, over 1,500 linear feet of manuscript materials, and more than 200,000 photographs.\n\nSenator Reed is the leading champion of public libraries in the U.S. Senate. He recently delivered a 10 percent increase in funding for IMLS, including $180 million for library grants to states and $4 million for the information literacy task force in the fiscal year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations law.\n\nThe mission of IMLS is to advance, support, and empower America\u2019s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. The agency carries out its charge as it adapts to meet the changing needs of our nation\u2019s museums and libraries and their communities. IMLS\u2019s mission is essential to helping these institutions navigate change and continue to improve their services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-deliver-149m-boost-for-ri-health-care-workforce-pipeline", "Reed & Whitehouse Deliver $1.49M Boost for RI Health Care Workforce Pipeline", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WEST WARWICK, RI \u2013 In an effort to increase the number of health care professionals in Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today delivered a $1,498,000 federal earmark for Thundermist Health Center\u2019s clinical workforce development programs.\n\nLocally, nearly one out of every five Rhode Islanders do not have a primary care provider. For those who do, wait times for an appointment can stretch on for months due to large waves of health care professionals leaving their field across the nation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help strengthen Thundermist\u2019s ability to provide affordable care for Rhode Islanders and it will help bolster health care across Rhode Island by creating a new, innovative workforce development pipeline for the next generation of health care workers in our state,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThundermist, and all of Rhode Island\u2019s tremendous community health centers, really stepped up to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been on the frontlines, tailoring services to best care for our communities from mental health care services to responding to the opioid crisis. More than ever, our health centers deserve our appreciation and support and I\u2019m proud to team up with Senator Whitehouse to deliver this important funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen health care facilities aren\u2019t able to hire enough staff, patients experience long wait times and health care workers get burned out. Senator Reed and I delivered this earmark to get more Rhode Islanders into these in-demand jobs and build up the state\u2019s health care workforce. Thundermist continues to do excellent work in partnership with URI, RIC, and CCRI to train the next generation of nurses and health care professionals,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse.\n\n\u201cThe impact of the workforce development programs has been extraordinary,\u201d said Jeanne LaChance, president/CEO of Thundermist Health Center. \u201cThese programs are making a difference for so many people. They\u2019re helping Rhode Islanders get the care they need. More people are prepared for good jobs with great benefits and steady employment. And, health professionals have the opportunities they need to advance their careers.\u201d\n\nThe $1.498 million federal earmark for Thundermist has helped to foster new and expanded partnerships with the University of Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island College (RIC), and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Senators Reed and Whitehouse secured this funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations law.\n\nIn the first year alone, Thundermist\u2019s workforce development programs have trained 62 health care professionals and 145 student nurses for jobs in numerous health care fields. The training enabled by this earmark provides:\n\nFinancial support for the costs of certifications and training;\n\nPaid stipends to employees working full-time while earning their credentials;\n\nPartnerships with higher education providers in Rhode Island to create a bridge from classroom learning to hands-on application of skills, and;\n\nPartnerships with specialty health service providers to expand provider knowledge in specialized fields of care.\n\nFurthermore, this federal funding for Thundermist has increased the organization\u2019s capacity to introduce new training programs both internally and with partnering institutions, including:\n\nDevelopment of a Family Medicine Physician Residency program\n\nExpanding URI College of Nursing curriculum to include Primary Care\n\nTraining for new nurse preceptors to expand the capacity for new students\n\nProviding incumbent workers\u2019 bachelor\u2019s degree completion in behavioral health\n\nStrengthening recruitment efforts through in-house training for Dental and Medical assistants\n\nThundermist Health Center is a full-service primary care provider with dental and behavioral health services. The non-profit community health center aims to improve the health of patients and communities by delivering exceptional health care, removing barriers to that care, and advancing healthy lifestyles. Thundermist has locations in West Warwick, Woonsocket, and South County. The organization cares for patients regardless of insurance and ability to pay. In 2022, Thundermist cared for nearly 58,000 patients.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-blumenthal-renew-push-to-end-special-tax-deductions-for-huge-executive-bonuses", "Reed & Blumenthal Renew Push to End Special Tax Deductions for Huge Executive Bonuses", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 According to the AFL-CIO, the gulf in pay between CEOs and average workers is 272 to 1. In an effort to ensure that hardworking U.S. taxpayers are not forced to subsidize lavish executive compensation packages while making a fraction of CEO pay, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation that would finally fully close a major loophole in corporate tax law.\n\nThe Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act would put an end to a special tax break for huge executive bonuses by preventing publicly traded corporations from deducting the cost of any multimillion-dollar bonus paid to executives from their corporate tax bills.\n\nUnder section 162(m) of the tax code, publicly traded corporations cannot deduct more than $1 million in compensation paid to their top executives. But section 162(m) does not cover compensation paid to all public company employees, and corporations have long exploited this loophole to claim tax deductions for executive compensation packages that far exceed $1 million. As publicly traded corporations offer lucrative compensation deals to increasing numbers of executives and not just those at the very top of the organization, U.S. taxpayers are still shouldering the cost.\n\nBoth Republican and Democratic administrations have signed laws based on earlier versions of this legislation in order to curtail the abuse of this deduction. This includes ensuring that performance-based compensation is actually counted as compensation under section 162(m) and increasing the number of highly paid executives who are subject to section 162(m). Partially tightening the law in these ways has saved taxpayers well over $9.2 billion. However, the full loophole has still not been closed, and taxpayers continue to subsidize billions of dollars in extravagant compensation.\n\nThe Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act would address the remaining gaps by applying section 162(m) restrictions to all employees of publicly traded corporations so that all compensation is subject to a deductibility cap of $1 million per employee.\n\n\u201cCorporations shouldn\u2019t be able to get out of paying their fair share of taxes by lavishing executives with jumbo bonuses at the expense of taxpayers, workers, and shareholders. Taxpayers shouldn\u2019t be subsidizing millionaire compensation and it\u2019s way past time for this loophole to be fully closed,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cCompanies are free to pay their executives as much as they want. But it is unfair to force hardworking American taxpayers to foot the bill for multimillion-dollar bonuses. The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act puts an end to this give-away and will restore fairness to the tax code and ensure corporations, not taxpayers, are the ones who pay for multi-million dollar bonuses. Success and capitalism are not at issue here. What\u2019s at issue is a broken system that has taxpayers subsidizing multi-million dollar executive bonuses while those same taxpayers are struggling with rising health care and housing costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill would end a lavish loophole for corporations that overpay their executives so they can underpay their fair share of taxes. It is outrageous and unconscionable that American taxpayers subsidize tens of billions of dollars in corporate bonuses while the working poor struggle to make ends meet, middle-class wages stay flat and income inequality rises,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\nThe Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\n\nThe bill is supported by the AFL-CIO, Americans for Financial Reform, the Teamsters, Public Citizen, MIT Professor Simon Johnson, Take On Wall Street, and the Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-backs-presidents-emergency-funding-request-for-american-families-and-communities", "Reed Backs President\u2019s Emergency Funding Request for American Families and Communities", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 This week, after submitting a funding request for critical national security needs, the Biden Administration sent Congress a $56 billion emergency funding request to address critical needs of American families and communities. This request includes: $23.5 billion for natural disaster relief, $16 billion for child care stabilization, an extra $1.6 billion to help families lower their energy bills through LIHEAP, and $1.55 billion to counter the scourge of fentanyl.\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the President\u2019s supplemental funding request:\n\n\u201cCongress needs to take bipartisan action to help lower costs for families, strengthen our economy, and keep people safe. The President\u2019s supplemental funding request includes critical funding to tackle urgent priorities. Congress should work together to advance this package and help working families afford the necessities of life.\u201d\n\nThe proposed supplemental spending package comes on the heels of the U.S. House of Representatives finally electing a new Speaker and shortly after the September 30 expiration of vital child care funding from the American Rescue Plan law (P.L. 117-2). This Reed-backed child care funding, which provided $93 million for child care in Rhode Island, helped child care providers nationwide keep their doors open. Senator Reed has pressed for legislation to replenish funding for this critical child care program for a full year.\n\nA report released by The Century Foundation (TCF) shows that as these American Rescue Plan child care funds dry up, child care for millions of children and families nationwide could begin to disappear. TCF projects that without Congressional action, a projected 3.2 million child care slots could be lost and roughly 70,000 child care programs could close, hurting working families and local economies. Parents nationwide will be forced to either pay more for child care or pull their children from care and work fewer hours.\n\nReed stated: \u201cEvery family deserves top-notch child care they can afford and the federal government should be a partner that provides a sustainable, reliable source of funding. The research and evidence is clear: quality, affordable child care is a public good and an economic imperative that expands opportunity.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, the Biden Administration released $3.7 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help Americans pay their home energy bills. This resulted in Rhode Island receiving an allocation of $24,039,524. However, Reed says it is critical to provide states with additional funding to help people stay warm and keep the heat on this winter. Earlier this month, Senator Reed led a bipartisan letter calling on the administration to include supplemental LIHEAP funding in any additional request submitted to Congress for FY24 appropriations.\n\n\u201cI was pleased to deliver over $24 million to help Rhode Islanders in need cover some of their home energy costs. But with winter fast approaching, additional LIHEAP aid is needed to address the underlying and enduring problem of Americans not being able to afford the high cost of energy. I\u2019m glad the administration included supplemental funding for LIHEAP in its request. Now, Congress must act on a bipartisan basis to help those in need, particularly seniors on fixed incomes and impoverished households with young children,\u201d said Reed.\n\nSenator Reed is scheduled to attend an Appropriations Committee hearing next week on the President\u2019s national security supplemental request and says he looks forward to working with his colleagues on the committee to pass both the national security and domestic priorities supplementals.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative to get these bills done and Congress must work together to tackle and pass both our domestic and national security priorities,\u201d concluded Senator Reed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-responds-to-mass-shootings-in-maine", "Reed Responds to Mass Shootings in Maine", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement on the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine:\n\n\u201cI deeply mourn the victims of this tragic, senseless and horrific mass shooting. I have been in touch with my colleagues, Senators Collins and King, to let them know I will support any and all available federal assistance. And I know the FBI, the ATF, and U.S. Marshals are already contributing to coordinated efforts to keep people safe and track down the perpetrator of this horrendous crime.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to speak out against gun violence and call for meaningful action to prevent it.\n\n\u201cThese weapons are out there because the national Republican party refuses to act. Congress can and should come together to pass commonsense gun safety measures like reinstating the assault weapons ban and banning high-capacity magazines, which would have a significant impact on preventing more mass-shootings. The United States is on pace to experience 700 mass-shootings this year. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need action and it must be comprehensive, bipartisan, and swift.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-seeks-to-combat-child-labor-by-strengthening-us-labor-laws-to-better-protect-children", "Reed Seeks to Combat Child Labor by Strengthening U.S. Labor Laws to Better Protect Children", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "New data show companies employed 5,792 children in violation of child labor law in FY23\n\nSince 2019, child labor violations have increased roughly 88 percent\n\nNew CHILD Labor Act would grant U.S. Department of Labor greater enforcement power\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Exploitive child labor should be a relic of the past. But some red states are reportedly seeking to weaken child labor protections rather than paying adults higher wages and recent reports by the New York Times and The Public\u2019s Radio highlight the pervasiveness of child labor abuses that continue to plague children, families, and communities around the country.\n\nAmidst a concerning spike in child labor violations, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is teaming up with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) on new legislation to protect children from exploitative child labor practices and hold the companies and individuals who take advantage of them accountable.\n\nToday, the senators introduced the Children Harmed in Life-threatening or Dangerous (CHILD) Labor Act. This legislation would enhance the federal government\u2019s ability to combat child labor by cracking down on employers who violate child labor laws with stronger penalties and allowing children who have been seriously injured to sue their employers. The bill also expands child labor provisions to hold suppliers and subcontractors throughout the supply chain responsible and authorizes the U.S. Department of Labor to label goods that are produced with child labor.\n\n\u201cChildren do not belong in factories or working during hours when they should be studying, spending time with their families, or simply being children. Yet too many bad actors get away with forcing kids to work long hours and under dangerous conditions,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cIt is long past time we bring our child labor laws into the 21st century and fight back against the employers, contractors, and subcontractors that violate them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past few years, we have seen an alarming rise in instances of illegal and dangerous child labor\u2014last year, a record number of businesses in Washington state were cited for child labor violations. We\u2019re talking about kids, many of them migrant children, in abusive and extraordinarily dangerous work environments; kids working the night shift around heavy equipment and in unsafe conditions with no real recourse when they are harmed, and barely any accountability on the part of companies who break child labor law. This has to change,\u201d said Senator Murray, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the serious reporting that has helped shine a light on this growing problem, and the many victims who have courageously come forward to share their stories\u2014but it\u2019s going to take real action at the federal level to crack down on illegal and exploitative child labor, which has in many cases caused gruesome injuries and even death. This is about protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse\u2014there\u2019s no reason Congress shouldn\u2019t be able to act.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow the scourge of exploitive child labor to take root in our nation again. It\u2019s fine for young people to work part-time in non-hazardous jobs, but no child should be exposed to dangerous, unregulated conditions and forced to work around the clock. The CHILD Labor Act is a comprehensive bill that would strengthen our child labor laws and our means of enforcing them. We must also hold companies accountable when they violate the law. Employers that claim to stand for family values aren\u2019t upholding those values if they are profiting off of illicit child labor. I will continue working to expand protections for workers, including vulnerable migrant children, and hold businesses and contractors accountable for violating the law,\u201d said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.\n\nReed noted that it is important for workers under the age of 18 to be aware of the protections afforded to them by law. He also encourages employers to familiarize themselves with both the state child labor laws and federal laws \u2013 including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) \u2013 to ensure they are in full compliance. Where state and federal child labor laws overlap, the most protective standard applies.\n\nThe CHILD Labor Act would protect children by enhancing the FLSA to hold liable contractors or subcontractors for child labor violations in the same manner as the employer who employs the oppressive child labor; increase the civil penalty amount for child labor violations from $11,000 to $151,380\u2014or 10 times the inflation adjusted amount; increase the criminal penalty fine from $10,000 to $750,000; require any person who violates child labor provisions to be liable to each employee affected by the violation in an amount no less than $75,000; and require federal contracts to contain child labor provisions that prohibit the use of oppressive child labor.\n\nThe legislation would also authorize the Secretary of Labor to affix warning labels to goods manufactured with oppressive child labor, to issue a stop work order to any person in violation of child labor provisions, and require the Secretary to report to Congress data and recommendations concerning overall trends for work-related injuries, illnesses, or deaths to congress on an annual basis.\n\nIn addition to Casey, Murray, and Reed, the CHILD Labor Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nIdentical legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), Child Labor Coalition, National Consumers League, and the Center for Law & Social Policy (CLASP).\n\nAdditionally, Senator Reed is a cosponsor of Senator Brian Schatz\u2019s (D-HI) Child Labor Prevention Act (S. 637), which would increase maximum employer civil penalties and establish criminal penalties for a repeated or willful violations of child labor laws.\n\nEarlier this week, Reed joined 11 fellow Senators in penning a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Biden Administration to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/grassroots-funding-reed-whitehouse-magaziner-deliver-35-million-advance", "Grassroots Funding: Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Deliver $3.5 Million to Advance Community-Driven Environmental Justice Initiatives", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to improve public health and wellness through cleaner air and reduced lead hazards, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner announced $3,439,618 to fund five environmental justice projects across the state.\n\nReed and Whitehouse voted to commit federal funding for these grants, which are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the historic Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), which President Biden signed into law in August of 2022.\n\nThe Biden Administration is directing this round of federal investment to community-driven projects focused on neighborhoods that are underserved and overburdened by pollution with the goal of improving community health, wellness, and resiliency.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help plant seeds of change that lead to more greenery, cleaner air and water, and fewer lead hazards in underserved neighborhoods. This is a smart investment in community health and wellness. These programs can be a catalyst for lasting change, both in terms of creating more green space, improving public health, and also creating new opportunities for economic growth and community revitalization,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in public health and environmental justice, we are strengthening our state for generations,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will help reduce childhood lead poisoning and expand the state\u2019s efforts to improve air quality in urban communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to clean air and water must be a right for every Rhode Islander,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThis federal funding is vital to keeping Rhode Islanders healthy by ensuring clean air, preventing lead poisoning, and reducing contaminants entering waterways.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, communities of color in Rhode Island have borne the brunt of pollution, endured underinvestment in infrastructure and critical services, and consequently suffered disproportionate health and economic impacts,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cI appreciate the work of our country\u2019s most effective Congressional Delegation in obtaining this urgent funding to help Rhode Island become a fairer place to live, work, and play.\u201d\n\nThe federal funds will flow to Rhode Island through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program.\n\nThe EJCPS recipients in Rhode Island include:\n\n$500,000 to the Childhood Lead Action Project, Inc. to reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning, improve the safety of rental housing, and increase the capacity of residents, government regulators, housing funding agencies, and other stakeholders to work together to address the lead issue on a local level.\n\n\u201cThis is fantastic news, and it couldn't have come at a better time,\u201d said Laura Brion, Executive Director of the Childhood Lead Action Project. \u201cWe have new lead poisoning laws coming into effect - such as the long-overdue expansion of Rhode Island's existing lead certificate requirement for pre-1978 properties, which will apply to the rental units in owner-occupied homes starting on Jan 1. We need to step up efforts to make both landlords and tenants aware of the changes, and connect everyone with the financial resources and technical training they need to stay safe. We're excited to have this multi-year support for our work to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through grassroots education, parent support, and community organizing. EPA's increased investment in community-based environmental justice initiatives is much-needed. Congratulations to our fellow local honorees! We're ready to get to work.\u201d\n\n$500,000 for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to add 30,000 new trees in low canopy, urban neighborhoods. This project will be foundational for growing an equitable urban forest and ensuring the benefits are equitably shared across Providence. TNC is partnering with the City of Providence and the Providence Neighborhood Tree Planting Program.\n\n\u201cPlanting more trees in Providence helps shrink heat islands and reduces air pollution, while making communities more beautiful and resilient. This grant builds on a successful, community-based planning process that identifies where new trees are needed the most and sets up local partnerships to keep them alive for the long term through mutual accountability. TNC applauds Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Magaziner for bringing home this important funding for Rhode Islanders!\u201d said John Torgan, Rhode Island State Director, The Nature Conservancy.\n\n$495,000 to the Refugee Development Center in Providence to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees.\n\nThe EJG2G recipients in Rhode Island include:\n\n$1 million for the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to better measure and reduce unhealthy levels of air pollution and improve air quality. The Improving Air Quality for Environmental Justice Communities Disproportionately Affected by Asthma program supports research, training, small-scale construction and air quality monitoring. RIDOH is partnering with several local organizations, including: Providence Housing Authority; Central Providence Health Equity Zone (One Neighborhood Builders); South Providence Health Equity Zone (Family Services of Rhode Island); West Elmwood Health Equity Zone (West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation); American Lung Association; Yale School of Public Health; and Rhode Island Public Health Association.\n\n\u201cPeople in every community in Rhode Island deserve access to air that is healthy and safe,\u201d said Interim Director of Health Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH. \u201cTo make this vision a reality, it is critical that we enhance our air quality monitoring efforts statewide, with a focus on those communities disproportionately affected by asthma. This funding opportunity will do that, and advance the partnerships we already have in place with community organizations focused on health equity and environmental justice. We are extremely grateful to the members of our federal delegation for securing grant money to support these critical initiatives.\u201d\n\n$944,618 for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management\u2019s (DEM) Environmental Justice in the Heart of Rhode Island program that focuses on building community engagement in urban watersheds. Partners in the program include: Blackstone Valley Tourism Council; IMPACT RI; Friends of the Moshassuck; Movement Education Outdoors; People\u2019s Port Authority; Providence Racial and Environmental Justice Committee; Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council; and Brown University.\n\n\u201cThis EPA Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant reinforces DEM\u2019s commitment to better serving the needs of all Rhode Island communities, especially the ones that have borne the heaviest historic environmental burdens,\u201d said DEM Director Terry Gray. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great work being done by community-based organizations in our state and this grant will support our efforts to share experiences and learn from each other. The project is focused on raising awareness, supporting stewardship, and strengthening community connections to our urban rivers, and in so doing, cleaning up legacy contamination and increasing climate resilience.\u201d\n\nNationwide, 98 organizations were selected to receive federal EJCPS grants and 88 entities were awarded federal EJG2G funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/grassroots-funding-reed-whitehouse-and-magaziner-deliver-35-million-to-advance-community-driven-environmental-justice-initiatives", "Grassroots Funding: Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Deliver $3.5 Million to Advance Community-Driven Environmental Justice Initiatives", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to improve public health and wellness through cleaner air and reduced lead hazards, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner announced $3,439,618 to fund five environmental justice projects across the state.\n\nReed and Whitehouse voted to commit federal funding for these grants, which are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the historic Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), which President Biden signed into law in August of 2022.\n\nThe Biden Administration is directing this round of federal investment to community-driven projects focused on neighborhoods that are underserved and overburdened by pollution with the goal of improving community health, wellness, and resiliency.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help plant seeds of change that lead to more greenery, cleaner air and water, and fewer lead hazards in underserved neighborhoods. This is a smart investment in community health and wellness. These programs can be a catalyst for lasting change, both in terms of creating more green space, improving public health, and also creating new opportunities for economic growth and community revitalization,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in public health and environmental justice, we are strengthening our state for generations,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will help reduce childhood lead poisoning and expand the state\u2019s efforts to improve air quality in urban communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to clean air and water must be a right for every Rhode Islander,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThis federal funding is vital to keeping Rhode Islanders healthy by ensuring clean air, preventing lead poisoning, and reducing contaminants entering waterways.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, communities of color in Rhode Island have borne the brunt of pollution, endured underinvestment in infrastructure and critical services, and consequently suffered disproportionate health and economic impacts,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cI appreciate the work of our country\u2019s most effective Congressional Delegation in obtaining this urgent funding to help Rhode Island become a fairer place to live, work, and play.\u201d\n\nThe federal funds will flow to Rhode Island through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Program and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program.\n\nThe EJCPS recipients in Rhode Island include:\n\n$500,000 to the Childhood Lead Action Project, Inc. to reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning, improve the safety of rental housing, and increase the capacity of residents, government regulators, housing funding agencies, and other stakeholders to work together to address the lead issue on a local level.\n\n\u201cThis is fantastic news, and it couldn't have come at a better time,\" said Laura Brion, Executive Director of the Childhood Lead Action Project. \"We have new lead poisoning laws coming into effect - such as the long-overdue expansion of Rhode Island's existing lead certificate requirement for pre-1978 properties, which will apply to rental units in owner-occupied homes starting on January 1. We need to step up efforts to make both landlords and tenants aware of the changes, and connect everyone with the financial resources and technical training they need to stay safe. We're excited to have this multi-year support for our work to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through grassroots education, parent support, and community organizing. EPA's increased investment in community-based environmental justice initiatives is much-needed. Congratulations to our fellow local honorees! We're ready to get to work.\"\n\n$500,000 for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to add 30,000 new trees in low canopy, urban neighborhoods. This project will be foundational for growing an equitable urban forest and ensuring the benefits are equitably shared across Providence. TNC is partnering with the City of Providence and the Providence Neighborhood Tree Planting Program.\n\n\u201cPlanting more trees in Providence helps shrink heat islands and reduces air pollution, while making communities more beautiful and resilient. This grant builds on a successful, community-based planning process that identifies where new trees are needed the most and sets up local partnerships to keep them alive for the long term through mutual accountability. TNC applauds Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Magaziner for bringing home this important funding for Rhode Islanders!\u201d said John Torgan, Rhode Island State Director, The Nature Conservancy.\n\n$495,000 to the Refugee Development Center in Providence to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees.\n\nTeddi Jallow, Executive Director, Refugee Dream Center, stated: \"This project is intended to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees. Many refugee families lack important public health knowledge, and/or fail to take it seriously. The activities for this project will be preventative home visits and phone check-ins on lead safety with refugee families and collaboration with relevant partners. We are truly grateful to receive this incredible level of support as it will make a great difference in the lives of the population we serve.\"\n\nThe EJG2G recipients in Rhode Island include:\n\n$1 million for the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to better measure and reduce unhealthy levels of air pollution and improve air quality. The Improving Air Quality for Environmental Justice Communities Disproportionately Affected by Asthma program supports research, training, small-scale construction and air quality monitoring. RIDOH is partnering with several local organizations, including: Providence Housing Authority; Central Providence Health Equity Zone (One Neighborhood Builders); South Providence Health Equity Zone (Family Services of Rhode Island); West Elmwood Health Equity Zone (West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation); American Lung Association; Yale School of Public Health; and Rhode Island Public Health Association.\n\n\u201cPeople in every community in Rhode Island deserve access to air that is healthy and safe,\u201d said Interim Director of Health Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH. \u201cTo make this vision a reality, it is critical that we enhance our air quality monitoring efforts statewide, with a focus on those communities disproportionately affected by asthma. This funding opportunity will do that, and advance the partnerships we already have in place with community organizations focused on health equity and environmental justice. We are extremely grateful to the members of our federal delegation for securing grant money to support these critical initiatives.\u201d\n\n$944,618 for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management\u2019s (DEM) Environmental Justice in the Heart of Rhode Island program that focuses on building community engagement in urban watersheds. Partners in the program include: Blackstone Valley Tourism Council; IMPACT RI; Friends of the Moshassuck; Movement Education Outdoors; People\u2019s Port Authority; Providence Racial and Environmental Justice Committee; Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council; and Brown University.\n\n\u201cThis EPA Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant reinforces DEM\u2019s commitment to better serving the needs of all Rhode Island communities, especially the ones that have borne the heaviest historic environmental burdens,\u201d said DEM Director Terry Gray. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great work being done by community-based organizations in our state and this grant will support our efforts to share experiences and learn from each other. The project is focused on raising awareness, supporting stewardship, and strengthening community connections to our urban rivers, and in so doing, cleaning up legacy contamination and increasing climate resilience.\u201d\n\nNationwide, 98 organizations were selected to receive federal EJCPS grants and 88 entities were awarded federal EJG2G funding.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act law represents the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. The law included $3 billion for EPA to administer grants and technical assistance for activities advancing environmental and climate justice.\n\nTeddi Jallow, Executive Director, Refugee Dream Center:\n\n\"This project is intended to address housing safety and lead poisoning among refugees in Rhode Island. The main objectives are to increase awareness about Lead Safety and decrease the incidence of lead poisoning among refugees. Many refugee families lack important public health knowledge, and/or fail to take it seriously. The activities for this project will be preventative home visits and phone check-ins on lead safety with refugee families and collaboration with relevant partners. We are truly grateful to receive this incredible level of support as it will make a great difference in the lives of the population we serve.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-announces-24m-in-liheap-aid-for-ri-home-energy-relief", "Reed Announces $24M in LIHEAP Aid for RI Home Energy Relief", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Rhode Island $24,039,524 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help low-income households lower their energy bills this winter.\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program that provides financial help with heating costs for qualifying households. It is administered at the state level by the Rhode Island Department of Human Services and local Community Action Program (CAP) agencies.\n\n\u201cAs colder weather approaches, this is good news for Rhode Islanders who need some help keeping their heat on this winter. Many Americans are facing elevated energy bills and I champion LIHEAP because it\u2019s a real lifeline for seniors on fixed incomes and families that are struggling to balance the costs of energy bills and other household necessities,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\nMaintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and providing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that our neighbors can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes.\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Reed, along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) urged the Biden Administration to act swiftly to release these federal LIHEAP funds. Reed and Murkowski also led a bipartisan letter urging the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans.\n\nApplications for LIHEAP grants opened on October 1 and Rhode Islanders may apply for assistance through their local Community Action Agency [ricommunityaction.org]. LIHEAP assistance amounts vary based on the number of people living in the household, total household income, heat source, and other factors.\n\nTo qualify for LIHEAP in Rhode Island, a household\u2019s combined gross income must be equal to or less than 60 percent of the State Median Income (SMI) for their household size. For example, a household of four could earn $68,605 and qualify. Family size, fuel type, and minimum delivery requirements are also considered for LIHEAP primary grants.\n\nBoth homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for LIHEAP assistance. This year, LIHEAP grants to Rhode Island households range from $75 to $1,221 in initial grants.\n\nThere are two components to the program:\n\nHeating Assistance: A grant to assist a household in meeting heating costs. The grant may be paid to either a heating fuel vendor or utility company, or in a few cases, directly to the applicant.\n\nCrisis Assistance: A grant to help resolve a home heating crisis caused by a heat shut-off because of failure to pay a regulated energy bill, the inability to pay for deliverable fuel, or the failure of a heating system that is not repairable.\n\nLast season, from October 2022 through September 2023, 26,748 households across the state received non-crisis heating assistance grants through LIHEAP. Additionally, there were 4,078 crisis grants for heating and 25,0001 grants for cooling issued to households.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-whitehouse-and-durbin-urge-dol-to-crack-down-on-child-labor-law-violations", "Reed, Whitehouse & Durbin Urge DOL to Crack Down on Child Labor Law Violations", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 A dozen leading U.S. Senators sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Biden Administration to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws.\n\nThe letter, penned by U.S Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and nine of their colleagues, follows a New York Times Magazine article that raised serious concerns about the influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children that are working long hours in dangerous conditions. Locally, the Public\u2019s Radio reported on possible violations of child labor laws at seafood processing plants in New Bedford, Massachusetts.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators commend DOL for holding accountable not just the subcontractors who directly hire child workers for dangerous jobs, but also the brands that hire subcontractors, including both Tyson and Perdue. The letter also urges DOL to consider additional workforce development opportunities for noncitizen youth\u2014particularly recently arrived unaccompanied children.\n\nThe twelve U.S. Senators wrote: \u201cThere have been multiple reports in recent months regarding the continued use of illegal child labor across the United States. We appreciate the efforts the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor (DOL) are taking to eliminate this scourge. However, these recent reports highlight the need to take further steps to protect children from dangerous employment that could result in injury and even death.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe also urge you to consider additional means by which to provide eligible vulnerable noncitizen youth\u2014particularly recent arrivals who are unaccompanied\u2014access to safe and appropriate work opportunities. The Department has received funding from Congress to support programs that provide workforce development opportunities to ensure that youth have access to age-appropriate jobs and subsidized training. These programs offer opportunities for training and skills development to attain an on-ramp to quality career pathways. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorizes several youth-targeted programs, which are the primary DOL-administered workforce development programs for youth\u2026 However, it is often difficult for such vulnerable children to navigate our labor laws without assistance. Some may not understand laws related to applying for work permits, and may not be aware that certain jobs, such as cleaning positions in a meatpacking plant, are extremely dangerous and unlawful. We strongly encourage DOL to ensure that workforce development programs and opportunities are accessible in areas that need them most, including areas of the country where repeated child labor exploitation has occurred,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThis week, on Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Senator Whitehouse serves on as a senior member, will hold a full committee hearing entitled \u201cEnsuring the Safety and Well-Being of Unaccompanied Children, Part II.\u201d The hearing builds on the committee\u2019s hearing on this issue in June, which featured testimony from child welfare and labor experts.\n\nIn addition to Durbin, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nOctober 23, 2023\n\nDear Acting Secretary Su:\n\nThere have been multiple reports in recent months regarding the continued use of illegal child labor across the United States. We appreciate the efforts the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor (DOL) are taking to eliminate this scourge. However, these recent reports highlight the need to take further steps to protect children from dangerous employment that could result in injury and even death. We urge you to consider the steps outlined below to continue to reduce such exploitation and provide vulnerable children with safe and appropriate work opportunities.\n\nWe urge you to continue to ensure that companies that contract with violators of child labor laws and benefit from child labor exploitation are held responsible to the fullest extent possible under the law. After an investigation by DOL found more than 100 children cleaning meatpacking plants around the country, the cleaning company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., was ordered to pay a $1.5 million fine, but according to report at the time, none of the corporations that benefited from the children\u2019s work were investigated. While we agree that subcontractors who directly hire children for these dangerous jobs should be held accountable, we firmly believe that DOL also should investigate companies that choose to work with such subcontractors. We are pleased that the Department recently opened a federal investigation into whether corporations can be considered employers when children enter their factories through contractors. Are additional measures needed from Congress to better hold employers across all levels accountable for violations of child labor laws?\n\nChild labor violations do not occur in a vacuum\u2014often, these violations take place alongside multiple other types of labor violations. A recent federal investigation found that a 17-year-old worker who fell 24 feet from the roof of a home improvement store in October 2022 was not only doing work that violated child labor laws, but that the roofing contractor had also failed to pay 30 employees their full wages and exposed other workers to dangerous fall hazards. Reports show that children are particularly vulnerable to these types of dangerous, low-paying jobs, as their adult counterparts often are able to find better pay elsewhere. Companies who have been found to exploit their workers\u2014children or otherwise\u2014must be monitored closely to ensure these types of egregious violations do not reoccur.\n\nWe also urge you to consider additional means by which to provide eligible vulnerable noncitizen youth\u2014particularly recent arrivals who are unaccompanied\u2014access to safe and appropriate work opportunities. The Department has received funding from Congress to support programs that provide workforce development opportunities to ensure that youth have access to age-appropriate jobs and subsidized training. These programs offer opportunities for training and skills development to attain an on-ramp to quality career pathways. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorizes several youth-targeted programs, which are the primary DOL-administered workforce development programs for youth.\n\nParticipants in programs authorized under Title I of WIOA must be authorized to work in the United States. Notably, unaccompanied children of working age are eligible to apply for a work permit six months after they apply for asylum, or if the Department of Homeland Security has determined they are abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent and therefore are eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).\n\nHowever, it is often difficult for such vulnerable children to navigate our labor laws without assistance. Some may not understand laws related to applying for work permits, and may not be aware that certain jobs, such as cleaning positions in a meatpacking plant, are extremely dangerous and unlawful. We strongly encourage DOL to ensure that workforce development programs and opportunities are accessible in areas that need them most, including areas of the country where repeated child labor exploitation has occurred. To what extent does the Administration work to connect noncitizen children\u2014particularly recently arrived unaccompanied children\u2014to state or local workforce development resources or provide other resources to ensure these children understand U.S. labor laws and workforce training opportunities?\n\nThank you for your continued work to eradicate child labor exploitation. We strongly support such initiatives, and are committed to collaborating with you to protect our nation\u2019s young people from exploitation.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/ri-delegation-governor-mckee-announce-ri-ocean-tech-hub-designation", "RI Delegation & Governor McKee Announce RI Ocean Tech Hub Designation", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Building on decades of investment, research, and innovation in undersea robotics and ocean engineering, Rhode Island has been identified as one of 31 regions driving American global competitiveness in key technology areas.\n\nToday, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner joined Governor Dan McKee to announce that the Biden Administration has designated Rhode Island to be home to one of 31 inaugural regional Tech Hubs across the country.\n\nThis first-of-its-kind designation was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act. Rhode Island was selected due to the Ocean State\u2019s potential for rapid growth in undersea robotics, automation, and advanced materials. This designation also positions Rhode Island to compete for the next phase of Tech Hubs Program funding, which will invest between $50 to $75 million in at least 5 regional hubs.\n\nThe Ocean Tech Hub, a consortium led by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, will leverage the Ocean State\u2019s unique coastal assets \u2013 including seven commercial ports and shallow and deep ocean access \u2013 to establish digital and physical testing and manufacturing environments for rapid prototype testing and delivery to meet the growing commercial demand. In doing so, the Ocean Tech Hub seeks to advance ocean technology innovation and become a global leader in the growing ocean economy.\n\n\u201cThe Ocean State is a leader in ocean tech and the Blue Economy and I commend the Biden Administration for selecting Rhode Island as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis Tech Hub designation, paired with federal funding for Rhode Island, will help foster more collaboration and development across our region to position the Ocean State as a global leader in undersea automation and technological development.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s location and access to talent has long positioned our state to be a leader in innovation across growing sectors, including cutting edge technology and artificial intelligence,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI am pleased that the Ocean State received a Tech Hub designation and Strategy Development Grant which will help drive local and interstate collaboration to create jobs, foster talent, and strengthen our local and regional economy for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s heritage as a leader in manufacturing, innovation and marine science is alive and well,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThe federal designation of the Ocean Tech Hub will help ensure that Rhode Island will be home to good-paying jobs in cutting-edge fields for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank the Biden Administration for designating Rhode Island as one of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cOcean technology and the ocean economy have been a part of the innovation ecosystem in Rhode Island and the Southeastern New England region for decades. This Tech Hubs Designation validates Rhode Island\u2019s national position in this growing global market and gives us the fuel to build critical infrastructure that will further drive U.S. economic and national security.\u201d\n\nThis designation is part of the first phase of the novel Tech Hubs program that will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform these regions into globally competitive innovation centers. Designation is an endorsement of the region\u2019s strategy to supercharge their respective technological industry to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security.\n\nIn addition to being named home to the nation\u2019s first Ocean Tech Hub, Rhode Island is also receiving a $346,496 Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant that will help the consortium increase local coordination and planning activities across Southern New England. These funds will help strengthen the region\u2019s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical ocean technologies that have wide-ranging applicability for industries ranging from aquaculture to shipping to climate mitigation and telecommunications.\n\nThe 31 Tech Hubs were selected from 198 applications from regional consortia that include industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. The Tech Hubs span regions across 32 states and Puerto Rico and represent a cross section of urban and rural regions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-and-governor-mckee-announce-ri-ocean-tech-hub-designation", "RI Delegation & Governor McKee Announce RI Ocean Tech Hub Designation", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Building on decades of investment, research, and innovation in undersea robotics and ocean engineering, Rhode Island has been identified as one of 31 regions driving American global competitiveness in key technology areas.\n\nToday, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner joined Governor Dan McKee to announce that the Biden Administration has designated Rhode Island to be home to one of 31 inaugural regional Tech Hubs across the country.\n\nThis first-of-its-kind designation was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act. Rhode Island was selected due to the Ocean State\u2019s potential for rapid growth in undersea robotics, automation, and advanced materials. This designation also positions Rhode Island to compete for the next phase of Tech Hubs Program funding, which will invest between $50 to $75 million in at least 5 regional hubs.\n\nThe Ocean Tech Hub, a consortium led by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, will leverage the Ocean State\u2019s unique coastal assets \u2013 including seven commercial ports and shallow and deep ocean access \u2013 to establish digital and physical testing and manufacturing environments for rapid prototype testing and delivery to meet the growing commercial demand. In doing so, the Ocean Tech Hub seeks to advance ocean technology innovation and become a global leader in the growing ocean economy.\n\n\u201cThe Ocean State is a leader in ocean tech and the Blue Economy and I commend the Biden Administration for selecting Rhode Island as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis Tech Hub designation, paired with federal funding for Rhode Island, will help foster more collaboration and development across our region to position the Ocean State as a global leader in undersea automation and technological development.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s location and access to talent has long positioned our state to be a leader in innovation across growing sectors, including cutting edge technology and artificial intelligence,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI am pleased that the Ocean State received a Tech Hub designation and Strategy Development Grant which will help drive local and interstate collaboration to create jobs, foster talent, and strengthen our local and regional economy for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s heritage as a leader in manufacturing, innovation and marine science is alive and well,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cThe federal designation of the Ocean Tech Hub will help ensure that Rhode Island will be home to good-paying jobs in cutting-edge fields for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank the Biden Administration for designating Rhode Island as one of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors,\u201d said Governor Dan McKee. \u201cOcean technology and the ocean economy have been a part of the innovation ecosystem in Rhode Island and the Southeastern New England region for decades. This Tech Hubs Designation validates Rhode Island\u2019s national position in this growing global market and gives us the fuel to build critical infrastructure that will further drive U.S. economic and national security.\u201d\n\nThis designation is part of the first phase of the novel Tech Hubs program that will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform these regions into globally competitive innovation centers. Designation is an endorsement of the region\u2019s strategy to supercharge their respective technological industry to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security.\n\nIn addition to being named home to the nation\u2019s first Ocean Tech Hub, Rhode Island is also receiving a $346,496 Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant that will help the consortium increase local coordination and planning activities across Southern New England. These funds will help strengthen the region\u2019s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical ocean technologies that have wide-ranging applicability for industries ranging from aquaculture to shipping to climate mitigation and telecommunications.\n\nThe 31 Tech Hubs were selected from 198 applications from regional consortia that include industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. The Tech Hubs span regions across 32 states and Puerto Rico and represent a cross section of urban and rural regions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-welcomes-president-bidens-national-security-supplemental-request", "Reed Welcomes President Biden\u2019s National Security Supplemental Request", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA \u2013 Today, after President Biden submitted to Congress a request for national security assistance, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who is currently on a CODEL overseas, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cAt a momentous time, President Biden is leading the United States and the international community with admirable resolve and is laser focused on keeping the American people safe and protecting America\u2019s interests. The U.S. has marshalled a powerful response to Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, and we must also stand strong with our ally, Israel, while protecting our security interests in the Indo-Pacific and at home. Aiding these democracies in concert with our allies is vital to America\u2019s security and economic interests.\n\n\u201cThe Ukrainians continue to fight for the same values that Americans cherish, and they face a challenging winter ahead. This emergency security supplemental request would provide vital tools for Ukraine and Israel, plus humanitarian assistance, enhanced border security, and measures to counter China.\n\n\u201cIt would deliver much needed training, equipment, and weapons necessary to help Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggression.\n\n\u201cAnd, in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel, this request provides much needed security assistance for Israel as it seeks to defend itself and deter broader conflict.\n\n\u201cIn addition to replenishing our own stocks of weapons, this aid request would respond to China\u2019s economic coercion. It would also support U.S. capabilities and initiatives that bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u201cCongress should send a strong message to the world that America continues to stand in solidarity with our allies, and there should be no doubt that we are committed to supporting them and standing firmly on the side of democracy and global stability.\n\n\u201cBipartisan discussions and review of this critical package are already under way. I appreciate Chair Murray scheduling an October 31 Appropriations Committee hearing with Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin. Congress must work across the aisle to get this national security-focused package done, and ensure the U.S. is strongly positioned as a force for peace and stability.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east", "Reed and Whitehouse Statement on the Situation in the Middle East", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement on the ongoing situation in the Middle East:\n\n\u201cAfter the briefing we received, it is clear that the United States is standing fully with Israel. We must recognize Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from murderous terrorists.\n\n\u201cWe are also assured that President Biden has negotiated the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazans. We must minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, even as Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe intelligence community has concluded that the tragic explosion at the hospital in Gaza was the result of an errant rocket launched by terrorists and not an Israeli airstrike. Those who are responsible for that horrific attack must be held accountable for the devastation they\u2019ve caused.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-collins-and-murkowski-urge-swift-release-of-liheap-home-heating-aid", "Reed, Collins & Murkowski Urge Swift Release of LIHEAP Home Heating Aid", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Falling temperatures and higher utility costs can put a damper on household budgets. With colder weather around the corner, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible.\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program designed to assist low-income families, seniors on fixed incomes, and other eligible households cover their home energy costs, especially during the coldest and hottest months of the year.\n\nThe Senators say LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that provides targeted assistance to help millions of Americans stay safe during the winter.\n\nReed, Collins, and Murkowski are leading efforts to include the highest level of funding possible for LIHEAP in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations package making its way through Congress.\n\n\u201cAs state agencies activate their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources on hand to help low-income households and seniors as soon as possible, especially in light of high energy costs. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP in 2023.\n\nIn FY23, Senators Reed, Collins, and Murkowski led successful efforts to provide a total of $6.1 billion for LIHEAP nationwide, resulting in nearly $40 million for Rhode Island, more than $54 million for Maine, and over $31.7 million for Alaska and Alaska Tribes.\n\nApproximately 26,000 Rhode Island households and more than 30,000 Maine households benefitted from LIHEAP last year.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Payments are made directly to utility companies that have agreed to accept LIHEAP subsidies. Other assistance may be available for those whose utilities do not participate in the program.\n\nApplications for LIHEAP grants opened on October 1 and Rhode Islanders may apply for assistance through their local Community Action Agency. In September, renewal applications were sent to individuals who received a LIHEAP grant last year. Agencies will send confirmation letters to households that heat with deliverable fuel starting November 1 and households that heat with utilities starting January 1. Deliverable fuel vendors may begin making deliveries starting November 1.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nThe Honorable Xavier Becerra\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Health and Human Services\n\n330 C Street, SW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20416\n\nDear Secretary Becerra:\n\nAs Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the Continuing Resolution (PL 118-15).\n\nAs the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. October marks the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets.\n\nAs state agencies activate their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources on hand to help low-income households and seniors as soon as possible, especially in light of high energy costs. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine.\n\nWe look forward to working with you on this critical program, and thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/reed-whitehouse-magaziner-announce-44m-federal-grant-help-ri-build-healthier", "Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Announce $4.4M Federal Grant to Help RI Build Healthier Communities", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse along with U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner today announced new federal funding that will make Rhode Island a healthier place to live, work, and play by expanding access to healthy foods and increasing opportunities for exercise.\n\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is awarding a 5-year $4.4 million grant to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) as part of the State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Program to improve physical activity, nutrition, and wellness initiatives.\n\nRhode Island may use the federal funding to support key components of RIDOH\u2019s 2023\u20132028 Rhode Island Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Strategic Plan, a statewide strategic plan for physical activity and nutrition which aims to improve community health and decrease the incidence of chronic diseases.\n\nThe federal grant -- which is scheduled to be distributed in annual awards of $888,000 this month and over the following four years -- is designed to help fight obesity and promote healthy nutrition, wellness, and physical activity.\n\nRhode Island may tap the federal SPAN funds to implement statewide and local initiatives and activities in multiple settings, including in schools, childcare facilities, senior centers, worksites, or other community setting to address several target areas, such as increasing physical activity; boosting the consumption of fruits and vegetables; or decreasing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. The federal funds will help address health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical activity, and obesity.\n\n\u201cWhen it comes to community health, Rhode Island is making progress. This new federal funding will help the state and its partners address several health priorities and end health disparities,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cUltimately, the goal is to make it easier for everyone, regardless of their income, to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. So we must continue working to expand access to affordable, healthy options when it comes to food and nutrition and increase opportunities for healthy recreation and physical activities. This funding will help implement proven public health strategies, sustainable solutions, and environmental changes that can help people get fit, stay healthy, and prevent chronic diseases.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Rhode Islander deserves access to affordable, healthy food and green spaces for recreation,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will promote nutrition and wellness initiatives, and help reduce health disparities in communities across the Ocean State.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll Rhode Islanders deserve to live long, healthy lives, and this federal funding will help ensure that residents across the state have access to healthy nutrition and physical activities,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner.\n\nObesity is a complex issue that has important consequences for our nation\u2019s health and economy. It is linked to a number of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), obesity is estimated to account for more than 20 percent of all annual health care expenditures in the United States.\n\nAccording to the latest data from the Trust for America\u2019s Health (TFAH), 30.8 percent of adults in Rhode Island experience obesity and 13.2 percent of children ages 10-17. According to the state\u2019s HEAL Strategic Plan, \u201cthis rate increases to one in four for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children. Household income also plays an important role as obesity was significantly higher within households with annual incomes of less than $25,000 (35.6%) and between $25,000\u2013$50,000 (33.7%) compared to incomes above $50,000 (28.3%). Overall, obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing in Rhode Island from 25% of the adult population in 2011 to 30% in 2021.\u201d\n\nPhysical activity and healthy eating patterns reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.\n\nRIDOH will use the federal funds in partnership with local stakeholders to continue progress toward making it easier for residents to eat well and move more. The funds can also help make neighborhoods more walkable and increase opportunities for physical activity by connecting pedestrian, bicycle, or transportation networks. The federal funds may advance the state\u2019s Complete Streets policies with the goal of creating safe and convenient public transportation and walkable and bikeable communities to help integrate physical activity into everyday life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-urge-humanitarian-aid-to-address-emergency-needs-of-palestinians-in-gaza", "Reed & Whitehouse Urge Humanitarian Aid to Address Emergency Needs of Palestinians in Gaza", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse commended President Joe Biden for pledging $100 million in U.S. humanitarian aid to Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.\n\nEarlier today, Reed and Whitehouse joined with 32 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations\u2019 emergency appeal of $294 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza. The United Nations said it plans to partner with 77 aid organizations to distribute humanitarian aid among those in need in Gaza and the West Bank.\n\n\u201cAs a result of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza prompted by Hamas\u2019 horrific terror attacks, more than 1.2 million people are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance. More than one million people have fled the violence, stretching the already strained ability of the United Nations and humanitarian partners on the ground to provide the food, medical treatment, and shelter they need to survive,\u201d the 34 U.S. Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued: \u201cWe support Israel\u2019s right to defend its people against the brutal attacks carried out by Hamas. Hamas knew that the Israeli government would have to respond to the unconscionable murder and hostage-taking of its citizens and thus bears the blame for initiating this conflict. We also know there are many innocent Palestinians in Gaza who do not support Hamas and urgently need help as they seek to flee the fighting.\u201d\n\nThe Senators highlighted the dire situation facing innocent civilians in Gaza: \u201cMore than one million people in Gaza have fled their homes in search of safety, with nearly half of those taking shelter in UN facilities. The United Nations estimates that Gaza will run out of food and water within days. Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, running desperately short on supplies and impacted by the lack of electricity. The humanitarian needs on the ground have dramatically increased over the past week, and conditions will likely continue to deteriorate in the days and weeks ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe therefore urge you to join the international community in answering the call from the United Nations by contributing toward this lifesaving $294 million appeal, and ask that you work with the UN and its partners to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended recipients without diversion or delay,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nOctober 18, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Antony Blinken\n\nUnited States Secretary of State\n\nThe State Department\n\n2201 C Street Northwest\n\nWashington, DC 20520\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nAs a result of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza prompted by Hamas\u2019 horrific terror attacks, more than 1.2 million people are in urgent need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance. More than one million people have fled the violence, stretching the already strained ability of the United Nations and humanitarian partners on the ground to provide the food, medical treatment, and shelter they need to survive. In this context, the UN has released an emergency appeal for $294 million to address these humanitarian needs, help protect displaced people and save countless lives. We urge you to uphold our country\u2019s proud tradition of leading the international community in providing lifesaving relief by contributing funding for international humanitarian assistance toward this UN appeal.\n\nWe support Israel\u2019s right to defend its people against the brutal attacks carried out by Hamas. Hamas knew that the Israeli government would have to respond to the unconscionable murder and hostage-taking of its citizens and thus bears the blame for initiating this conflict. We also know there are many innocent Palestinians in Gaza who do not support Hamas and urgently need help as they seek to flee the fighting. More than one million people in Gaza have fled their homes in search of safety, with nearly half of those taking shelter in UN facilities. The United Nations estimates that Gaza will run out of food and water within days. Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, running desperately short on supplies and impacted by the lack of electricity. The humanitarian needs on the ground have dramatically increased over the past week, and conditions will likely continue to deteriorate in the days and weeks ahead.\n\nDisplaced people around the world depend on lifesaving humanitarian assistance from the UN and its partners to feed their families, receive medical treatment, and secure shelter. The United States should continue its steadfast support for Israel while also doing our part to help the UN assist innocent civilians as they flee the violence. We therefore urge you to join the international community in answering the call from the United Nations by contributing toward this lifesaving $294 million appeal, and ask that you work with the UN and its partners to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended recipients without diversion or delay.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-young-introduce-bipartisan-adult-education-works-act-to-strengthen-and-expand-programs-for-adult-learners-2023", "Reed & Young Introduce Bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act to Strengthen and Expand Programs for Adult Learners", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 For millions of Americans, adult education programs can make the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. According to the Department of Education, at current funding levels, adult education programs reach less than one million Americans out of 43 million adults that are low-skilled in literacy and 63 million that are low-skilled in numeracy.\n\nIn an effort to address the long-standing adult education crisis affecting quality of life for individuals and their families and holding our economy back, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Todd Young (R-IN) today introduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act, or the Adult Education WORKS Act (S. 3075), to reauthorize adult education programs and expand upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In the House, U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-7) Frank Mrvan (D-IN-1), and Kathy Manning (D-NC-6) are leading introduction of the Adult Education WORKS Act (H.R. 5987).\n\nA study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimates that getting all American adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would add $2.2 trillion to the country\u2019s annual income. Without the opportunities provided by adult education programs, like numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, soft skills, work readiness, high school equivalency, and other wraparound services, many adults will be left on the sidelines of an economy that needs more qualified workers in order to grow.\n\nThe Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis by updating WIOA and by strengthening and expanding access to adult education services. Specifically, the legislation calls for nearly doubling the authorized funding for adult education by 2029 to $1.35 billion while making significant changes to the adult education system. Critical for achieving success in modern workplaces and for navigating everyday life, the bill calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy. Furthermore, the legislation will help to enhance the role of adult education providers by ensuring representation in the workforce planning process, with a focus on college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations.\n\nThe Adult Education WORKS Act invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. Investments will enhance innovation and provide increased accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and outcomes for adult learners.\n\n\u201cWhen I travel around Rhode Island and ask business owners about challenges they face, more often than not, they tell me how hard it is to find the workers they need. Strengthening adult education programs is the key to unlocking opportunities for people looking to gain new skills and business owners searching for qualified workers and for bolstering America\u2019s workforce and economy,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThe Adult Education WORKS Act will help ensure that more Americans can access educational programs that will equip them with in-demand skills to take the opportunities that are available to them.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s critical that all Hoosiers have the tools necessary to succeed in the modern economy \u2013 and that starts with strengthening adult education,\u201d said Senator Young. \u201cOur bipartisan bill would bolster critical services for adult learners, while also making important updates that ensure participants are prepared for the 21st century workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in adult education is an important step in building a sustainable workforce that supports this nation and our economy,\u201d said Rep. McBath (GA-7). \u201cNo adult should be left on the sidelines, and the skills available through these programs often mean the difference between a job that supports a family and struggling to make ends meet. The Adult Education WORKS Act will ensure that essential skills will be taught to adult learners nationwide. With so many adults at low literacy and numeracy rates, it is crucial that we provide them an option to gain the skills they need to succeed. I thank my colleagues for their support on this bipartisan bill.\u201d\n\nRep. Mrvan (IN-1) stated, \u201cI am proud to join Congresswoman McBath and our Senate colleagues in introducing this legislation to expand educational opportunities for adults and improve the ability of all individuals to reach their academic goals. Let us continue working together in a bicameral and bipartisan fashion to enhance educational and economic opportunities for everyone in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cExpanding access to adult learning opportunities that help improve literacy, workforce readiness, and achieve high school equivalency, empower workers to take on jobs with higher, family-sustaining wages,\u201d said Rep. Kathy Manning (NC-6), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Workforce Development Task Force. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Adult Education WORKS Act with my friend and colleague, Rep. McBath, so we can help prepare Americans of all ages to succeed in today\u2019s workforce.\u201d\n\nThe Adult Education WORKS Act would amend Title I and reauthorize Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority and it was the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.\n\nThe legislation is supported by American Library Association (ALA), Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), and TESOL International Association.\n\n\u201cJobseekers look to the library for information and services to equip them to compete in an evolving job market and changing economy. Librarians are ready with resources for them to gain the skills they need for better paying jobs and new career opportunities,\u201d said ALA President Emily Drabinski. \u201cALA is proud to support the Adult Education WORKS Act. A fresh, bipartisan approach to workforce development is what the country needs now, and it\u2019s exactly the kind of legislation that a divided Congress can get behind.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Adult Education WORKS Act would strengthen adult education and fulfill its promise of helping millions of American adults gain the literacy, numeracy and digital and information literacy skills needed for high-demand jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. Each provision is designed to fill gaps in the WIOA system and expand opportunities for adult learners and their families, ensure employers have a pool of skilled workers to fill open jobs and increase our global competitiveness. COABE is greatly appreciative of the Senators\u2019 engagement with the adult education field to develop this bill and is proud to announce its strong support of the bill,\u201d said CEO of COABE, Sharon Bonney.\n\n\u201cThe Adult Education WORKS Act will reinforce the fabric of American society by increasing access to education in foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for the millions of adults who need them,\u201d said Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy, Deborah Kennedy. \u201cBy promoting greater coordination between adult education and workforce development programs, supporting increased professionalization of the adult education field, and providing for college and career navigators who can guide adults in pursuing further education and viable career paths, the Act will build on the proven strengths of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act while expanding access to educational opportunity for a larger proportion of the adults who can benefit from it.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-whitehouse-and-magaziner-announce-44m-federal-grant-to-help-ri-build-healthier-communities", "Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Announce $4.4M Federal Grant to Help RI Build Healthier Communities", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse along with U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner today announced new federal funding that will make Rhode Island a healthier place to live, work, and play by expanding access to healthy foods and increasing opportunities for exercise.\n\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is awarding a 5-year $4.4 million grant to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) as part of the State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Program to improve physical activity, nutrition, and wellness initiatives.\n\nRhode Island may use the federal funding to support key components of RIDOH\u2019s 2023\u20132028 Rhode Island Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Strategic Plan, a statewide strategic plan for physical activity and nutrition which aims to improve community health and decrease the incidence of chronic diseases.\n\nThe federal grant -- which is scheduled to be distributed in annual awards of $888,000 this month and over the following four years -- is designed to help fight obesity and promote healthy nutrition, wellness, and physical activity.\n\nRhode Island may tap the federal SPAN funds to implement statewide and local initiatives and activities in multiple settings, including in schools, childcare facilities, senior centers, worksites, or other community setting to address several target areas, such as increasing physical activity; boosting the consumption of fruits and vegetables; or decreasing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages. The federal funds will help address health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical activity, and obesity.\n\n\u201cWhen it comes to community health, Rhode Island is making progress. This new federal funding will help the state and its partners address several health priorities and end health disparities,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. \u201cUltimately, the goal is to make it easier for everyone, regardless of their income, to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. So we must continue working to expand access to affordable, healthy options when it comes to food and nutrition and increase opportunities for healthy recreation and physical activities. This funding will help implement proven public health strategies, sustainable solutions, and environmental changes that can help people get fit, stay healthy, and prevent chronic diseases.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Rhode Islander deserves access to affordable, healthy food and green spaces for recreation,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will promote nutrition and wellness initiatives, and help reduce health disparities in communities across the Ocean State.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll Rhode Islanders deserve to live long, healthy lives, and this federal funding will help ensure that residents across the state have access to healthy nutrition and physical activities,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner.\n\nObesity is a complex issue that has important consequences for our nation\u2019s health and economy. It is linked to a number of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), obesity is estimated to account for more than 20 percent of all annual health care expenditures in the United States.\n\nAccording to the latest data from the Trust for America\u2019s Health (TFAH), 30.8 percent of adults in Rhode Island experience obesity and 13.2 percent of children ages 10-17. According to the state\u2019s HEAL Strategic Plan, \u201cthis rate increases to one in four for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children. Household income also plays an important role as obesity was significantly higher within households with annual incomes of less than $25,000 (35.6%) and between $25,000\u2013$50,000 (33.7%) compared to incomes above $50,000 (28.3%). Overall, obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing in Rhode Island from 25% of the adult population in 2011 to 30% in 2021.\u201d\n\nPhysical activity and healthy eating patterns reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.\n\nRIDOH will use the federal funds in partnership with local stakeholders to continue progress toward making it easier for residents to eat well and move more. The funds can also help make neighborhoods more walkable and increase opportunities for physical activity by connecting pedestrian, bicycle, or transportation networks. The federal funds may advance the state\u2019s Complete Streets policies with the goal of creating safe and convenient public transportation and walkable and bikeable communities to help integrate physical activity into everyday life.\n\nThe CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program also helps infants, children, and youth with nutrition and wellness, including initiatives focused on breastfeeding continuity of care and community support as well as helping child care providers incorporate active movement and healthy food options into child care settings. RIDOH plans to use a portion of the federal funding to promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has significant health benefits for infants, children, and mothers. RIDOH would work across state agencies to expand the lactation work force, improve worksite breastfeeding policy, and increase enrollment in WIC breastfeeding education.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-encourages-eligible-riers-to-apply-for-liheap-utility-assistance", "Reed Encourages Eligible RIers To Apply For LIHEAP Utility Assistance", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 With winter approaching, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is encouraging eligible families to apply for the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In fiscal year 2023, Senator Reed led efforts to make nearly $40 million in LIHEAP funds available to help Rhode Islanders struggling to pay their energy bills. Eligible households may apply for assistance in just a few easy steps by contacting their local Community Action Program (CAP) agencies.\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program that provides financial help with heating costs for qualifying households. It is administered at the state level by the Rhode Island Department of Human Services and local Community Action Program (CAP) agencies.\n\n\u201cI champion LIHEAP to help Rhode Islanders in need afford their utility bills and keep people safe and warm. With winter approaching, LIHEAP is a real lifeline for seniors on fixed incomes and families that are struggling financially and need a little help keeping the heat on. So we\u2019re trying to spread the word and ensure everyone who is eligible can apply and get the assistance they need,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\nApplications for LIHEAP grants opened on October 1 and Rhode Islanders may apply for assistance through their local Community Action Agency [ricommunityaction.org]. In September, renewal applications were sent to individuals who received a LIHEAP grant last year. Agencies will send confirmation letters to households that heat with deliverable fuel starting November 1 and households that heat with utilities starting January 1. Deliverable fuel vendors may begin making deliveries starting November 1.\n\nLIHEAP assistance amounts vary based on the number of people living in the household, total household income, heat source, and other factors.\n\nTo qualify for LIHEAP in Rhode Island, a household\u2019s combined gross income must be equal to or less than 60 percent of the State Median Income (SMI) for their household size. For example, a household of four could earn $68,605 and qualify. Family size, fuel type, and minimum delivery requirements are also considered for LIHEAP primary grants.\n\nBoth homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for LIHEAP assistance.\n\nIn addition to heating costs, LIHEAP may also assist with weatherization services such as home insulation and weather stripping around doors and windows; furnace cleaning, repair or replacement; and chimney inspection and cleaning. Emergency assistance is also available to assist with fuel co-payments during unexpected financial hardships, offer financial support for furnace replacements, help prevent shut offs and disconnects, and provide essential consumer goods like temporary heating devices.\n\nApplicants can find their local community action agency at: ricommunityaction.org and review an application checklist.\n\nApplicants can also get more LIHEAP information and resources by visiting: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/energy-and-water-assistance-programs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-0\n\nThis year, LIHEAP grants to Rhode Island households range from $75 to $1,221 in initial grants.\n\nThere are two components to the program:\n\nHeating Assistance: A grant to assist a household in meeting heating costs. The grant may be paid to either a heating fuel vendor or utility company, or in a few cases, directly to the applicant.\n\nCrisis Assistance: A grant to help resolve a home heating crisis caused by a heat shut-off because of failure to pay a regulated energy bill, the inability to pay for deliverable fuel, or the failure of a heating system that is not repairable.\n\nLast season from October 2022 through September 2023, 26,748 households across the state received non-crisis heating assistance grants through LIHEAP. Additionally, there were 4,078 crisis grants for heating and 25,0001 grants for cooling issued to households.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-condemns-hate-fueled-murder-of-6-year-old-muslim-boy-and-urges-americans-to-stand-up-against-all-forms-of-hate-speech", "Reed Condemns Hate-Fueled Murder of 6-Year-Old Muslim Boy & Urges Americans to Stand Up Against All Forms of Hate Speech", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed condemned the brutal murder of Wadea Al Fayoume, an innocent 6-year old Palestinian-American boy in Plainfield, Illinois, who was stabbed to death by a 71-year-old perpetrator, who also seriously wounded the boy\u2019s mother, Hanaan Shahin. The alleged perpetrator was their landlord and has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of a hate crime and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.\n\nAccording to law enforcement, the perpetrator allegedly targeted Hanaan and Wadea due to their Muslim faith and the ongoing conflict in the Israel-Hamas War.\n\nToday, Senator Reed stated:\n\n\u201cThere are no words to express the profound sorrow we feel for the loss of this innocent child. This was a shocking, unconscionable act of hate. The perpetrator must be brought to justice.\n\n\u201cThis type of vitriolic hate has no place in our society. One of our nation\u2019s founding principles is freedom of religion. We must confront and counter Islamophobic bigotry and show support for our Muslim neighbors. We must work together to advance tolerance and understanding. Those who kill indiscriminately seek to spread violence, hatred, and intolerance. Through education, taking a public stand, and refuting misinformation, we can help stop the spread of hate and build stronger, more just communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-announce-250000-citizenship-and-integration-grant-for-genesis-center", "Reed & Whitehouse Announce $250,000 Citizenship and Integration Grant for Genesis Center", "2023-10-13", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 In an effort to assist immigrants on their path to citizenship, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that Genesis Center is receiving a $250,000 federal grant from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of Citizenship.\n\nThe federal funds will expand Genesis Center\u2019s citizenship preparation services available to lawful permanent residents and those with a pathway to lawful permanent residency.\n\nBased in Providence, Genesis Center is a multi-service organization offering a full range of services to immigrants, refugees and low-income families. Founded in 1982, Genesis Center now serves over 1,000 students annually from nearly 40 countries. Genesis offers day and evening adult education classes at its facility and offsite at local businesses. Classes are designed to fit the changing needs of motivated adult learners.\n\n\u201cThe Genesis Center does outstanding work helping people on their path to becoming American citizens. This federal funding will help the Genesis Center continue their important mission and promote prospective citizens\u2019 integration into American society and civic life. It will enhance citizenship-preparation classes, offerings, and support services and help us build a stronger community,\u201d said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cThe Genesis Center provides life-changing support to refugees and immigrants on their path to becoming American citizens. This federal funding will strengthen and expand the Genesis Center\u2019s existing citizenship preparation services, and help build a more diverse and inclusive community,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse.\n\n\u201cWe are excited to have been awarded this grant that will allow us to plan, develop, and implement innovative approaches to helping our Rhode Island residents on their path to U.S. Citizenship through an integrated model that includes essential components of everyday life, such as financial coaching and digital literacy. This award is a continuation of our mission to provide the highest quality education, job training and support services to people of diverse cultures so that they may achieve economic independence and participate fully in society,\u201d said Shannon Carroll, President and CEO of Genesis Center.\n\nThe Genesis Center is one of 65 organizations nationwide to receive a competitive Citizenship and Integration Grants from USCIS this fiscal year.\n\nThere are approximately 9.2 million legal permanent residents nationwide who meet the eligibility requirement to apply for U.S. citizenship.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/as-winter-approaches-reed-and-murkowski-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-biden-administration-to-help-reduce-energy-costs", "As Winter Approaches, Reed & Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Biden Administration to Help Reduce Energy Costs", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 A group of 28 lawmakers led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a bipartisan letter calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance.\n\nLast year, Reed and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) successfully led efforts to provide a total of $6.1 billion for the program in fiscal year (FY) 2023, which included $2 billion in emergency supplemental LIHEAP funding.\n\nIn a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the 28 senators urged the Biden Administration to include supplemental LIHEAP funding in any additional request submitted for FY2024 appropriations.\n\n\u201cAmid increased energy prices resulting from Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and inflationary pressures, LIHEAP has become even more important for helping families pay their energy bills without foregoing other essentials.,\u201d the 28 Senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cUnfortunately, supplemental funding is needed once again as we head into another winter heating season. Winter heating prices are expected to remain roughly as high as last year, and LIHEAP applications are up significantly. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association, states are reporting increases of up to 20% in the number of LIHEAP applications since last year. With limited funding, states will face tough choices about the amount of assistance they can provide and the number of people they can serve.\u201d\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, including over 26,000 Rhode Island households.\n\nIn addition to Reed, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Robert Casey (D-PA), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Bernard Sanders (I-VT).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nOctober 6, 2023\n\nDear Director Young and Secretary Becerra:\n\nWe appreciate the Administration\u2019s strong support for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). As high energy costs and increased demand for LIHEAP assistance continue to put a strain on program resources, we urge you to include supplemental LIHEAP funding in any additional request you submit for FY24 appropriations.\n\nAs the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. Amid increased energy prices resulting from Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and inflationary pressures, LIHEAP has become even more important for helping families pay their energy bills without foregoing other essentials. Last year, with your help, we worked to reduce this burden by providing $2 billion in emergency supplemental LIHEAP funding, reaching a total of $6.1 billion for FY23.\n\nUnfortunately, supplemental funding is needed once again as we head into another winter heating season. Winter heating prices are expected to remain roughly as high as last year, and LIHEAP applications are up significantly. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association, states are reporting increases of up to 20% in the number of LIHEAP applications since last year. With limited funding, states will face tough choices about the amount of assistance they can provide and the number of people they can serve.\n\nIn preparation for winter heating season, ensuring that LIHEAP is well-funded will help guarantee that the program has the resources it needs to help as many eligible low-income households and seniors as possible. To that end, we urge you to continue your strong support of vulnerable Americans by requesting supplemental funding for this critical program. Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-assists-riers-with-loved-ones-in-israel-provides-state-dept-resources-for-those-who-need-additional-help", "Reed Assists RIers with Loved Ones in Israel, Provides State Dept. Resources for Those Who Need Additional Help", "2023-10-11", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In the wake of the October 7 attacks by militant Hamas terrorists on Israel, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and his constituent casework team are working to assist Rhode Islanders with relatives and loved ones in Israel and provide critical information and U.S. State Department resources to those seeking help.\n\n\u201cI make it my mission to assist Rhode Islanders traveling abroad. If any Rhode Islanders or their family members are in Israel and need emergency assistance, I am here to help,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cMy office has been in contact with several Rhode Islanders who traveled to Israel recently, and we\u2019re working to ensure they\u2019re connected with the State Department.\u201d\n\nRhode Islanders with family members in Israel who need assistance can reach Senator Reed\u2019s office at: (401) 943-3100.\n\nThe State Department has established a 24/7 coordinating group to help U.S. citizens or their family members in Israel. To connect to the coordinating group, please call: 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131 or visit: https://www.state.gov/israel-under-attack-latest-updates/\n\nAmericans currently in Israel or planning to travel to Israel in the near future are encouraged to utilize the following resources to stay updated and safe:\n\nEnroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP);\n\nView the latest updates from the U.S. Embassy in Israel; and\n\nReview the latest travel advisory information from the State Department.\n\nAccording to the White House, at least 14 Americans were killed during the terrorist attacks by Hamas, and there are believed to be 20 or more Americans currently missing, including some believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas.\n\nReed condemned the attacks by Hamas and expressed his support for Israel in its efforts to defend itself.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-backs-action-to-ban-hidden-junk-fees-that-cost-consumers-tens-of-billions-of-dollars-annually", "Reed Backs Action to Ban Hidden \u2018Junk Fees\u2019 That Cost Consumers Tens of Billions of Dollars Annually", "2023-10-11", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Calling it a major step forward for consumer protection, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is backing the Biden Administration\u2019s efforts to ban hidden \u2018junk fees\u2019 across multiple industries.\n\nJunk fees are hidden charges and misleading fees that companies add to customer bills, costing consumers tens of billions of dollars annually and stifling business competition.\n\nSenator Reed today applauded the independent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for announcing new actions and proposed rules against companies charging consumers junk fees.\n\nThe FTC\u2019s proposed rule would end hidden fees and make it clearer when businesses are adding extra charges, like at hotels, car rentals, apartment companies, live-ticket events, and more. It would also prohibit businesses from advertising prices that leave out mandatory fees, giving consumers a more accurate upfront cost. If this proposed rule is finalized as proposed, the FTC could bring enforcement actions to impose financial penalties on companies that don\u2019t disclose their full upfront price and secure refunds for customers who have been defrauded by companies charging hidden fees.\n\nThe CFPB is issuing guidance to enforce junk fee rules from financial institutions. The CFPB proposal would help prevent large banks from unfairly charging fees for basic services, like balance requests or other information. The consumer watchdog also announced $2 billion in savings and $140 million in consumer refunds from previous crackdowns on junk fees.\n\nReed says he favors the moves by the FTC and CFPB and supports federal efforts to crack down on excessive hidden fees while promoting greater transparency, fairness, and competition in the market for all kinds of consumer goods and services.\n\n\u201cJunk fees are an annoying, unfair business practice designed to confuse consumers. Unfortunately, they\u2019ve become business as usual for too many companies these days and the practice needs to stop. The new actions by the FTC and CFPB will help crack down on deceptive junk fees and ensure fair competition in the marketplace. It will ensure businesses compete on price, not on who can hide their prices and tack on the most junk fees at the end. This is a major step forward for consumers that targets bogus junk fees and will save working families real money. It will help put tens of billions of dollars back into the wallets of consumers,\u201d said Senator Reed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/making-a-splash-reed-delivers-500000-for-ri-fisheries-research", "Making a Splash: Reed Delivers $500,000 for RI Fisheries Research", "2023-10-10", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "NARRAGANSETT, RI \u2013 Rhode Island\u2019s commercial fisheries and seafood sectors account for more than 4,300 jobs and drive $420 million in statewide economic impact, according to a joint Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation-University of Rhode Island study.\n\nIn an effort to help ensure continued growth and sustainability of Rhode Island\u2019s commercial fishing sector amidst evolving challenges with ocean health, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today delivered a $500,000 federal earmark to finance a deep dive study that will help the Ocean State\u2019s commercial fishermen.\n\nSenator Reed joined David Bethoney, PhD, Executive Director of the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF); local fishermen; and research collaborators at Point Judith\u2019s Superior Trawl facility to celebrate this federal funding that will advance and enhance the organization\u2019s efforts to understand, manage, and develop innovative solutions to challenges faced by commercial fishermen.\n\n\u201cAs climate change rapidly alters the coastal landscape and oceans, we\u2019ve got to support our commercial fishermen and help them adapt while also taking good care of our commercial fisheries. The well-being of both our fishermen and fisheries is critical to the Blue Economy and our economic future,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cCFRF research is critical to resilient and sustainable fisheries and ensuring commercial fishermen have a voice and a say when it comes to policies that impact their livelihoods. This new funding will deepen our understanding of modern ocean challenges. The data collected by CFRF and their partners will be used to ensure commercial fishermen have appropriate access rights and develop innovative solutions to ensure our commercial fisheries are healthy, resilient, and can thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are excited and grateful for this opportunity to build on initiatives that empower the commercial fishing community to help us understand and address significant change in the ocean environment,\u201d said David Bethoney, PhD, Executive Director of CFRF.\n\nWith this federal earmark, CFRF will leverage and grow cooperative research efforts on issues affecting fishermen in Rhode Island and across southern New England. This work will utilize the knowledge of local fishermen to better understand and mitigate challenges facing the fishing sector, like climate change, rapidly warming waters, and plastic pollution. Specifically, CFRF will use these federal funds to:\n\nModernize its Shelf Research Fleet initiative;\n\nAdd juvenile black seabass monitoring to the Black Seabass Research Fleet;\n\nCreate an informed implementation strategy for automatic squid jigging, and;\n\nContinue ghost gear removal from Rhode Island waters.\n\nAdditionally, CFRF plans to invite more local fishermen to participate in these research initiatives, creating a path for fishermen to supplement and diversify their incomes. For example, the Shelf Research Fleet has included 18 fishermen since the project first started to collect profiles of water temperature and salinity at two-week intervals across the continental shelf. This research effort has already identified an increase in bottom intrusions of warm, salty water that may have gone undetected without their monitoring.\n\nA senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed secured this $500,000 earmark in the fiscal year 2023 consolidated appropriations law. The funding will be administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Reed also delivered $2.4 million to build a new shellfish hatchery and research center that will support the Ocean State\u2019s aquaculture and seafood industries. This project is a collaboration between the University of Rhode Island and Matunuck Oyster Farm.\n\nThe Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is a nonprofit established by commercial fishermen to conduct collaborative fisheries research and to carry out education projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-condemns-appalling-hamas-terrorist-attacks-in-israel", "Reed Condemns Appalling Hamas Terrorist Attacks in Israel", "2023-10-07", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), issued the following statement condemning the appalling terrorist attacks by Hamas against the people of Israel:\n\n\u201cI condemn the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. Israel has a right to defend itself from attack. I stand with the people of Israel and send my condolences to the Israelis killed and wounded in this horrific attack.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 369, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "RI", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 369, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 250, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}, {"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 119, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "RI", "label": "RI", "count": 369, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 369, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-10-07,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ereed~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Freleases~2Freed-condemns-appalling-hamas-terrorist-attacks-in-israel", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=RI&year=2023&_next=2023-10-07%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ereed~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Freleases~2Freed-condemns-appalling-hamas-terrorist-attacks-in-israel&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 148.75656086951494, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}