{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"RI\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-blasts-trump-s-latest-attack-on-rhode-island-offshore-wind", "Amo Blasts Trump\u2019s Latest Attack on Rhode Island Offshore Wind", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cTrump\u2019s attacks on Revolution Wind are not based on science and facts. The Administration is putting forward disingenuous arguments about \u2018national security\u2019 to try to kill this project simply because Donald Trump doesn\u2019t like offshore wind. I will keep fighting to make sure this project is completed. We must deliver more affordable energy and a greener future for all Rhode Islanders.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-statement-trump-administration-suspension-revolution-wind-project", "Magaziner Statement on Trump Administration Suspension of Revolution Wind Project", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it would suspend several offshore wind projects, including the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island which is over 85% complete.\n\n\u201cAt a time when working people in Rhode Island are struggling with high costs on everything, Trump should not be canceling energy projects that are nearly ready to deliver reliable power to the grid at below-market rates and help lower costs.\n\nClaims that the Revolution Wind Project or other offshore wind projects pose national security concerns are unfounded. The Department of Defense thoroughly reviewed and signed off on this project during the permitting and approval process.\n\nThis is just another example of the Trump Administration needlessly driving up costs for working people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-trump-admins-attack-on-offshore-wind-and-ri-jobs", "Reed Statement on Trump Admin\u2019s Attack on Offshore Wind & RI Jobs", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "CRANSTON, RI \u2013 After the Trump Administration today announced it is once again halting offshore wind projects across the nation \u2013 including Revolution Wind, which is 85 percent complete and located approximately 15 miles off the southern shore of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s outdated energy policies are killing good-paying union jobs and have already increased energy bills for the average American family by thirteen percent since January.\n\n\u201cWhile energy prices are soaring and our competitors across the globe are racing to innovate and find new sources of clean energy, we need to make energy more affordable and our energy grid more resilient. But Trump\u2019s repeated attacks on offshore wind are holding our nation back, increasing energy bills, and hurting our economy.\n\n\u201cThe Ocean State knows the great potential of offshore wind for our economy and environment. I will continue fighting to ensure these projects can move forward to help lower energy bills for Rhode Islanders and create more jobs and more opportunity for all.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-legislation-signed-into-law-to-strengthen-diplomatic-relationships-and-support-ri-businesses", "Amo Legislation Signed Into Law to Strengthen Diplomatic Relationships and Support RI Businesses", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 YESTERDAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) had two bills signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Amo led the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) Improvement Act and the Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act to strengthen American diplomatic relations with allies, support Rhode Island businesses, and enhance our national security.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to see my legislation signed into law to streamline defense production, support Rhode Island trade, and better counter rising threats in the Indo-Pacific,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cI\u2019m grateful to secure these wins for Rhode Island, working across the aisle to strengthen relationships with one of our most steadfast democratic allies and support our state's manufacturing sector. In our rapidly changing world, it\u2019s critical to foster diplomatic, trade, and defense collaboration with our allies to keep Rhode Islanders and all Americans safe.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo secured the inclusion of two pieces of legislation in the 2026 NDAA. However, due to the inclusion of language that does not reflect the longstanding tradition of protecting our national defense in a nonpartisan manner, Congressman Amo voted against House passage of the NDAA.\n\nIn August 2025, Amo introduced H.R. 5013, the bipartisan, bicameral AUKUS Improvement Act. The legislation will make it easier for manufacturers to collaborate on defense production with our allies in the AUKUS tripartite agreement. Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District is home to numerous manufacturers producing defense materials for the AUKUS partnership, including submarines and autonomous naval vessels.\n\nAmo introduced H.R. 6123, the Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act, in November 2025. The legislation would require reporting to ensure American diplomats in Australia have the resources they need to promote American political, economic, and national security interests.\n\nThese are the second and third bills led by Amo that have been signed into law. On January 4, 2025, President Joe Biden signed H.R. 10339, the Southern New England Regional Commission Act into law as part of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/following-magaziners-advocacy-dhs-releases-wife-combat-veteran-ice-detention", "Following Magaziner\u2019s Advocacy, DHS Releases Wife of Combat Veteran from ICE Detention", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) applauded the news that Donna Hughes-Brown, a legal U.S. resident and the wife of U.S. Navy combat veteran Jim Brown of Missouri has been released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Mrs. Hughes-Brown was immediately released after winning her cancellation of removal hearing on December 18, 2025, ending the deportation proceedings against her.\n\nLast week, Rep. Magaziner invited Jim Brown to attend a House Homeland Security Committee hearing with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. During the hearing, Magaziner questioned Secretary Noem directly about Mrs. Hughes-Brown\u2019s detention and secured a commitment from her to review her case.\n\nYou can watch the exchange between Jim Brown and Secretary Noem here.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration claimed it would target the \u2018worst of the worst,\u2019 but no one understands how false that promise was more than Jim and Donna Brown,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cJim Brown served our country in combat, and his family deserved better than months of unnecessary separation. This patriotic couple are now reunited just before Christmas. I will continue fighting this Administration over their unjust detentions and work to reunite more innocent families targeted by Trump\u2019s DHS.\u201d\n\nMr. Brown is a U.S. Navy and Gulf War combat veteran. His wife, Donna Hughes-Brown, is a grandmother and Blue Star military mother who has lived legally in the United States for 47 years. She was detained in Chicago, and imprisoned for months, after returning from a family visit to her native Ireland due to writing two bad checks totaling no more than $80 combined more than a decade ago.\n\nDuring the hearing, Magaziner asked Secretary Noem to use her broad discretion as Secretary to review Mrs. Hughes-Brown\u2019s case, underscoring the injustice of detaining veteran families and longtime U.S. residents with deep family and community ties over minor, long-resolved offenses.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-statement-death-brown-university-shooting-suspect", "Magaziner Statement on Death of Brown University Shooting Suspect", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) released the following statement in response to reports that the suspected gunman in the Brown University shooting was found dead:\n\n\u201cI want to express gratitude to all of the members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to locate the now-deceased suspect in the Brown University shooting.\n\nWhile Brown and Rhode Island will never be the same, I hope that this new development can bring closure and help the process of healing.\n\nMy heart continues to go out to the victims and their families. They will be in our hearts always.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/as-bird-flu-spreads-reed-calls-for-hearings-and-a-comprehensive-national-strategy", "As Bird Flu Spreads, Reed Calls for Hearings & a Comprehensive National Strategy", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as \u2018bird flu\u2019 or \u2018avian flu\u2019 continues to spread worldwide and decimate American poultry flocks, it has also now infected dairy herds in 18 states.\n\nWhile the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the agency which serves as Europe\u2019s surveillance hub for infectious diseases, is urging preventative steps and a comprehensive strategy to prepare for and respond to animal-to-human influenza transmission, the Trump Administration is dragging its feet, misaligning resources, and failing to execute a strategic U.S. plan that includes bird flu vaccination as one component of a broader approach to HPAI.\n\nNow, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is urging the Trump Administration to ramp up their avian flu response, stop subsidizing an unhealthy system, and calling on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to hold hearings on the dangers of avian flu and the Ending Taxpayer Support for Big Egg Producers Act (S. 1904), which Senator Reed introduced in May.\n\nReed\u2019s bill would ensure that limited resources are used effectively to combat the avian flu and help producers who need them most, rather than highly-profitable companies. He has called on the federal government to examine what role industry consolidation has had on egg prices, noting that Cal-Maine, a publicly-trade egg producer that controls one fifth of the nation\u2019s egg supply, had no bird flu outbreaks in fiscal year 2023 but still raised prices and raked in over $1 billion in windfall profits that year.\n\nIn a letter to the Senate Ag Committee, Reed wrote: \u201cAs these investigations proceed, however, companies continue to reel in profits while benefitting from taxpayer support. For example, Cal-Maine Foods received $44 million in indemnity payments in 2024, and in 2025 repurchased approximately $50 million in shares from family members of the company\u2019s founder. SEC filings show Cal-Maine may spend up to an additional $450 million on buybacks, even as it benefits from taxpayer-funded indemnity payments. The Trump Administration has continued to issue indemnity payments to companies; however, proper guardrails do not exist to ensure payments reach those who need them most.\u201d\n\nSenator Reed notes it is imperative for the Trump Administration to wisely allocate limited federal resources and implement science-based solutions that strengthen flock health while protecting the ability of American farmers to compete in global markets.\n\n\u201cIt is important to have a plan in place before the virus can trigger a major outbreak,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cBut the Trump Administration\u2019s failure to properly prepare and respond is troubling. Federal funds that are supposed to go to early detection, response, and control of animal diseases and outbreaks like avian flu are instead being unused or directed elsewhere. That makes farmers, consumers, and public health more vulnerable and could force Americans to pay a much higher price in the long run.\u201d\n\nThe avian flu virus has jumped to several mammal species in the last few years, including cats, cows, foxes, bears, and other birds. About 1,000 humans have also caught the virus since it first emerged, but fortunately it has not mutated to spread between humans.\n\nReed is urging the Trump Administration to move forward with finalizing and implementing a national avian influenza vaccination program. In February, USDA announced a Five-Pronged Approach to combatting avian influenza, but has since pulled back on key planks of the strategy, such as \u2018Exploring Pathways toward Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Other Strategies for Protecting Egg Laying Chickens to Reduce Instances of Depopulation.\u2019\n\nAfter being awarded a $590 million contract by the Biden Administration to help develop a vaccine effective against bird flu, in May, the Trump Administration cancelled the contract with Moderna. This week, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a public-private partnership of governments and philanthropic groups developing new vaccines to prevent future epidemics, announced a $54.3 million investment to help Moderna get its bird flu vaccine candidate to licensure.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to learn the right lessons from the past: an ounce of prevention can go a long way toward protecting public health and economic health. Right now, the Trump Administration\u2019s anti-vax bias seems to be clouding its judgement and shortchanging taxpayers, shirking its commitment, and hoping the private sector will step in. If the avian flu mutates, this could prove to be exponentially costly for taxpayers, patients, and our economy,\u201d noted Reed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-warn-against-trumps-fish_wildlife-service-staff-cuts", "Reed & Whitehouse Warn Against Trump\u2019s Fish & Wildlife Service Staff Cuts", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- After a public records request showed that nearly 1,800 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) employees have left or been forced out of the agency -- a loss of 18 percent of the service\u2019s staff -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse are teaming up with their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to reverse course and end the FWS staffing crisis.\n\nData obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the Center for Biological Diversity showed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staffing levels dropped from 9,957 to 8,179, nationwide between 2024 and the end of May. The massive reduction in FWS staff is largely the result of DOGE-driven cuts and Trump Administration policies to purge federal workers.\n\nIn Rhode Island, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the state\u2019s five national wildlife refuges in Charlestown, South Kingstown, Narragansett, Middletown, and Block Island. FWS employees work with Rhode Island\u2019s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to conserve and protect fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats, focusing on endangered species, migratory birds, and managing resources for outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, and hiking.\n\nThis week, Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and seventeen of their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to immediately address and reverse the staffing crisis at FWS, which is at risk of losing the capacity to properly manage many of America\u2019s wildlife refuges -- putting in jeopardy the ability to protect endangered wildlife species under the Service\u2019s care.\n\nIn a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and FWS Director Brian Nesvik, the Senators highlight the direct impacts cuts in staffing are having on the 573 national wildlife refuges across the country \u2014 with almost 60 percent of them lacking the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions.\n\n\u201cAmericans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America\u2019s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThis downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem\u2014it has made the situation far worse. The President\u2019s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS\u2019s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe Senators also emphasized that operating with few or no employees has also hurt disaster resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.\n\nIn addition to Schiff, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik:\n\nWe write to sound the alarm on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s (FWS) staffing crisis, which is causing particular harm to the National Wildlife Refuge System. A startling amount of staff and expertise needed to manage the Refuge System and protect America\u2019s wildlife have been lost due to the administration\u2019s firings, early retirement programs, and other efforts to push staff out of FWS. The agency is losing the capacity to manage America\u2019s wildlife refuges and struggling to even keep them open. We ask that you provide Congress with your plan to address FWS\u2019s staffing crisis and immediately act to ensure that FWS and the Refuge System have the staff and resources needed to guarantee a safe, quality experience for visitors to the Refuge System and to protect the invaluable wildlife species under the agency\u2019s care.\n\nAmericans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America\u2019s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats. There are 573 national wildlife refuges across the country, with a footprint in every state. The Refuge System also utilizes a unique conservation approach through community-based initiatives that provide recreational and sporting opportunities and other localized needs. According to FWS, wildlife refuge recreation generates $3.2 billion in local economic activity each year. Every dollar that is invested in the Refuge System generates $3.12 in U.S. economic activity, a tremendous return on investment for the American taxpayer.\n\nHowever, according to recently released internal agency documents, almost 60 percent of the nation\u2019s wildlife refuges lack the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions. FWS has experienced a staggering 29 percent loss of employees who work for the Refuge System. This downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem\u2014it has made the situation far worse. The President\u2019s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS\u2019s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies.\n\nStaffing reductions have negatively impacted national wildlife refuges across the country, forcing multiple wildlife refuges to operate with few or no employees. FWS\u2019s internal estimates indicate that 9 percent of wildlife refuges are now classified as \u201cshuttered.\u201d It appears that FWS has abandoned these refuges, as there may not be a single employee on the ground to manage the refuge.\n\nThe consequences of slashing the FWS workforce are already being felt across the nation. The collapse of staffing capacity within the Refuge System leaves refuges open to damage, vandalism, flooding, fire, and loss of protection and conservation measures for threatened and endangered wildlife species who rely on these refuges for survival. FWS staffing losses also hurt resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.\n\nIt has also become more difficult for the agency to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, an already challenging but essential obligation. This delay in work pushes endangered species closer to extinction and prevents infrastructure projects from moving forward, as they may encounter difficulties with acquiring needed permits amid such regulatory uncertainty.\n\nConsidering the alarming scale of FWS\u2019s staffing crisis, we request answers to the following by January 2, 2026:\n\n1. Will you commit to reversing the staffing losses at FWS? What is your plan to address FWS\u2019s debilitating loss in capacity?\n\n2. Has the Administration considered the impact of decimating the FWS workforce on the economics of gateway communities?\n\n3. Does the Administration still plan on moving forward with firing more FWS employees, even as those firings are being stopped by federal courts?\n\n4. How is FWS planning to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act?\n\nProtecting natural resources for Americans has always been a bipartisan effort and it is important that FWS has the workforce required to meet its core mandates. Thank you, and we look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-expresses-relief-in-resolution-of-brown-university-shooter-manhunt", "Amo Expresses Relief in Resolution of Brown University Shooter Manhunt", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\"I hope Rhode Islanders can find a measure of relief now that the perpetrator of the tragic Brown University shooting is deceased.\n\nElla Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov should be here today. My thoughts are with their families, the survivors of the shooting, and the entire Brown community tonight.\n\nThank you to Rhode Islanders for supporting one another during this difficult time. And thank you to officials at every level, especially our law enforcement officers, who dedicated an immense amount of time, effort, and thoughtfulness to bring about this outcome.\n\nAs our community begins to heal, we must stand together, support one another, and work to create a safer future for all Rhode Islanders.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-ross-intro-bicameral-proposal-to-better-protect-consumers_crack-down-on-abusive-practices-in-the-buy-now-pay-later-industry", "Reed & Ross Intro Bicameral Proposal to Better Protect Consumers & Crack Down on Abusive Practices in the Buy Now, Pay Later Industry", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 During this year\u2019s busy holiday shopping period from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, consumers spent a record amount of over $1 billion in purchases with Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, according to data from Adobe Analytics.\n\nAs shopping gets more convenient for consumers online and on their phones, BNPL loans have continued on a path of explosive growth. While BNPL allows consumers weary of credit cards to split up their purchases over time, it is crucial to ensure that the rulebook for BNPL products keeps pace with how they have become embedded in the shopping experience for many consumers\u2014especially younger borrowers.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) today introduced a new bill that would make commonsense updates to the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to extend many key consumer protections for traditional credit cards to \u201cpay-in-four\u201d BNPL loans.\n\nThe Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act would update TILA so that when BNPL functions like a credit card, it carries the same core protections: commonsense parity for consumers and a level playing field for responsible providers.\n\nBNPL products have surged in popularity as an easy, convenient way to split purchases into interest-free installments at the click of a button. If they are well-designed, transparent, accountable, and supervised, BNPL products can legitimately serve an important role in meeting the needs of consumers who may be wary of credit cards.\n\nAs costs rise and usage of BPNL products increases across the nation, basic protections are needed to prevent predatory practices like hidden fees, failure to provide timely refunds, and pushing consumers to rack up unsustainable debt. These protections\u2014which currently exist for credit cards\u2014include standardized periodic statements, clear dispute and refund rights, and consistent billing-error procedures. Existing laws were not drafted with BNPL products in mind, resulting in gaps and uncertainty for BNPL users.\n\n\u201cResponsible Buy Now, Pay Later options can be helpful to consumers. As they grow in popularity, we must take proactive steps to prevent unsuspecting risks to consumers,\u201d said Senator Reed, who has taken repeated action to push for commonsense guidelines and rules to better govern BNPL products. \u201cThe Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act will set up real guardrails to better protect consumers and ensure that fees and terms are transparent and easy to understand.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when prices are rising, Buy Now, Pay Later is a useful tool for many households, especially around the holidays. Unfortunately, these services are increasingly engaging in predatory practices, charging hidden fees and locking working Americans into inescapable cycles of debt,\u201d said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. \u201cCongress needs to put consumers first. That\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing the Buy Now, Pay Later Protection Act, which will ensure consumers have the options and information they need to make informed decisions.\u201d\n\nKey provisions of Senator Reed and Congresswoman Ross\u2019 bill include:\n\nDisclosures: Clear information on due dates, fees, and information on how consumers can dispute charges.\n\nRight to Periodic Statements: BNPL providers must issue periodic billing statements, similar to credit cards, so consumers can track their spending and balances.\n\nChargeback Rights: When customers are the victims of payment fraud or deceptive practices, they have the right to seek a chargeback.\n\nBilling Error Resolution: Provides timelines and procedures for investigating billing disputes and restricts adverse credit reporting or collection on transactions under active dispute.\n\nNo Surprise Fees: Providers can\u2019t jack up interest, fees, or other charges on an existing BNPL balance midway through repayment and can only apply fees that were disclosed up front.\n\nSupervision: Provides the CFPB with authority to supervise BNPL lenders to spot violations before they spiral out of control.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), American for Financial Reform, and the Consumer Federation of America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-commends-law-enforcement-for-cracking-brown-university-shooting-case", "Reed Commends Law Enforcement for Cracking Brown University Shooting Case", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Brown shooting was a horrific tragedy. Even though the suspected gunman is dead, this continues to be a complex case with many remaining questions. More answers will come as the investigation continues, and more facts are uncovered. But tonight, I hope Rhode Islanders can breathe a little easier.\n\n\u201cI commend our law enforcement and public safety officials who worked non-stop to crack this case and keep the public safe. Their focus, skill, determination, and professionalism made all the difference.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re so grateful to the unified community response team that came together from all over to solve this case. We thank the men and women of the Providence Police Department, the FBI, the State Police, the ATF, and other partner agencies, officers, and experts who provided valuable assistance, as well as the Mayor, the Attorney General, the Governor, and all who supported this criminal investigation and the community response.\n\n\u201cTwo amazing young people \u2013 Brown students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook \u2013 were tragically taken from us. Their lives were cut short, several others were wounded by the gunman, and many more in the Brown community and our state have invisible scars from this tragedy. We are here for all of them. We\u2019re rallying to uplift them and support their family and loved ones.\n\n\u201cTonight\u2019s outcome is a step toward healing, but the investigation continues and the road ahead is difficult. We remain focused on public safety. All of us are challenged to think about what we can do as individuals and collectively to ensure other communities don\u2019t feel the same sense of loss and heartbreak that we\u2019re feeling.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-congressional-investigation-of-trumps-boat-strike-campaign", "Reed Statement on Congressional Investigation of Trump\u2019s Boat Strike Campaign", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement regarding the ongoing congressional inquiries into the Trump Administration\u2019s military operations in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific:\n\n\u201cI remain entirely dissatisfied with the Trump Administration\u2019s engagement with Congress regarding its boat strike campaign in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The Senate Armed Services Committee has been denied basic information, documents, and answers from the Department of Defense about this campaign.\n\n\u201cFor months, in multiple briefings, the Department omitted the fact that there were two survivors in the initial September 2nd strike. We learned the circumstances of the strike from press reports. That is completely unacceptable. Given the repeated lack of transparency from the Department in this instance and others, it is imperative that we receive the requested materials covering this operation.\n\n\u201cI appreciate the partnership of my colleagues on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees for exercising oversight and holding multiple briefings the past several weeks, but much more work remains. In particular, given the continued questions surrounding the September 2nd strike, there should be additional congressional inquiries and an independent command investigation to understand all of the facts and garner lessons learned.\n\n\u201cI would reiterate the need for DOD to provide documents and information requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee, including several that are required by existing law and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, including:\n\nThe Execute Orders guiding these operations;\n\nUnedited video of all strikes;\n\nThe updated legal and policy framework reports;\n\nAll audio, transcripts, and chat logs of communications between commanders, aircraft, and others involved in the Sept. 2nd strike;\n\nRegular staff briefings on the operations;\n\nResponses to dozens of written follow-up questions seeking clarification of initial notifications; and\n\nUpdated costs of the operations.\n\n\u201cI respect the difficult and dangerous missions that we ask of our servicemembers, and all Americans should be grateful for their sacrifice.\n\n\u201cBut the United States military answers to the American people. Congress has not authorized any armed conflict, yet the Trump Administration is undertaking military operations in America\u2019s name, under circumstances where there is no imminent military threat to the country, and Congress \u2013 the representatives of the people \u2013 deserves answers. I will continue to press the Department of Defense and my colleagues in Congress for the transparency this Administration owes the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/congress-passes-ndaa-to-strengthen-national-security-and-boost-ri-jobs", "Congress Passes NDAA to Strengthen National Security & Boost RI Jobs", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The U.S. Senate today voted 77-20 to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (S.1071). The measure previously passed the full U.S. House of Representatives and now goes to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion for both the military and the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s nuclear weapons programs.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says the bill will strengthen and safeguard the nation, benefit U.S. troops and their families, improve the U.S. Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) acquisition process, and boost Rhode Island\u2019s economy \u2013 bringing more good-paying jobs to the Ocean State.\n\n\u201cThis bill strengthens military readiness, revitalizes our industrial base, and provides our troops with a pay raise and the tools to deter and defeat adversaries,\u201d said Senator Reeed. \u201cThe bill bolsters America\u2019s posture toward China, reinforces our support for NATO and Ukraine, and ensures sustained support for key partners around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, with strong bipartisan backing it firmly pushes back against the executive branch\u2019s retreat to uphold U.S. security commitments. And it positions the Department of Defense to adapt to evolving threats while maintaining robust Congressional oversight.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA enhances existing defense programs and improves pay and benefits for servicemembers -- including a 3.8 percent pay increase for all servicemembers. It includes major investments in science and technology to advance cutting-edge research and concrete support for key U.S. allies and partners, including Ukraine.\n\nSenator Reed stated: \u201cThis NDAA is the result of a bipartisan and bicameral compromise. It isn\u2019t perfect, but it makes a lot of needed improvements that will help strengthen America\u2019s economic, industrial, and military might. It invests in our servicemembers by increasing their pay and it protects civilian DOD employees too. It includes major quality of life enhancements in areas like childcare, housing, education, and more. The acquisition reforms will help speed the development and fielding of new systems and technology to our forces on the front lines. And it authorizes critical investments in technology and advanced weapons systems; strengthens our cyber capabilities and defenses; and bolsters innovative research and development efforts.\u201d\n\nSignificantly, the bipartisan bill reaffirms America\u2019s global leadership by extending the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and authorizing additional security assistance to European partners. It strengthens our alliances in Asia by authorizing full funding the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and bolsters activities relating to the security partnership among Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States, known as AUKUS. Importantly, the bill seeks to guard against reckless reductions in U.S. force posture in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.\n\nTo improve congressional oversight of the Pentagon, the NDAA compels the Secretary of Defense to follow the law and submit to Congress a number of reports he has deliberately withheld. Specifically, the bill cuts off portions of the Secretary of Defense\u2019s budget until he submits the execute orders and unedited videos of the boat strikes related to ongoing operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The bill asserts congressional authority over several other areas in which the Secretary has been negligent.\n\nNotably, this year\u2019s NDAA would repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was adopted in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq but subsequently used to underpin a host of military actions worldwide since 2002.\n\nRhode Island defense workers, contractors, and suppliers would benefit from shipbuilding funds to build the Columbia-class submarine and Virginia-class submarine. Thousands of Rhode Islanders make critical contributions to designing, engineering, and building these next generation submarines, which are made by General Dynamics Electric Boat.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA authorizes a $1.9 billion boost for the Virginia-class submarine program to ensure a two-per-year build rate. It also includes incremental funding authority for the Columbia-class submarine program to keep construction on track,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cAnd to strengthen our industrial base and boost wages for welders and shipyard workers at Quonset Point and Groton, Connecticut, and other places that help build submarines, it includes $615 million to help provide higher wages and workforce stability initiatives.\u201d\n\nIn April, the U.S. Navy signed an $18.4 billion contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat for production of two new Virginia-class fast attack submarines.\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, contribute to a defense industry that is boosting Rhode Island\u2019s economy and leading to advancements in technology and innovation.\n\nA report by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (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\nOther initiatives that benefit Rhode Island include authorizations of:\n\n$71.8 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$190 million for Military Construction funding for four projects at NUWC Newport:\n\n$40 million for Consolidated RDT&E Systems Facility;\n\n$73 million for Next Generation Secure Submarine Platform Facility;\n\n$40 million for Submarine Payload Integration Laboratory; and\n\n$37 million for Next Generation Torpedo Integration Lab.\n\nThe bill previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a vote of 312-112. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.\n\nWhile the NDAA authorizes federal funding, Congress must also appropriate spending through a separate Defense Appropriations bill. Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on defense.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-cosponsor-legislation-to-close-charleston-loophole_prevent-dangerous-gun-sales", "Reed & Whitehouse Cosponsor Legislation to Close Charleston Loophole & Prevent Dangerous Gun Sales", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 When it comes to the sale of firearms, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse say the rule should be simple: \u2018no background check, no sale\u2019 for all firearm transfers and purchases.\n\nIn an effort to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of people the law already says should not own them, Reed and Whitehouse joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 23 of their Senate colleagues on December 12 in introducing the Background Check Completion Act (S.3458). This legislation would end an exemption -- known as \u201cdefault to proceed\u201d -- that allows a sale to go forward if the background check process takes more than 72 hours.\n\nWhen a criminal background check indicates that a firearm purchaser may have a criminal record, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tries to determine whether the purchaser can legally buy a gun. If this process takes longer than 72 hours for those 21 years of age or older, or 10 days for those under 21, gun dealers can complete the sale even though there is a heightened risk that the purchaser is legally disqualified from purchasing a gun.\n\nThe gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly attack at Charleston\u2019s Emanuel AME Church. In that case, the church shooter was able to buy a .45 caliber handgun, even though he admitted to a disqualifying drug crime. But due to a bureaucratic processing error, the FBI was unable to confirm the admission, and the mandatory 72 hours elapsed, so the gun purchase went forward.\n\nCompanion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is led by U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (D-SC).\n\nAccording to Everytown for Gun Safety, background checks stop gun sales to criminals every day. Since 1994, these laws have blocked more than 5 million gun sales to people who could not legally own guns.\n\n\u201cBackground checks are effective, but only if they are allowed to be complete. Closing the Charleston loophole is a commonsense, overdue step to save lives and prevent guns from ending up in the hands of dangerous individuals who are ineligible to own them,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cSomeone who is ineligible to own a gun shouldn't be able to obtain one just because of an error or a three day shot clock running out. Congress should close this dangerous loophole and invest in modernizing the FBI background check interface to enhance public safety and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica faces constant tragic reminders of how devastating gun violence can be. We need to do everything we can to keep guns out of the wrong hands, including making sure no one can purchase a gun without a background check,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. \u201cThis commonsense measure to finally close a background check loophole is long overdue and will help save lives.\u201d\n\nThe Background Check Completion Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer.\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, Reed, and Whitehouse, the Background Check Completion Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe legislation has been endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, Brady, Sandy Hook Promise and Newtown Action Alliance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/us-senators-tell-vought-he-must-ask-for-cfpb-funding", "U.S. Senators Tell Vought He Must Ask for CFPB Funding", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In addition to filing an amicus brief challenging Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought\u2019s attempt to dismantle the agency by illegally denying it the funds it needs to operate, members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, led by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter directly to Acting Director Vought urging him to comply with the law and immediately ask the Federal Reserve for the maximum allowable amount to carry out the activities of the consumer watchdog agency.\n\nIn an effort to prevent the CFPB from fulfilling its statutory obligations to protect consumers from scams and predatory financial practices, Acting Director Vought is attempting to claim he cannot request funding because the Federal Reserve System is technically \u201cunprofitable.\u201d\n\nLawsuits are currently pending before Federal courts in DC and California against Acting CFPB Director Vought and the CFPB. The DC Court has already enjoined the CFPB from terminating some 2,400 employees and taking other specific actions in pursuit of Vought\u2019s goal of minimizing the CFPB while the lawsuit is pending.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDecember 16, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Russell Vought, Acting Director\n\nConsumer Financial Protection Bureau\n\n1700 G St. NW\n\nWashington, DC 20552\n\nDear Acting Director Vought:\n\nWe write to demand that you fulfill your obligation under the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has the resources it needs to operate. The law is simple and obvious. It requires the CFPB to request the funding it needs each year from the Federal Reserve, which is then required to transfer the requested amount from its \u201ccombined earnings.\u201d The CFPB\u2019s role is only to make the funding request, not to question the source of the funding.\n\nNonetheless, you have solicited a spurious opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Department of Justice to justify your position that the CFPB cannot seek funding from the Federal Reserve. Based on the OLC\u2019s disingenuous analysis that \u201ccombined earnings\u201d means profits and not revenues, the CFPB would be able to seek funding only in years in which the Federal Reserve happens to be profitable. It is laughable to argue that Americans should be protected from predatory lending and abusive financial practices only in years when the Federal Reserve makes an accounting profit. Indeed, three federal courts, including two within the Fifth Circuit, have considered this analysis and none of them has endorsed it.\n\nBut even under this discredited legal theory, there is no rationale for CFPB not to seek funding. According to both the Bank Policy Institute and the American Enterprise Institute, which have been highly critical of the CFPB, the Federal Reserve is on pace to turn a substantial profit this quarter of up to $2 billion. This amount far exceeds the CFPB\u2019s statutory funding cap. In other words, the Federal Reserve has ample \u201cprofits\u201d from which to meet the CFPB\u2019s funding needs.\n\nWe therefore request that you immediately submit a request to the Federal Reserve for the maximum allowable amount to carry out the activities of the CFPB, and we further request that you repudiate the OLC\u2019s opinion.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziners-statement-antisemitic-mass-shooting-sydney", "Magaziner\u2019s Statement on Antisemitic Mass Shooting in Sydney", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) today released the following statement in response to the antisemitic mass shooting terrorist attack at a Jewish holiday celebration in Sydney, Australia:\n\n\u201cToday, we woke up to news of another mass shooting, this one targeting Jews in Australia. This tragic event is a reminder that violent antisemitism continues to be a pressing global problem. May the memories of the victims be a blessing.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziners-statement-shooting-brown-university", "Magaziner\u2019s Statement on Shooting at Brown University", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), a 2006 graduate of Brown University, today released the following statement after the shooting on Brown University\u2019s campus:\n\n\u201cI am deeply saddened by the shooting that occurred today on Brown University\u2019s campus and am praying for the victims and their families. It is devastating that this tragedy struck so close to home today, targeting innocent members of the Brown Community as they prepared to head home for the holidays.\n\nI am grateful to the law enforcement and first responders who courageously responded to the scene and continue to work to find the shooter. I am in close contact with university and local officials to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of students and nearby residents. I urge everyone in the area to follow guidance from local law enforcement.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/bipartisan-ndaa-to-strengthen-national-security-and-boost-ri-jobs", "Bipartisan NDAA to Strengthen National Security & Boost RI Jobs", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "***VIDEO: SASC Ranking Member Reed delivers floor speech on FY26 NDAA***\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to strengthen military readiness, revitalize our industrial base, and provide our troops with a pay raise and the tools to deter and defeat adversaries, the U.S. Senate today voted 76-20 to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (S.1071). The measure already passed the full U.S. House of Representatives and is now on track for final passage by the full U.S. Senate later in the week.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted the bill authorizes $900.6 billion to strengthen and safeguard the nation, benefit U.S. troops and their families, improve the U.S. Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) acquisition process, protect civilian workers from arbitrary reductions in force, and boost Rhode Island\u2019s economy \u2013 bringing more good-paying jobs to the Ocean State.\n\nThe NDAA strengthens congressional oversight of the Administration, enhances existing defense programs, and improves pay and benefits for servicemembers -- including a 3.8 percent pay increase for all servicemembers. It includes major investments in science and technology to advance cutting-edge research and concrete support for key U.S. allies and partners, including Ukraine.\n\nSenator Reed stated: \u201cThis bipartisan, bicameral NDAA makes a lot of needed improvements that will help strengthen America\u2019s economic, industrial, and military might. It invests in our servicemembers by increasing their pay and it protects civilian DOD employees too. It includes major quality of life enhancements in areas like childcare, housing, education, and more. The acquisition reforms will help speed the development and fielding of new systems and technology to our forces on the front lines. And it authorizes critical investments in technology and advanced weapons systems; strengthens our cyber capabilities; and bolsters innovative research and development efforts.\u201d\n\nSignificantly, the bipartisan bill reaffirms America\u2019s global leadership by extending the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and authorizing additional security assistance to European partners. It strengthens our alliances in Asia by authorizing full funding the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and bolsters activities relating to the security partnership among Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States, known as AUKUS. Importantly, the bill seeks to guard against reckless reductions in U.S. force posture in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.\n\nTo improve congressional oversight of the Pentagon, the NDAA compels the Secretary of Defense to follow the law and submit to Congress a number of reports he has deliberately withheld. Specifically, the bill cuts off portions of the Secretary of Defense\u2019s budget until he submits the execute orders and unedited videos of the boat strikes related to ongoing operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The bill asserts congressional authority over several other areas in which the Secretary has been negligent.\n\nNotably, this year\u2019s NDAA would repeal the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was adopted in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq but subsequently used to underpin a host of military actions worldwide since 2002.\n\nRhode Island defense workers, contractors, and suppliers would benefit from shipbuilding funds to build the Columbia-class submarine and Virginia-class submarine. Thousands of Rhode Islanders make critical contributions to designing, engineering, and building these next generation submarines, which are made by General Dynamics Electric Boat.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA authorizes a $1.9 billion boost for the Virginia-class submarine program to ensure a two-per-year build rate. It also includes incremental funding authority for the Columbia-class submarine program to keep construction on track,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cAnd to strengthen our industrial base and boost wages for welders and shipyard workers at Quonset Point and Groton, Connecticut, and other places that help build submarines, it includes $615 million to help provide higher wages and workforce stability initiatives.\u201d\n\nIn April, the U.S. Navy signed an $18.4 billion contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat for production of two new Virginia-class fast attack submarines.\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, contribute to a defense industry that is boosting Rhode Island\u2019s economy and leading to advancements in technology and innovation.\n\nA report by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (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\nOther initiatives that benefit Rhode Island include authorizations of:\n\n\u2022 $71.8 million for Navy applied research on undersea warfare technologies, led by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC);\n\n\u2022 $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\u2022 $50 million in supplemental Impact Aid and $20 million in Impact Aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities; and\n\n$190 million for Military Construction funding for four projects at NUWC Newport:\n\n$40 million for Consolidated RDT&E Systems Facility;\n\n$73 million for Next Generation Secure Submarine Platform Facility;\n\n$40 million for Submarine Payload Integration Laboratory; and\n\n$37 million for Next Generation Torpedo Integration Lab\n\nThe bill previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a vote of 312-112. Now that cloture has been invoked by the U.S. Senate, the bill will be debated and then voted on for final passage.\n\nOnce it fully clears Congress, President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law. While the NDAA authorizes federal funding, Congress must also appropriate spending through a separate Defense Appropriations bill. Senator Reed is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on defense.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-ongoing-investigation-into-the-brown-university-shooting", "Amo Statement on Ongoing Investigation into the Brown University Shooting", "2025-12-14", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Brown University, Providence, and our entire state are continuing to reel from yesterday\u2019s tragic shooting. My thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the two students killed, those recovering at Rhode Island Hospital, and those impacted in our wider community.\n\nI am thankful that through the prompt action of law enforcement, a person of interest is in custody. Anyone with information regarding the shooting should submit it to the FBI tip website as investigators continue to build their case.\n\nWe have a long journey ahead. Resources are available, and my team and I stand ready to provide any and all possible federal support as the investigation continues.\n\nAs we begin to heal, we must stand together, support those affected, and strive towards a safe, secure community for all.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-shooting-at-brown-university", "Amo Statement on Shooting at Brown University", "2025-12-13", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "My thoughts are with the Brown University and Providence communities, and our extended Rhode Island family tonight. The loss of two lives is an unimaginable tragedy for their families. I am praying for the swift recovery of the victims that are currently hospitalized.\n\nThank you to law enforcement, first responders, and medical professionals who arrived to the scene so quickly. I wish them safety as they work to apprehend whomever is responsible for this shooting.\n\nThis is an active, evolving situation, so if you are on campus or in the neighborhoods nearby continue to shelter in place and follow instructions from local authorities. If you have information or security camera footage, call 911.\n\nThe scourge of mass shootings is a horrific stain on our nation. We must seek policies to ensure that these tragedies do not strike yet another community and no more lives are needlessly taken from us.\n\nThere are difficult days ahead, but we are stronger when we look out for one another.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-deadly-shooting-at-brown-university", "Reed Statement on Deadly Shooting at Brown University", "2025-12-13", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Tonight, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) released the following statement on the shooting at Brown University earlier today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building:\n\n\u201cThis is a horrific, active, and unfolding tragedy and it is important that everyone listens to law enforcement as they continue working to ensure the entire campus and surrounding community is safe and this threat is neutralized.\n\n\u201cWe are heartbroken for the victims, their families, and all those impacted. Brown\u2019s students and its neighbors are shaken. Some families, classmates, and loved ones are gathered together in hospital waiting rooms at this very moment waiting for updates on patients. We are with them in spirit. They will need the support of all us in the days ahead.\n\n\u201cAs the situation evolves, my office is in direct contact with the Mayor\u2019s office, university officials, and law enforcement, as well as some of the individuals impacted. As information comes in, I will continue to closely monitor the situation. The FBI and ATF are assisting and will work to ensure every federal resource required is available to assist the state, the City of Providence, and Brown University\u2019s police and public safety officials. We appreciate the hard work and professionalism of our first responders and hospital staff.\n\n\u201cEvery lead is being followed, every bit of video evidence reviewed, and the manhunt will relentlessly continue. Whoever did this must be captured and our efforts will not cease until justice is served.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-asks-doj-watchdog-to-probe-trump-admins-favorable-treatment-for-convicted-sex-offender-ghislaine-maxwell", "Reed Asks DOJ Watchdog to Probe Trump Admin\u2019s Favorable Treatment for Convicted Sex Offender Ghislaine Maxwell", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Donald Trump has a well-documented decades long relationship with federal inmate number 02879-509, a British socialite and child sex trafficker named Ghislaine Maxwell.\n\nOn July 2, 2020, the FBI tracked Ms. Maxwell to a secluded home in New Hampshire and arrested her. She was subsequently charged, convicted, and began serving a 20-year sentence for multiple counts of child sex trafficking in June of 2022. Now she is reported to be actively seeking a potential pardon or commutation of her sentence from the president.\n\nSince the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case was first investigated twenty years ago, it has centered on predators in power and the ability of the wealthy and well-connected to sexually abuse over 80 young women while avoiding accountability and escaping justice.\n\nNow, after his previous requests for information were ignored for months and stonewalled by the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is asking an independent watchdog at the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the unprecedented favorable treatment of federal inmate number 02879-509, who, despite being a sex offender who is just a few years into her sentence, has been transferred from a Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, to the minimum security Federal Prison Camp Bryan \u2013 better known as \u2018Club Fed\u2019 in Bryan, Texas.\n\nThe mysterious transfer came just days after extensive meetings with President Trump\u2019s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously represented Trump as his personal lawyer.\n\nSenator Reed wants the public to know: \u201cwho requested that Ms. Maxwell be transferred to a prison camp; identifying which officials granted approval; and specifying which rules or procedures were waived or invoked to effectuate the transfer.\u201d Reed is also asking the IG\u2019s office to determine \u201cwhether any DOJ officials played any role in, or engaged in any communication with BOP regarding, Ms. Maxwell\u2019s security designation and custody classification.\u201d\n\nThis month, DOJ officials requested that a Federal judge in New York release grand jury testimony from investigations into both Maxwell and Epstein. But the release of these materials would only amount to a fraction of the 300 gigabytes of Epstein-related material that DOJ and FBI officials themselves have previously stated they have in their possession, but have not yet been made publicly available.\n\nLast month, Congress enacted legislation requiring that DOJ release all unclassified documents, records, and communications related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell by December 19.\n\nThis is not the first time the media has reported on favorable behind the scenes treatment factoring into the Epstein case.\n\nAfter making a controversial deal in 2008 with the then-U.S. attorney in Miami -- who went on to become a cabinet member of President Donald Trump\u2019s first Administration \u2013 Jeffrey Epstein was convicted and sentenced in Florida on state prostitution charges even though federal prosecutors in South Florida had enough evidence to fill a 53-page federal indictment on sex trafficking charges and other crimes. Epstein served just 13 months before he was released. He was arrested again in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges.\n\nFull text of Reed\u2019s letter to the Acting Inspector General follows:\n\nMr. Don R. Berthiaume, Acting Inspector General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20530\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nI write to request that you open an investigation into the favorable treatment of convicted child sex trafficker and sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, including her transfer to a minimum security prison camp, following her meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 24.\n\nOn August 6 and October 23, I wrote to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall seeking a formal explanation for Ms. Maxwell\u2019s transfer along with any justifying documentation. Those letters are enclosed. He has yet to respond to the questions I raised in these letters. But on September 16, FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that BOP made the decision to transfer Ms. Maxwell.\n\nGiven the highly unusual circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxwell\u2019s transfer and the enactment of a bipartisan law championed by victims of Ms. Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein requiring disclosure of information regarding their criminal conduct, I ask that you open an investigation covering the following issues, among others:\n\n1. Identifying officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ), BOP, or elsewhere, who requested that Ms. Maxwell be transferred to a prison camp; identifying which officials granted approval; and specifying which rules or procedures were waived or invoked to effectuate the transfer.\n\n2. Determining whether any DOJ officials played any role in, or engaged in any communication with BOP regarding, Ms. Maxwell\u2019s security designation and custody classification.\n\n3. Determining whether, in connection with her meeting with Mr. Blanche or otherwise, any inducements, incentives, or conditions were offered to Ms. Maxwell concerning her treatment or her sentence. If so, specify what was required of Ms. Maxwell in return.\n\n4. Determining how frequently BOP independently exercises discretion to redesignate and reclassify inmates convicted of the same crimes as Ms. Maxwell in manner that results in a lower security level, and what role DOJ typically plays in BOP\u2019s exercise of this discretion.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-end-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-safeguard-fema-mitigation-program", "Reed & Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Safeguard FEMA Mitigation Program", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 For years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has provided communities across the country with resources to proactively fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters, such as building floodwalls, fortifying bridges, or protecting wastewater treatment facilities from floods. But the Trump Administration tried to unilaterally defund and dismantle the program.\n\nIn an effort to make it easier for communities across the nation to better protect critical, at-risk infrastructure and community assets from worsening natural disasters, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced a bipartisan bill that would reinstate the BRIC program and protect it against elimination in the future.\n\nThe Building Resilience and Stronger Communities Act (S.3403) reestablishes BRIC, protects it against future cancellation, and makes key changes to amplify the local impact of federal investments made through the program.\n\nEarlier this year, the Trump Administration attempted to cancel the BRIC program and prevent congressionally-appropriated BRIC funding from being distributed to states, claiming it was \u201cwasteful and ineffective.\u201d Today, a U.S. District Court judge stepped in to block the Administration\u2019s effort to terminate the program and claw back funding. As the legal process continues, Reed and Murkowski\u2019s bill will ensure the program is protected against future cancellation by requiring that FEMA administer the program, rather than leaving it as an option for the administration.\n\n\u201cAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to disaster preparedness, every dollar we proactively invest in boosting the resilience of our communities helps us save big in the long-term,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cI am pleased to team with up with Senator Murkowski on this bill and appreciate her leadership to help protect critical infrastructure. Our bipartisan legislation will reinstate and protect the BRIC program against future cancellation. At the same time, it will make it easier for Rhode Island\u2019s towns and cities of all sizes to leverage federal funds for projects that better protect their community assets, homes, and businesses and save taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\nSince 2020, BRIC has directed more than $4.5 billion in federal investments that have helped communities across the country prepare for natural disasters, reduce the impacts of disasters, promote long-term safety, and better steward taxpayer funds through proactive and wise investments. Through BRIC, local governments have been able to carry out essential projects such as elevating at-risk infrastructure, reinforcing bridges, and improving drainage systems.\n\nStudies have found that every dollar invested in resilience and preparedness save communities between $13 to $18 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact.\n\nThe legislation introduced by Senators Reed and Murkowski will make it easier for small communities to leverage BRIC funding. Commonsense reforms in the bill include increasing the federal cost-share for small projects and for efforts to protect critical facilities like hospitals, schools, police and fire stations, and power stations. The bill also expands eligibility to ensure tribal governments can access funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/republicans-block-the-lower-health-care-costs-act", "Republicans Block the Lower Health Care Costs Act", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 By a vote of 51-48, Senate Republicans today filibustered passage of the Lower Health Care Costs Act, a clean 3-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Despite picking up support from four Senate Republicans, the bill fell 9 votes short of clearing the filibuster\u2019s 60-vote threshold.\n\nThe Lower Health Care Costs Act, unanimously supported by Senate Democrats and Independents, would have ensured that consumers purchasing an ACA plan pay no more than 8.5 percent of their income on monthly health insurance premiums.\n\nForty-eight Senate Republicans voted against the bill, which means the ACA tax credits will expire at the end of the month absent a massive change on the part of Republicans and President Trump.\n\nIf that happens, roughly 24 million Americans will see the cost of their health care spike by an average of 114 percent, according to the non-partisan health research organization KFF. In Rhode Island, Republican obstruction of the bill means the state could lose $130 million in federal support, a sum that is not easily made up with a state-subsidized plan. Meanwhile, over 40,000 Rhode Islanders would face higher health care costs and up to 13,000 could lose coverage entirely, according to estimates from HealthSource RI.\n\nAdditionally, by forcing more Americans to lose their ACA health coverage, Republicans are also pushing the price of health insurance higher for everyone, as the remaining population on insurance will be sicker on average, a condition that health care experts often refer to as a worse \u201crisk pool.\u201d That makes it costlier for companies to insure the average policyholder. So as the Congressional Budget Office points out, the result of millions of consumers dropping their health insurance means that insurance will likely get more expensive for those who still have it.\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cCongress needs to lower health care costs, but Senate Republicans just voted to double people\u2019s health premiums overnight, destabilize the health care marketplace, and impose steep price increases on working Americans.\n\n\u201cBy denying people access to affordable, comprehensive care, and through their devastating Medicaid cuts, Congressional Republicans are increasing the odds of hospital and nursing home closures and making life more difficult for caregivers too.\n\n\u201cThe ACA works because it is cost-effective and benefits everyone. But under the Trump Administration, Republican attacks on affordable health care and the ACA have been relentless. Their so-called \u2018big ugly bill\u2019 cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and health programs. And now, at the same time the president is prioritizing $20 billion in taxpayer dollars to prop up Argentina\u2019s economy, he is pricing people out of their health coverage or forcing them to pay double just to keep what they already had.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump calls affordability a \u201choax.\u201d He is wrong. People understand this issue. They can feel the rising cost of health care and see their loved ones forced into untenable decisions. It is crystal clear who is on their side and who is putting the interest of billionaires ahead of working families.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t give up and Democrats won\u2019t stop working to make health care more affordable for all Americans. There is still time to pass a simple extension and prevent an avoidable health care crisis, but Congressional Republicans need to come to the table. I will continue pushing practical, people-first solutions to restore these tax credits, restrain cost increases across the health care system, and make the ACA more effective and affordable.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-secures-wins-for-rhode-island-in-annual-defense-bill-despite-legislation-falling-short-in-maintaining-bipartisanship", "Amo Secures Wins for Rhode Island in Annual Defense Bill, Despite Legislation Falling Short in Maintaining Bipartisanship", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) secured the passage of two bills through the House in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Amo\u2019s bills, the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) Improvement Act andthe Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act would strengthen our national security and diplomatic relations with long-time allies while supporting trade collaboration for Rhode Island businesses.\n\nHowever, due to the inclusion of language that does not reflect the longstanding tradition of protecting our national defense in a nonpartisan manner, Congressman Amo voted against the NDAA.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act missed the mark by including partisan provisions, though it included important wins for Rhode Island,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cI am glad that my bills to strengthen our alliances and uplift Rhode Island manufacturing were included, and I welcome the pay raise for troops, increased access to child care, and plans to improve facilities at Naval Station Newport. But we can and must do better to live up to our values and I look forward to improving the process of authorizing our defense and diplomatic enterprise, so it works for all Rhode Islanders in coming years.\u201d\n\nAmong the other wins, this year\u2019s legislation increases oversight by restricting funding for the Secretary of Defense\u2019s travel until the full, unredacted videos of all strikes that have occurred in Latin America are given to the full Congress, strengthens our support of democracy by continuing our support for Ukraine and Taiwan, and authorizes $20 billion in shipbuilding funding.\n\nHowever, the NDAA included problematic provisions the Congressman could not support including expanding the Department of Defense\u2019s ability to support Customs and Border Patrol in immigration crackdowns and failing to restore collective bargaining rights for the Department of Defense\u2019s civilian workforce, among others.\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo secured the inclusion of two pieces of legislation in the 2026 NDAA.\n\nIn August 2025, Amo introduced H.R. 5013, the bipartisan, bicameral AUKUS Improvement Act. The legislation will make it easier for manufacturers to collaborate on defense production with our allies in the AUKUS tripartite agreement. Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District is home to numerous manufacturers producing defense materials for the AUKUS partnership, including submarines and autonomous naval vessels.\n\nAmo introduced H.R. 6123, the Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act, in November 2025. The legislation would require reporting to ensure American diplomats in Australia have the resources they need to promote American political, economic, and national security interests.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-congressional-colleagues-warn-trumps-u-turn-on-ai-chip-sales-to-china-is-a-colossal-economic-and-national-security-failure", "Reed & Congressional Colleagues Warn Trump\u2019s U-Turn on AI Chip Sales to China is a \u201cColossal Economic and National Security Failure\u201d", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- In a potentially significant blow to U.S. national security, President Trump announced that his Administration is reversing course and will greenlight the sale of NVIDIA\u2019s powerful H200 chips to China, the second most powerful chip it currently produces. This is a major win for China\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities -- including AI-enabled military capabilities -- and a financial windfall for the chipmaker, but one that could come at a steep price for long-term U.S. interests and in the near term erodes a U.S. leadership advantage in advanced AI.\n\nThis week, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned President Trump\u2019s transactional maneuver and whether it is wise for the U.S. to lift the export controls and allow NVIDIA\u2019s advanced chips to supercharge China\u2019s AI factories, capabilities, and infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis flawed, transactional decision without a broader AI export control strategy could gift China\u2019s military key technology gains and seems completely divorced from any consideration of America\u2019s economic and national security interests,\u201d noted Reed.\n\nCongressional Republicans have also sounded the alarm. U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), the chairman of the House\u2019s Select Committee on Competition with China posted: \u201cThe CCP [Chinese Communist Party] will use these highly advanced chips to strengthen its military capabilities and totalitarian surveillance.\u201d\n\nSenator Reed joined several of his national security colleagues in panning the move as a \u201ccolossal economic and national security failure\u201d and noting the sale of these sensitive chips to China offers the Chinese military \u201ctransformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector.\u201d\n\nReed issued a joint statement with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee; Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS); Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance; Michael Bennet (D-CO), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee; and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, sounding the alarm:\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s announcement that it will allow the export of advanced H200 AI chips to China is a colossal economic and national security failure. The H200s are vastly more capable than anything China can make and gifting them to Beijing would squander America\u2019s primary advantage in the AI race.\n\n\u201cAccess to these chips would give China\u2019s military transformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector. Chinese AI giant DeepSeek said as recently as last week that the lack of access to advanced American-designed AI chips is the single biggest impediment to its ability to compete with U.S. AI companies. With this decision, President Trump is poised to remove that barrier.\n\n\u201cSenate Democrats and Republicans both know that the 21st century will be defined by whether the leading AI systems are built on values of free societies and free markets or the repressive, authoritarian values of the Chinese Communist Party. The Trump administration clearly doesn\u2019t grasp the urgency of this contest. President Trump must reverse course and recommit to preserving American dominance in AI,\u201d the eight U.S. senators stated.\n\nIn 2022, the Biden Administration imposed sweeping restrictions on sales of advanced chips to China. On December 8, President Trump reversed that policy and approved the sale of NVIDIA\u2019s H200 chips to \u201capproved customers\u201d in China, in exchange for 25 percent of the NVIDIA chip sale proceeds \u201cwill be paid to the United States of America,\u201d in some sort of profit-sharing deal. According to the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce is currently \u201cfinalizing the details\u201d of H200 sales and will allow other U.S. chip manufacturers to sell advanced chips to China.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-urges-republicans-to-put-politics-aside-extend-affordable-care-act-tax-credits", "Reed Urges Republicans to Put Politics Aside, Extend Affordable Care Act Tax Credits", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "***VIDEO: Sen. Reed delivers remarks urging Senate to pass bill extending key ACA tax credits***\n\nWASHINGTON, DC -- Ahead of this week\u2019s U.S. Senate vote to prevent health insurance premiums from skyrocketing for tens of millions of Americans, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is urging members of Congress to put politics aside and prevent massive cost increases to people\u2019s health premiums.\n\nEver since President Trump signed a law in July cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid that will hit families, seniors, hospitals, nursing homes, and more, Senator Reed has been working to try to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits and prevent roughly 24 million Americans from seeing a sudden spike in healthcare costs. Without the enhanced premium tax credits, ACA enrollees are facing average premium increases of 114 percent in 2026.\n\nMany consumers have been delaying their health enrollment this year, partly because of the uncertainty over whether Republicans would block renewal of the ACA tax credits. Now it\u2019s crunch time for Republicans who must decide before December 15th, if they are willing to help those wanting seamless health coverage starting on January 1, 2026 (note: you can shop for health coverage on Health Source RI through January 31, 2026 for coverage that starts later).\n\nSenator Reed and all Senate Democrats unanimously support a clean, three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits. But there\u2019s no agreement yet from Republicans, who have offered their own last minute proposal, which would force families off their current comprehensive insurance plans and onto junk plans that leave them at real risk of falling into crippling medical debt if they develop a chronic illness.\n\nIf Senate Republicans force the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of the year it will drive up costs and Rhode Island could lose $130 million in federal support, a sum that is not easily made up with a state-subsidized plan. Meanwhile, over 40,000 Rhode Islanders would face higher health care costs and up to 13,000 could lose coverage entirely, according to estimates from HealthSource RI.\n\nForcing people to go without health care does not save taxpayers money and ends up increasing costs for everyone as the remaining population on insurance will be sicker on average, a condition that health care experts often refer to as a worse \u201crisk pool.\u201d That makes it costlier for companies to insure the average policyholder. So as the Congressional Budget Office points out, the result of millions of consumers dropping their health insurance means that insurance will likely get more expensive for those who still have it.\n\nReed implored his colleagues not to set health care progress back and take affordable health insurance away from those who need it.\n\nSenator Reed noted that Congress has a responsibility to help protect families and ensure they can afford a health insurance plan that meets their needs, not force them to go without coverage, which ends up costing taxpayers more in the long run as greater numbers of people without health insurance seek uncompensated care in emergency rooms.\n\n\u201cWorking families are already struggling to get by and President Trump\u2019s tariffs are already raising the cost of living and increasing prices. If Republicans in Congress refuse to act, people in their states aren\u2019t going to be able to afford coverage. And without coverage, the sad fact is some will not survive. So I hope my Republican colleagues will listen to their constituents and act in their best interests,\u201d stated Reed.\n\nSenator Reed delivered a floor speech on the Senate floor where he shared stories from several constituents, including:\n\nJeffrey from Westerly, Rhode Island wrote this to me:\n\n\u201cI am a retiree on a fixed income purchasing my health insurance through HealthSource RI. Today, I received a letter in the mail from the State of Rhode Island outlining the shocking details comparing my 2025 medical insurance costs with those projected for 2026.\n\n\u201cTo give context, my current health insurance plan for my wife and I costs $1,181.86 per month, and after Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) of $896.58, we pay $285.28. The health insurance plan I have is projected to increase to $1,505.47 in 2026, for a 27.4% increase!! That in and of itself seems unconscionable with inflation running about 3% currently. However, the real kicker is that my tax credits are expected to expire and be $0 for 2026, which in real terms to me means that my health insurance monthly costs will skyrocket from $285.28 to $1,505.47, for a whopping increase of 428%!!!\u201d\n\nNino from Wakefield, Rhode Island similarly said:\n\n\u201cI just got my estimated charges for healthcare in 2026 from HealthSourceRI. My cost is going up by over 300%!!!\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t imagine how many of the 42 million Americans with ACA healthcare exchanges will lose their healthcare if the subsidies are not reinstated!\u201d\n\nLeigh wrote to me, saying:\n\n\u201c\u2026.[M]y insurance rates will climb on the marketplace from $773 to over $1300 and will be unaffordable. Without health insurance, I will die. I live with rare diseases that pose life threatening effects on a daily basis.\n\n\u201cWe have no spare funds for an increase in our health insurance. This administration is trying to take away the only thing that is keeping me alive. I am a productive member of society. I am a defense contractor, I am a graduate student. I am a dog mom. I am a neighbor, friend, and community advocate. I matter.\n\n\u201cPlease fight for me. Don't stop fighting for my ability to have health insurance and stay alive. If I go more than 3 days without meds, I can end up in the ER with a stroke. I need my job to afford meds. I need health insurance to be able to work. I need a graduate degree to keep my job. I'm supposed to graduate in Dec 2025 with a masters in system engineering. I need a car to get to school to get my degree. I need meds to drive my car.\u201d\n\nThese are real people facing impossible decisions about their health care. And it\u2019s not just happening in Rhode Island. There are people like Jeffrey, Nino, and Leigh in every state. And the tough choices they are facing are entirely avoidable. This bill we are about to vote on would do just that\u2026 prevent these drastic increases in health care costs\u2026 extend the tax credits\u2026 and provide certainty to everyone shopping for health care right now.\n\nThe Senate is scheduled to vote tomorrow on the extension of ACA tax credits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-hosts-federal-security-funding-forum-with-rhode-island-s-nonprofit-and-faith-based-organizations", "Amo Hosts Federal Security Funding Forum with Rhode Island\u2019s Nonprofit and Faith-Based Organizations", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) led a conversation about opportunities for faith-based and nonprofit organizations to apply for security funding through the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).\n\n\u201cEveryone should be able to gather, worship, and learn in safety. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we make sure groups apply to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cIt was great to see representatives from so many Rhode Island nonprofit organizations come out to learn more about the program and how they can access federal funding. I\u2019m going to keep fighting to stop Trump from cutting this program and make sure resources are available to protect our faith-based and nonprofits so all Rhode Islanders and Americans can live free of the fear of violence.\u201d\n\nCongressman Amo has consistently advocated for the essential security program. He co-led a letter of more than 78 House Democrats calling on the Trump administration to stop the pause in drawdown funding for the program and led a bipartisan effort supported by over 130 Members of Congress requesting $500 million for the NSGP for Fiscal Year 2026. The briefing was hosted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and attended by representatives from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIMA), refugee advocacy groups, charitable organizations serving vulnerable populations, and faith-based groups, as well as state and local leaders.\n\nBackground\n\nIn March, Congressman Amo co-led a letter signed by 79 Members of Congress that urged the Trump administration to lift a pause on drawdowns for federal grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), including the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).\n\nIn May, Congressman Amo led a letter signed by over 130 Members of Congress requesting $500 million in federal funding for the NSGP, the highest request since the creation of the grant program.\n\nLast year, alongside the Rhode Island Delegation, Congressman Amo delivered $2.2 million in federal funding to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island to protect faith-based institutions that have seen an uptick in threats in violence.\n\nThe NSGP provides funding for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. NSGP-eligible nonprofits are 501(c)(3) organizations determined to be at risk of a terrorist attack by DHS, with the input of the state emergency agencies. NSGP recipients may use funding for any of the following purposes:\n\n\"target hardening activities, including physical security enhancement equipment and inspection and screening systems\";\n\n\"fees for security training relating to physical security and cybersecurity, target hardening, terrorism awareness, and employee awareness\"; and\n\n\"any other appropriate activity, including cybersecurity resilience activities, as determined by the [DHS] Administrator.\"\n\nRhode Island nonprofits interested in NSGP funding can check the application deadlines and apply through the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/as-trumps-tariffs-jilt-american-farmers-and-consumers-his-proposed-bailout-could-make-things-worse", "As Trump\u2019s Tariffs Jilt American Farmers & Consumers, His Proposed Bailout Could Make Things Worse", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In a dubious effort to try and soften the blow to farmers negatively impacted by President Donald Trump\u2019s unilateral tariff taxes and reckless trade war maneuvers, the White House is planning a $12 billion farm aid package.\n\nAccording to news reports, much of the U.S. taxpayer funded aid -- $11 billion -- will be distributed in one time payments to major row crop farmers as a part of what the Trump Administration is calling \u201cbridge\u201d payments. The remaining $1 billion will go toward producers of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops.\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s tariffs are making things more expensive for average Americans. On the world stage, he\u2019s become an unreliable partner to our allies and an unstable force for trade. As a result, he\u2019s raising prices for consumers, undermining economic growth and holding back job creation and economic investment in the Grain Belt and across the country. Now, like an arsonist-firefighter who ignites a blaze in order to ride to the \u2018so-called rescue,\u2019 he is once again touting a bailout for farmers due to the financial catastrophe and market losses his chaotic policies created.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s \u2018farmageddon\u2019 tariff taxes have absolutely hammered family farmers by raising their costs and shrinking their foreign markets. His own Agriculture Department projects that U.S. crop receipts will hit an 18-year low this year, driven in large part by a Chinese boycott of American soybeans during this year\u2019s trade war. This half-baked bailout scheme to unequally return a fraction of the funds Trump\u2019s tariffs took from farmers and consumers is likely to be unevenly distributed and further distort the market. Instead of helping farmers and allowing them to compete on an even playing field, it could end up prolonging and exacerbating the economic downturn for rural America. The Trump Administration will pick winners and losers and small family farmers are the ones most likely to lose out while big agribusinesses and wealthy landowners cash-in. Our farmers want a chance to work and trade, not rely on more government aid.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, American consumers are left paying higher prices and get no relief. The president should work with Congress to help make things easier for farmers, not harder. Instead of turning America\u2019s grain belt into a rust belt, we need to win back customers for U.S. grown crops, not raise prices and make America less competitive.\n\n\u201cThe House should join the Senate in passing legislation that reins in Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs and the Supreme Court should make it clear the president has totally overstepped his bounds and exceeded his authority by imposing these sweeping and unjust import taxes.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Supreme Court could rule as soon as this month on the validity of the Trump Administration\u2019s so-called \u2018emergency tariffs.\u2019 President Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy blanket tariffs on goods from other countries. But Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government with oversight of taxation and spending -- not the president and the executive branch.\n\nThe U.S. Senate has repeatedly voted on a bipartisan basis to reject Trump\u2019s tariffs and support resolutions to terminate Trump\u2019s misuse of emergency powers to enact steep tariffs on American consumers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/republican-inaction-reed-rallies-support-for-vote-to-extend-key-aca-tax-credits-for-3-years", "Amidst Republican Inaction, Reed Rallies Support for Vote to Extend Key ACA Tax Credits for 3 Years", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI -- The U.S. Senate is set to vote this coming week on extending current Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for over 21 million Americans -- including about 40,000 Rhode Islanders -- through a clean three-year extension before they expire at the end of the year.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) supports the bill and is urging his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to renew the tax credits, which have helped millions of Americans afford to buy quality health insurance that meets their needs. If Republicans force the tax credits to expire, Americans across the country, regardless of where they get their health insurance, will face higher health costs and spiking premiums.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s imperative that Congress work to bring health care costs down, but President Trump\u2019s policies are forcing people to pay more to see a doctor or fill a prescription,\u201d said Senator Reed. \"Democrats are unified around lowering health care costs for working Americans and have put forth a plan to prevent the doubling of health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. If Republicans block this bill it will send premium costs soaring and could trigger a tidal wave of hospital shutdowns and nursing home closures. Republicans took nearly one trillion from Medicaid in their billionaire-first mega bill and now average working families are the ones who could soon pay the price.\u201d\n\nRegardless of whether Americans have employer-sponsored insurance or purchase it through the ACA, people across all income levels could face health care changes in 2026 if Republicans for federal insurance subsidies to expire and Trump\u2019s sweeping Medicaid cuts begin to take effect.\n\nThe enhanced ACA tax credits help Americans who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level pay for insurance. Without those subsidies, experts at HealthSource RI say many Rhode Islanders could see their average monthly health costs double, depending on their circumstances and level of coverage. HealthSource RI enrollees are projected to pay about $111 more per person per month unless Republicans in Congress join with Democrats to extend enhanced federal tax credits that are expiring at the end of the year.\n\nThe vote to extend the ACA tax credits was procured last month as part of negotiations to end the federal government shutdown.\n\nDemocrats would need the support of at least 13 Republican Senators in order to overcome a filibuster, and even if the full Senate passes the bill it is unclear whether House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would allow a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives before the end of the year.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are the only ones with a concrete plan. Not still distant \u2018concepts of a plan,\u2019 but an actual plan. Republicans have disparaged Obamacare since it first became law fifteen years ago. And for the last fifteen years, the law has grown more popular as people see how it works, even as Republicans try to sabotage it,\u201d said Reed. \u201cI am for comprehensive coverage, smart reforms, anything that actually improves the law and enhances people\u2019s lives and ensures they can afford the care they need. But I do not support this partisan blockade that is based on spite and will cost some families access to health care altogether. Republicans need to get their act together and get to work.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-colleagues-call-on-mcmahon-to-reverse-unlawful-attempts-to-dismantle-us-department-of-education-and-outsource-responsibilities", "Reed, Colleagues Call on McMahon to Reverse Unlawful Attempts to Dismantle U.S. Department of Education & Outsource Responsibilities", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) joined 35 of his Senate colleagues in taking U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to task for attempting to shirk her duties and unlawfully transfer core Department of Education responsibilities to the departments of Labor, Interior, State, and Health and Human Services. The Senators sent a letter slamming the Trump Administration\u2019s recent announcement that it has signed interagency agreements (IAAs) to illegally outsource core functions that students and their families rely on and called on the Secretary to reverse these latest steps that would further erode the Department of Education.\n\nThe 36 senators accused Secretary McMahon of creating \u201ceven more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families.\u201d\n\nToday, Senator Reed stated: \u201cAlmost 90 percent of Rhode Island children attend public schools. Making sure they are well-resourced is critical for children and our nation\u2019s economic future. The Trump Administration is shortchanging students and public schools nationwide. Trump\u2019s reckless education cuts and dismantling of the Department of Education are sowing chaos in the programs that support students from academics to mental health to preparing them to succeed in college. The Trump Administration isn\u2019t cutting red tape, it is cynically transferring responsibilities to other agencies, adding exponential layers of bureaucracy, and making it harder for taxpayers to get the services they pay for. Instead of focusing on how to improve their schools and meet their students\u2019 needs, local school districts will be forced to jump through new hoops and could be shuttled between three or four different federal departments \u2013 with little expertise in education and public school systems. This is not a streamlined way to get people the answers and information they need to access resources Congress has provided to support our students. This plan deserves an F because it is failure by design.\u201d\n\nThe letter notes: \u201cThe actions you announced on November 18th to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department\u2014including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding\u2014will undermine public education.\u201d\n\nThe letter continues: \u201cWe urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing. \u2026 Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case,\u201d added the senators.\n\nThe senators continued: \u201cUnfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges\u2014and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator Reed, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-ME), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nThe actions you announced on November 18 to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education (\u201cthe Department\u201d) are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department\u2014including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding\u2014will undermine public education. This is the latest example of this administration\u2019s complete lack of regard for our laws and its failure to provide the certainty, clarity, and stability that students and schools deserve when it comes to the federal government\u2019s approach and commitment to properly implementing federal education laws and appropriations.\n\nLet\u2019s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students. We expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing.\n\nThe Department of Education is the only federal agency whose sole mission is to help children learn and improve their educational outcomes. The Department delivers much-needed federal funding and enforces basic educational guardrails and civil rights protections so that every child can get the quality public education that they are entitled to under the law, no matter who they are or where they live. Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case. When Congress wants another agency to administer a program or function, it has expressly said so\u2014and in some cases, it has provided authority to transfer funds to allow this to happen. By contrast, Congress has not expressly authorized any other agency to administer the programs established under the previously mentioned laws, nor has it provided the authority for the Department to transfer these programs and associated funding to another agency.\n\nThe November 18 announcement outlines six interagency agreements (IAAs) with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to transfer major responsibilities out of the Department of Education. The authorities cited in the IAAs do not enable the Department to do an end-run around the relevant authorizing and appropriating statutes. For example, the Department cites the Economy Act to justify its use of the IAA framework. While the Economy Act is routinely used by other federal agencies to enter into IAAs for the procurement of discrete goods and services that a particular agency might have expertise in and authority to provide, such as DOJ\u2019s fingerprinting authority, this authority was never contemplated to allow the transfer of major program functions or entire offices to another agency with the express stated purpose of eventually dismantling the agency or putting the Secretary \u201cout of a job.\u201d Federal resources outlining the purpose of the Economy Act make this clear. This view is further affirmed by the Department\u2019s inability to cite a single instance of using this statute or any others in a similar way prior to this year.\n\nYou have expressed your interest in working with Congress on these issues, but these IAAs were developed in secret without outside input. The fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department makes no reference to administering these programs at other agencies and the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for example, makes no reference to administering them either. The Secretaries of Labor, Interior, State, and HHS have similarly never testified to Congress on how they would carry out and administer these critical education programs.\n\nSince you were nominated to lead the Department, you have routinely misled the public about the level of involvement the Department has long had in the day-to-day management of schools\u2014inaccurately suggesting that the Department was depriving states and families from making choices about their children\u2019s education, shackling teachers with burdensome regulations and paperwork and causing K-12 and college students to experience \u201cdrudgery caused by administrative burdens.\u201d On the basis of these false assertions, you have strangely claimed that we need to \u201cReturn Education to the States.\u201d In fact, states and local communities have\u2014since the founding of our republic\u2014had the primary responsibility for educating our students and the establishment of the Department in 1979 did nothing to change that fact. In fact, there are numerous federal laws that prevent the Department from being involved in the day-to-day decision making in schools and colleges as it relates to curriculum, teaching, and programs.\n\nUntil your arrival at the Department, its role has been to provide funding, support, and oversight as authorized by federal education laws to ensure students from all walks of life and in every part of the country can get a high-quality public education. The Department\u2019s programs ensure that parents get timely, accessible information about how their kids\u2019 schools are doing. They ensure students with disabilities\u2019 rights are enforced, so that they can get the education they are entitled to. The Department administers programs to help under-resourced rural school districts and allocates Impact Aid for more than 1,000 school districts with a reduced revenue base or increased costs due to a federal presence, such as a military base. It also administers programs to help first-generation and low-income students pursue and succeed in college. These are just a select few examples of the indispensable supporting role that the federal government\u2014and the Department, in particular\u2014plays in advancing educational outcomes for students.\n\nTo justify these new IAA\u2019s, you say federal funding will keep flowing to states, school districts, and colleges. But we have already seen funding held up and seriously delayed because of this administration\u2019s chaotic changes\u2014and its extreme policies\u2014and the moves you announced last week are certain to further jeopardize these funds.\n\nYou claim these actions will improve student achievement, yet your actions will significantly weaken federal monitoring of states\u2019 K-12 accountability and school improvement systems. Before Congress mandated that states develop these systems with key guardrails in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, several states had weak or no school improvement systems, which allowed vulnerable students to slip through the cracks. As part of ESEA and subsequent appropriations directives, Congress has charged OESE with improving state compliance in state and local school report cards requirements, school improvement, and more. But without the staff expertise from OESE, it is likely that DOL will be ineffective in holding states accountable for improving student outcomes.\n\nThe Department also provides deep policy expertise to ensure programs support improved student outcomes, such as through expert guidance to colleges and universities to improve college access, retention, and completion through programs like TRIO, GEAR UP, the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program, and others. Now, DOL, who lacks the necessary expertise, is tasked with managing these programs and students will suffer as a result.\n\nDOL has no prior experience in administering education programs at this scale and complexity and will need to develop the capacity and processes to allot billions of dollars in funding to state and local educational agencies. States will also have to make changes to receive any funds distributed through DOL\u2019s grant system while continuing to draw down prior year grant funding in the Department\u2019s system. Your IAA also seems to suggest the Department will still retain some authorities over Title I-A, which means that states will now have to work with two federal agencies when they need help navigating this complex and absolutely critical program. These changes solve exactly zero problems but manage to create an onslaught of new ones. We are very concerned that these changes will mean funds our constituents rely on will not continue to flow as intended under federal education laws.\n\nIn addition to its scope and complexity, the Title I-A program primarily funds instruction and activities in elementary schools. We do not believe kindergartners or other elementary school students should be the focus of efforts to integrate workforce programming and education activities, activities that are better suited to older students. Instead of improving students\u2019 readiness for the workforce, the move of Title I-A to DOL is much more likely to deprive states and school districts of the technical assistance and support they need to effectively implement federal education funding in their schools and provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students.\n\nDOL already has a comprehensive workload to support the nation\u2019s workers and workforce programs. It is authorized and funded to administer workforce training and enforce worker protection programs for which Congress appropriates $13.5 billion in discretionary funding annually, including for roughly a dozen workforce training grant programs totaling approximately $4 billion in annual funding. In addition to lacking the subject area expertise needed to administer the Department\u2019s programs, DOL does not have the grant administration capacity to take on the work outlined in the IAA; the approximately $30 billion in the Department\u2019s funding across approximately 50 discrete formula and competitive education grant programs that you seek to transfer now to DOL dwarf its current grant administration and oversight work. Transferring basic and significant responsibilities for administering education programs to DOL creates very significant risks of delays in funding and other administrative challenges for states, school districts, institutions of higher education, and other organizations through Impact Aid, rural education programs, afterschool programs, TRIO, and foundational education formula grant programs that tens of thousands of schools count on to help provide a quality education to millions of students.\n\nUnfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges\u2014and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL. In fact, as your own staff reportedly concluded in its analysis after this transfer, \u201cThe size and scope of OCTAE's programs are miniscule [sic] compared to other [Education Principal Operating Components] and programs\u2026Larger formula grants and competitive grants are going to be much more difficult to migrate.\u201d States and districts faced delays in accessing their Perkins CTE funding, and advocates report delays in guidance and training issued by DOL. Moreover, a CTE expert recently testified before the House of Representatives, \u201cAt a time of scarce resources, it\u2019s hard to understand why the Department is paying Labor to do work that it can do for itself.\u201d The fiscal year 2025 funding level for Perkins CTE and adult education was $2.18 billion, whereas the other programs DOL will now be responsible for are funded at roughly $30 billion. If the administrative costs balloon under these new IAAs as the administrative costs under the CTE IAA have, not only will these IAAs be terrible for students, their families, and educators, they will also be a catastrophic waste of time and money for the American taxpayer.\n\nThe Department has provided no substantive detail or even basic information about how the significant changes envisioned by these IAAs would be implemented. The other federal agencies that will suddenly have significant responsibilities in administering billions in education funding\u2014have provided no information about their roles or their capacity to carry out these programs and activities. The plan seems clear\u2014to jam these changes through for a talking point, whatever the consequences may be for states, school districts, schools, students, and families.\n\nWe once again demand that you reverse these detrimental plans and refocus your efforts on supporting state and local efforts by properly implementing federal laws intended to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, especially those who count on the Department doing its job most.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-whitehouse-and-kelly-want-airlines-that-cause-cancellations_delays-to-compensate-passengers-with-cash", "Reed, Whitehouse & Kelly Want Airlines That Cause Cancellations & Delays to Compensate Passengers with Cash", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "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 require airlines to provide financial compensation to passengers if air carriers cause significant delays, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse are teaming up with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and a dozen of their colleagues to introduce the Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act (S.3347).\n\nThis new legislation would better protect passengers by requiring airlines to provide cash compensation and free rebooking for passengers facing significant delays or cancellations caused by the airline. The bill would also direct the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to mandate airlines reimburse passengers for hotels, meals, and transportation to lodging as a result of flight disruptions, regardless of the cause of the delay.\n\nThe Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act comes in response to the Trump Administration\u2019s cancellation of a popular consumer protection rule in the making that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for preventable travel cancellations or delays.\n\n\u201cFlying is already stressful and expensive. Airlines have to be accountable when they cost the American people money and travelers are left stranded,\u201d said Senator Kelly. \u201cWe\u2019re working to make sure that passengers are protected so that cancellations and delays don\u2019t cost them money out of their own pockets.\u201d\n\n\u201cTravelers shouldn\u2019t have to foot the bill for airline-caused flight delays or cancellations. This bill would require DOT to reinstate common-sense compensation for passengers when they experience lengthy flight delays or cancellations within the airline\u2019s control,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cAir travel disruptions cost passengers time, aggravation and money,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cOur commonsense legislation would hold airlines accountable for disruptions, providing travelers cash compensation and fair reimbursements when travel plans get fouled up, and giving airlines more incentive not to foul them up in the first place.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Kelly, Reed, and Whitehouse, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumental (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-WA).\n\nMultiple consumer and air traveler advocates are supporting the legislation:\n\n\u201cDelays and cancellations are far and away the Number 1 complaint of airline passengers. Most are due to causes within airline control such as lack of airworthy equipment, flight personnel or not enough paying passengers, not weather or air traffic control. FlyersRights, the largest airline passenger organization, believes delay compensation is essential to improve air travel reliability and endorses the subject legislation. Delay compensation is the norm outside the US. Recent studies show major increases in lengthy delays is accelerating,\u201d said FlyersRights President Paul Hudson.\n\n\u201cAt a time when this DOT appears to be abandoning the public, it\u2019s critical for Congress to step up,\u201d said National Consumers League Senior Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. \u201cThis bill would bring consumer protections for flying into the 21st Century and in line with those found in many international jurisdictions. There\u2019s no reason an American airline should provide better care for its passengers when departing from Frankfurt while still denying those same basic accommodations for flights out of Phoenix.\u201d\n\nUnder the Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act, the DOT would be required to issue regulations that:\n\nRequire the DOT to establish an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that includes consumer protection groups to develop recommendations for how to implement rules that would require air carriers to provide consumers experiencing significant flight disruptions cash compensation, free rebooking, and reimbursements for passenger care needs such as meals, lodging for overnight delays, and transportation to and from lodging;\n\nRequire the ARC to develop recommendations for passenger compensation in alignment with foreign standards, including the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) Air Passenger Protection Regulations and Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council;\n\nSet a baseline standard of compensation of at least $300 for a delay of more than 3 hours but less than 6 hours; and at least $600 for a delay of 6 hours or more;\n\nDirect DOT to undertake a rulemaking to implement the ARC recommendations within 90 days after the ARC report is submitted; and", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-introduces-bipartisan-legislative-package-to-protect-consumers-from-surging-scams-and-financial-fraudsters", "Amo Introduces Bipartisan Legislative Package to Protect Consumers from Surging Scams and Financial Fraudsters", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to combat scams, the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act and the Strengthening Task Forces to Oppose Predatory (STOP) Scams Against Seniors Act.\n\n\u201cToo many Rhode Islanders have been taken for a ride by scammers skimming their pockets and stealing their hard-earned money, leaving many devastated and destitute,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce these bipartisan measures, one of which is also bicameral, to ensure we are addressing the rising scam threat in a coordinated and strategic manner. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate as the national strategy is developed to keep fighting scammers and keep Rhode Islanders money where it belongs, in their pockets.\"\n\n\u201cToo many seniors are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated financial scams,\u201d said Congressman Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), House co-lead of the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act. \u201cStrengthening our Elder Justice Task Forces gives law enforcement the tools they need to better protect older Americans and hold these criminal organizations accountable. I\u2019m proud to join this effort to help safeguard some of our most trusting citizens.\u201d\n\n\"As a former state attorney general, nothing makes my blood boil more than crooks and scam artists who rip off billions of dollars each year from Americans, particularly our seniors,\u201d said Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-KS) House co-lead of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act. \u201cToo often, the alphabet soup of federal agencies assigned to protect Americans from scammers get stuck in their individual silos of responsibility and jurisdiction. Our bill is aimed at coordinating the federal response to scams and improving the cooperation among the authorities that are supposed to stop them.\"\n\n\u201cLast year alone, Americans lost over $16 billion to scams. That\u2019s a staggering amount of money that\u2019s been stolen from our families, our neighbors, and, disproportionately, our seniors,\u201d said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate co-lead of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don\u2019t get scrooged this holiday season. It\u2019s clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would establish a federal working group led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to coordinate the efforts of more than a dozen federal agencies in combating scams. The bill is co-led by Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-KS) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).\n\nThe bipartisan STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, introduced in the House, would authorize the creation of Elder Justice Task Forces to help local, state, and Federal agencies work together to investigate and prosecute illegal scammers. The bill is co-led by Congressman Jeffersen Shreve (R-IN).\n\nBackground\n\nRhode Island has seen a surge in scams targeting seniors in recent years. According to the FBI, victims in Rhode Island lost $6,309,411 to senior fraud in 2024.\n\nThis year, Congressman Amo launched the bipartisan Stop Scams Caucus to protect Americans from financial fraud, cyber scams, and cross-border criminal networks. The caucus serves as a hub in Congress to safeguard Americans' hard-earned dollars.\n\nIn January, Amo convened a roundtable conversation at the Middletown Senior Center with Rhode Islanders about preventing being defrauded.\n\nOn October 29, 2024, Congressman Amo sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina M. Khan \u200b\u200brequesting assistance to address fraud and scams affecting seniors in Rhode Island and across the country.\n\nThe Strengthening Task Forces to Oppose Predatory (STOP) Scams Against Seniors Act is endorsed by the AARP, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, the Financial Technology Association (FTA), Operation Shamrock, the National Crime Prevention Council, the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, and the Stop Scams Alliance.\n\nRead the full bill text here. A letter of support for the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act from the AARP can be found here.\n\nThe National Strategy for Combating Scams Act is endorsed by the AARP, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, the Financial Technology Association (FTA), Justice in Aging, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), the National Crime Prevention Council, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA), the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA), the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), Operation Shamrock, and the Stop Scams Alliance. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Meta also support the bill.\n\nRead the full bill text here. A letter of support from the AARP for the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act can be found here.\n\nAdditional quotes in support of the bills can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-welch-lead-bicameral-bill-to-update-and-expand-social-security-survivor-benefits-provide-financial-relief-to-families", "Amo, Welch Lead Bicameral Bill to Update and Expand Social Security Survivor Benefits, Provide Financial Relief to Families", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act, bicameral legislation to adjust benefits for the first time in over 70 years to cover costs associated with cremation or burials for surviving family members by increasing the Social Security Administration\u2019s (SSA) lump-sum death benefit to account for inflation. Beginning in 2026, survivor benefits would increase from $255 to $2,900.\n\nThe legislation would index the SSA death benefit to the Consumer Price Index to ensure this benefit is aligned with other Social Security benefits, such as Cost-of-Living Adjustments.\n\n\u201cFamilies experiencing a loss should not have to struggle to afford a funeral for their loved one,\u201d said Congressman Amo. \u201cI'm proud to introduce the Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act with Senator Peter Welch to raise the amount a family can receive to help cover end of life costs for the first time in 70 years and index the benefit to inflation going forward. I will keep fighting in Washington to lower costs for Rhode Islanders, including at the most difficult moments.\u201d\n\n\u201cFuneral costs should be the last thing on the minds of grieving families when they lose a loved one. But because benefits designed to help folks afford funeral expenses haven't kept pace with inflation, the cost of burying a loved one has become top of mind for many mourning families,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis commonsense bill, inspired by the experiences of Vermonters, will update Social Security death benefits to help alleviate financial burdens for families following the loss of a loved one.\u201d\n\nSenators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ed Markey (D-MA) are cosponsors of the legislation.\n\n\u201cThis bill will modernize an important feature of Social Security to give families real financial relief and dignity as they grieve a loved one,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI\u2019m glad to join my good friend Congressman Amo on legislation that further strengthens Social Security for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump's chaotic tariffs and skyrocketing costs are already squeezing American families\u2014 losing a loved one shouldn\u2019t be the reason they go broke,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cDemocrats are fighting hard to expand benefits and provide relief so families can stay afloat.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur legislation eases the burden of funeral expenses for American families by adjusting Social Security benefits associated with burials and cremation to account for rising costs. Families grieving a loved one should receive increased Social Security benefits to alleviate the crushing financial burden and stress of burial expenses,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cDespite Social Security\u2019s lump-sum death benefit remaining stagnant at $255 for over 70 years, the costs of funerals have increased ten-fold, costing thousands of dollars for grieving families,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cNo one should have to worry about increasing funeral expenses, especially after losing a loved one. This legislation would make long-overdue updates to our Social Security system to ensure survivor benefits reflect the financial and emotional challenges families face during the loss of a family member.\u201d\n\n\u201cA death in the family is already one of life\u2019s hardest moments. The Social Security death benefit exists to ease stress for survivors making final arrangements for loved ones, but this benefit hasn\u2019t been updated in decades. The Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act increases benefits to reflect costs and lowers the burden for families in grief,\u201d said Senator Markey.\n\nThe Social Security Administration provides a lump-sum death benefit to survivors of a beneficiary in the event of their death to help families offset funeral costs. The lump sum payment, which is provided to surviving spouses, dependent children under 18, or children with disabilities, was capped at $255 in 1954.\n\nIn the 1950s, a full memorial and cremation service cost around $700. In Vermont, the average cost for a funeral with a viewing and cremation is $7,023. Nationwide, the median cost of a funeral with a viewing is $8,300, while the average cost for a funeral with cremation is $6,280. Despite this increase in cost, the SSA\u2019s lump-sum death benefit has remained stagnant at $255.\n\nThe Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act is endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans; American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Justice in Aging; National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; National Organization of Social Security Claimants\u2019 Representatives (NOSSCR); Social Security Works; Strengthen Social Security Coalition; and the Women\u2019s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER).\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been 70 years since Social Security's lump-sum death benefit, currently $255, was last increased. This bill raises the benefit to $2,900 and indexes it to inflation, to better reflect the cost associated with burying a loved one,\u201d said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director, Alliance for Retired Americans. \u201cGrieving families deserve more meaningful assistance at a difficult and painful moment in their lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE is proud to support Senator Welch\u2019s Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act. This long-overdue legislation would raise the Social Security death benefit to help keep family members from being impoverished by basic funeral expenses for a loved one. It is the least we can do as we continue to pursue the modernization of Social Security - the greatest anti-poverty program the country has ever known,\u201d said Everett B. Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE).\n\n\u201cWorking families are being squeezed by rising costs on every front, and if tragedy strikes, this financial strain can become overwhelming. The Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act will bring meaningful relief to families when they need it most, finally adjusting these benefits for inflation for the first time in more than 70 years. AFSCME members know how easily a family can slip into poverty after losing a loved one, and they see every day how critical this lifeline can be. We thank Sens. Welch, Sanders and Warren for easing the financial burden on families so they can move forward with dignity,\u201d said Lee Saunders, President, AFSCME.\n\n\u201cThe death of a spouse or parent brings profound economic pain for families that only adds to the stress of grieving. The Social Security lump-sum survivor benefit was created to help but remains meager and has completely failed to keep up with the cost of living. Sen. Welch\u2019s Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act would finally increase the lump-sum death benefit from $255 to $2,900 and index it to inflation. It\u2019s a compassionate move that would make a huge difference for people grappling with loss\u2014and it\u2019s simply the right thing to do. We fully support it and urge Congress to pass it,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, President, AFT.\n\n\u201cAmong the lesser known and utilized benefits provided under the Social Security Act is a lump-sum amount payable upon the death of a beneficiary which was intended to help the surviving family pay for a beneficiary\u2019s funeral expenses. The last time the amount was adjusted was seventy years ago, when funerals only cost about $700. The Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act would adjust the death benefit to account for inflation, providing some relief to families facing financial and emotional burdens following the death of a loved one. Increasing the level would also provide an incentive for more families to claim the benefit, thus advancing the President\u2019s goal of increased accuracy in timely and accurate reporting of the death of Social Security beneficiaries,\u201d said Max Richtmann, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.\n\n\u201cFor decades, the Social Security lump-sum death benefit has remained virtually unchanged, failing to reflect the realities families face when a loved one passes away. By updating and indexing this payment to inflation, Senator Welch\u2019s legislation ensures that Social Security continues to provide meaningful, timely support to surviving spouses and families at one of the most difficult moments in their lives. NOSSCR appreciates Senator Welch\u2019s leadership in modernizing this vital but long-overlooked aspect of the Social Security program,\u201d said Betsy Rosecan, Government Relations Director, NOSSCR.\n\n\u201cWhen families lose a loved one, the last thing they should have to worry about is how they will pay for the funeral. Social Security includes a lump-sum death benefit, which should help to cover those costs. However, the value of that benefit has greatly deteriorated. Shockingly, the last time it was increased was almost three-quarters of a century ago. Social Security Works enthusiastically endorses the Social Security Benefits Equity Act, which restores this important component of Social Security so that it once again provides peace of mind during life's most difficult moments. The American people owe Senator Welch an enormous debt of gratitude for this important legislation,\u201d Nancy J. Altman, President, Social Security Works.\n\n\u201cThis bill is important for widows who are worried about outliving their savings and ending up without resources at the end of their lives,\u201d said Cindy Hounsel, President, Women\u2019s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER).\n\nLearn more about the Social Security Survivor Benefits Equity Act of 2025.\n\nRead the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/as-book-bans-spread-reed-and-grijalva-introduce-right-to-read-act-to-boost-literacy_strengthen-school-libraries", "As Book Bans Spread, Reed & Grijalva Introduce Right to Read Act to Boost Literacy & Strengthen School Libraries", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Literacy opens the door for lifelong opportunity and economic success. To make sure this door is open to every child, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) introduced the Right to Read Act, which will close gaps in access to school library resources and surge federal investment in support of increasing student literacy across America.\n\nIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, reading scores for American nine-year-olds have dropped to their lowest point since 1990.\n\nResearch consistently shows that access to school libraries makes a big difference in giving kids the skills and inspiration they need to become proficient and enthusiastic readers. Students who utilize their school libraries have 73 percent higher literacy rates than their peers who do not. However, not every student has access to a school library or school librarian.\n\nThe Department of Education\u2019s National Center for Education Statistics reports that about 8,830 public schools across America do not have a school library. For schools that do, nearly 17,000 do not have a full- or part-time librarian. Vulnerable students face even greater disadvantages in accessing strong school library programs, with students experiencing the highest levels of poverty being 30 percent more likely to not have a school library at all.\n\nSchool libraries are most effective when they offer resources that resonate, engage, and empower students. Yet, during the 2024-2025 school year, PEN America recorded 6,870 instances of book bans across 23 states and 87 public school districts. Since 2021, the organization has tracked nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools.\n\nThe Right to Read Act will help close these gaps, ensuring that students have evidence-based reading instruction, well stocked and staffed school libraries, family literacy programs, a wide range of reading materials, and the freedom to choose what to read. It also addresses the information digital literacy needs of today\u2019s students. The bill goes further to strengthen effective school libraries by investing in recruiting and retaining state-certified school librarians and supporting staff working to broaden access to library collections.\n\n\u201cOur students deserve to have an education that prepares them for future success. Decades of research tells us that strong school library programs help our students improve test scores, deepen their understanding of key topics, and achieve higher graduation rates,\u201d said Senator Reed, the leading champion for libraries in Congress. \u201cThe Right to Read Act makes sure that every student across America has access to the opportunities that literacy provides them through high-quality, appropriately staffed school libraries and a wide range of books and reading material to choose from.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former school board member, I\u2019ve seen how libraries can spark confidence, curiosity, and opportunity for our children,\u201d said Congresswoman Grijalva. \u201cBut today, thousands of students \u2013 especially those in our highest-poverty schools \u2013 don\u2019t have access to a library or a certified librarian. At the same time, politically-motivated book bans are limiting the stories and ideas students can explore. Books open doors; censorship closes them. The Right to Read Act tackles these inequities head-on by investing in evidence-based literacy, rebuilding and staffing school libraries, and defending every child\u2019s right to read.\u201d\n\nThe Right to Read Act would reauthorize the Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant program at $500 million and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program at $100 million.\n\nThis legislation reaffirms that first amendment rights apply to school libraries in response to the alarming trend of book banning, and it protects school librarians and other educators in carrying out their duty to protect students\u2019 right to read.\n\nIn addition to Senator Jack Reed and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in the Senate and U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and Summer Lee (D-PA-12) in the House.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), as well as the American Federation of Teachers, PEN America, Reach Out and Read, the National Education Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).\n\n\u201cSchool librarians and media specialists uplift students every school day across our nation\u201d said American Library Association President Sam Helmick.\u201d Librarians help students learn to read and inspire them to read to learn. The Right to Read Act strengthens the resources they depend on, ensuring every student has early, equitable access to up-to-date books, technology, and expert guidance. We applaud Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Adelita Grijalva for championing this essential legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe evidence is clear: well-resourced school libraries and certified school librarians are not optional, they are foundational to student success,\u201d said American Association of School Librarians President Amanda Kordeliski. \u201cMore than fifty years of research across over sixty studies show that students with access to full-time, state-certified librarians and robust collections consistently perform better academically. When we invest in school librarians, we are investing in equity, literacy, and the future of our communities.\"\n\n\u201cAs educators, we know that reading opens the world for kids. Literacy is fundamental to student success, empowerment and a strong democracy. The Right to Read Act ensures students have access to evidence-based reading instruction and a well-stocked school library. The legislation shares our goal of encouraging a love of reading and ensuring teachers, paraprofessionals and librarians have the resources they need. Sen. Reed is a champion for literacy and libraries because he knows that literacy is foundational to our kids\u2019 success in school and in life,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.\n\n\u201cPEN America applauds U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Adelita Grialva for reintroducing the Right to Read Act. Public school libraries are gateways for young readers to learn about themselves and others through the stories, experiences, and histories shared in books. Efforts to ensure access to libraries and books for students are essential in upholding our rights to read and learn,\u201d said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America.\n\n\u201cReach Out and Read applauds Senator Reed and Representative Grijalva for reintroducing the Right to Read Act, which calls for increasing the authorization for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program to $100 million. The IAL program serves an important role creating a comprehensive approach to early childhood literacy and development, including pediatric literacy programs used by trained medical providers during well-child visits. Reach Out and Read looks forward to working with Congress to continue bringing attention to early literacy and child development,\u201d said Dr. Lynette Fraga, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Reach Out and Read.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-dod-inspector-general-report-on-secretary-hegseths-mishandling-of-classified-information", "Reed Statement on DOD Inspector General Report on Secretary Hegseth's Mishandling of Classified Information", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "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), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement responding to the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General report on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's use of Signal to share highly sensitive operational information:\n\n\u201cThe Inspector General's findings confirm that Secretary Hegseth violated military regulations and continues to show reckless disregard for the safety of American servicemembers.\n\n\u201cThe report makes clear that Secretary Hegseth violated Department of Defense policies and shared information that was classified at the time it was sent to him. These were precise strike timings and locations that, had they fallen into enemy hands, could have enabled the Houthis to target American pilots. Contrary to the Administration\u2019s claims, this report is the opposite of \u2018total exoneration\u2019 for the Secretary. The IG concluded this information could have jeopardized the mission and endangered U.S. personnel.\n\n\u201cFor months, Secretary Hegseth has attempted to mislead Congress and the American people, claiming repeatedly that no classified information was involved. The Inspector General has now definitively cast doubt on those false assurances.\n\n\u201cWhile the report notes that Secretary Hegseth has declassification authority, it fails to explain why he believed it appropriate or necessary to declassify and share sensitive battlefield information on an unsecured commercial platform with unauthorized recipients, including family members and his personal attorney. It is also clear that he did not follow established procedures for declassification that apply to every other classification official throughout the Department.\n\n\u201cThe IG's findings reinforce a troubling pattern: there appear to be two standards in Mr. Hegseth's Pentagon: one for himself, and one for everyone else. If any other military servicemember or Defense Department employee engaged in similar conduct, they would face severe consequences, including potential prosecution.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Acting Inspector General Stebbins and his team for their thorough and professional work on this investigation. Chairman Wicker and I requested an independent review that would provide the American people with a complete accounting of the facts, and the Inspector General provided it.\n\n\u201cThis report validates the serious concerns I hold about Secretary Hegseth's judgment, competence, and fitness to lead our nation's military. I urge Secretary Hegseth to explain himself to Congress, the public, and the servicemembers he leads. The men and women of our armed forces deserve leadership they can trust with their lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-september-2nd-boat-strike-briefing", "Reed Statement on September 2nd Boat Strike Briefing", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after receiving a briefing on the Trump Administration\u2019s September 2nd boat strike in the Caribbean:\n\n\u201cI am deeply disturbed by what I saw this morning. The Department of Defense has no choice but to release the complete, unedited footage of the September 2nd strike, as the President has agreed to do. This briefing confirmed my worst fears about the nature of the Trump Administration\u2019s military activities, and demonstrates exactly why the Senate Armed Services Committee has repeatedly requested \u2013 and been denied \u2013 fundamental information, documents, and facts about this operation. This must and will be the only beginning of our investigation into this incident.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-hosts-town-hall-with-healthsource-ri-to-answer-rhode-islanders-questions-about-the-republican-health-care-crisis", "Amo Hosts Town Hall with HealthSource RI to Answer Rhode Islanders' Questions about the Republican Health Care Crisis", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 LAST NIGHT, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) and HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang answered Rhode Islanders\u2019 questions about the health crisis created by ongoing Republican efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act.\n\n\"The health care crisis Trump and Republicans are inflicting on the American people is forcing Rhode Islanders to make impossible choices between affording care and making ends meet. It\u2019s driving up costs for everyone, no matter where they get their care,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cThank you to all who called in to share your stories of eye-popping health insurance premium increases. I'm grateful to HealthSource RI Director Lang and her team for their hard work to help Rhode Islanders get covered. I'm fighting in Washington to make it easier for Rhode Islanders to access reliable, affordable health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealthcare and health coverage are on the top of many Rhode Islanders\u2019 minds right now, as the reality of health coverage increases sets in, not only for HealthSource RI customers, but for countless thousands of others who are impacted by the projected effects of these federal changes,\u201d said HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang. \u201cWe welcome the opportunity to speak directly with those who\u2019ve shared their own stories and questions, and we want to assure Rhode Islanders that HealthSource RI is here to help \u2013 to ensure that as many as possible stay connected to coverage and all available financial assistance to meet their healthcare needs, and to help protect them from further financial hardships that can result from going uninsured.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nDonald Trump and Congressional Republicans are inflicting a systematic health care crisis on the American people. If Republicans let the tax credits that help millions of Americans afford their health care through the Affordable Care Act expire, more than 41,000 Rhode Islanders will see their health insurance costs rise exponentially.\n\nOpen enrollment for health coverage through Rhode Island\u2019s Affordable Care Act exchange, HealthSource RI, began on November 1, 2025. You can visit the HealthSource RI website or call 1-855-840-4774 to learn more and explore your coverage options.\n\nIn November, Congressman Amo met with Marlene Prichard, a retired teacher and breast cancer survivor, to hear how her health insurance premiums will jump from roughly $800 a month to over $1400 a month in 2026.\n\nIn October, Amo joined behavioral and mental health leaders at Butler Hospital to discuss how Republican attacks on health care impede Rhode Islanders\u2019 ability to get care.\n\nIn September, Congressman Amo rallied with HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang, health care providers, patients, and community leaders at Blackstone Valley Community Health Care to demand Republicans extend cost-saving Affordable Care Act health insurance tax credits that help Americans afford health care.\n\nCongressman Amo has voted to protect Rhode Islanders\u2019 health care since being sworn in to Congress in 2023. He voted against Republicans\u2019 Big, Ugly Law, which stripped more than $1 trillion from America's health care system in July after speaking against the bill at 3 am, not once but twice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-resolution-recognizing-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-individuals-with-disabilities-education-act", "Reed Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "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) has joined with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to introduce a resolution marking 50 years since Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral measure was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), and John James (R-Mich.) in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe resolution recognizes the historic step IDEA took by mandating that every child with a disability in America be given equal access to a free, appropriate public education.\n\n\u201cCongress passed IDEA to ensure all students have the same access to a high-quality public education that prepares them for a successful future. Millions of students, families, and educators have benefited from this critical legislation and the expanded reach of special education services it has fueled over the years,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cAs we mark five decades since the bill was signed into law, we must join together and renew our shared commitment to the promise of full inclusion that IDEA gives to students with disabilities and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince its passage fifty years ago, IDEA has opened the doors to a quality education for millions of students with disabilities across America. On IDEA\u2019s anniversary, we honor all those who fought to make IDEA a reality and celebrate the dedicated educators who support students with disabilities in and out of the classroom. While we take stock of the progress that has been made because of this landmark legislation, I remain committed to the fight to fully fund IDEA \u2013 to move us closer to delivering greater, more equal access to high-quality education for every student in this country,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, who has also introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act.\n\n\u201cAll children deserve an education that gives them the resources they need to reach their full potential,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cBy empowering parents to partner in their child\u2019s education and equipping teachers with resources, IDEA ensures children with disabilities have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom.\u201d\n\nThis resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). In the House, it is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Don Bacon (R-Neb.-02), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.-08), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.-01), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.-01), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.-05), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-03), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Mariana Islands), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif-01), Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) Laura Friedman (D-Calif-30), John Mannion (D-N.Y.-22), James Moylan (R-Guam), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.-27), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.-24), David Valadao (R-Calif.-22).\n\nThe Senators\u2019 resolution is endorsed by The School Superintendents Association (AASA), Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Council for Exceptional Children, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and National PTA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/roy-magaziner-issue-joint-statement-discharge-petition-congressional-stock", "Roy, Magaziner Issue Joint Statement on Discharge Petition on Congressional Stock Trading Ban", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), lead sponsors of the bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act, the leading proposal to ban Members of Congress from trading individual stocks, released the following statement after the filing of a discharge petition to bring their bill to the House floor for a vote.\n\n\u201cThe clock is now running. If leadership does not move quickly to put forward a strong ban on congressional stock trading, the members of the body will act.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-colleagues-urge-us-treasury-secretary-to-reject-proposed-dollar-coin-designs-featuring-sitting-president", "Reed, Colleagues Urge U.S. Treasury Secretary to Reject Proposed Dollar Coin Designs Featuring Sitting President", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "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) is teaming up with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and several Senate Democrats in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling on him to reject the proposed designs for the Semiquincentennial dollar coin featuring the likeness of President Donald Trump.\n\n\u201cAmerican lawmakers throughout history have reaffirmed the time-honored tradition of not circulating U.S. currency with images of currently elected officials,\u201d wrote the nine U.S. Senators. \u201cFor centuries, minting sitting presidents on U.S. currency has been avoided to prevent the appearance that the U.S. is a monarchy or subject to a cult of personality. While the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have featured images of former Queen Elizabeth II for decades, and now also feature King Charles III on their banknotes, the United States has never, and we should not now, mint circulating currency with images of currently elected officials.\u201d\n\nOn November 18, the U.S. Mint published draft designs for the Semiquincentennial $1 Coin, which include three different portrait options placing President Trump on the front of the coin. The Senators continue: \u201cA portrait of President Trump is the only CCAC proposed design option for the semiquincentennial $1 coin, all but confirming the U.S. Mint intends to mint a circulating coin with a portrait of President Trump while he is in office. Putting an image of President Trump on a circulating coin is not only inconsistent with congressional intent to honor 250 years of United States\u2019 history, but also un-American. We should not depict a living, current president on U.S. currency.\u201d\n\nAdditional signatories of the letter include U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary Bessent,\n\nAmerican lawmakers throughout history have reaffirmed the time-honored tradition of not circulating U.S. currency with images of currently elected officials. For centuries, minting sitting presidents on U.S. currency has been avoided to prevent the appearance that the U.S. is a monarchy or subject to a cult of personality. While the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have featured images of former Queen Elizabeth II for decades, and now also feature King Charles III on their banknotes, the United States has never, and we should not now, mint circulating currency with images of currently elected officials.\n\nUnfortunately, on November 18, 2025, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) published the semiquincentennial $1 coin design proposals, which includes three different portrait options of President Trump on the obverse design. A portrait of President Trump is the only CCAC proposed design option for the semiquincentennial $1 coin, all but confirming the U.S. Mint intends to mint a circulating coin with a portrait of President Trump while he is in office. Putting an image of President Trump on a circulating coin is not only inconsistent with congressional intent to honor 250 years of United States\u2019 history, but also un-American. We should not depict a living, current president on U.S. currency.\n\nFurthermore, historically, federal law forbids the inclusion of living people on U.S. currency. The Contraction Act of 1866 (31 U.S.C. \u00a7 5114(b)). specifically states that \u201c[o]nly the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.\u201d2The potential inclusion of President Trump\u2019s image on a semiquincentennial coin would violate 31 U.S.C. \u00a7 5114(b).\n\nWhen Congress passed the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-330), it was seen as an opportunity for the U.S. Mint to honor our Nation\u2019s Semiquincentennial by providing unique quarters and dollars related to our long history. The law clearly requires that the designs selected by you following your consultation with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the CCAC be \u201cemblematic of the United States semiquincentennial, including at least one quarter dollar design emblematic of a woman\u2019s or women\u2019s contribution to the birth of the Nation or the Declaration of Independence or any other monumental moments in American History.\u201d It also requires that your design selections be made \u201cin consultation with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission and with recommendations from the general public.\u201d As the coin design featuring President Trump does not satisfy those requirements, you must reject it.\n\nThere is a time and place for Presidents to be honored with circulating currency. The Presidential $1 Coin Act (PL: 109-145) would provide that honor upon the death of the President. That authority has expired. The Presidential and First Spouse Coin Act of 2025 (S. 633) would automatically mint $1 coins for all presidents posthumously. All Presidents who have died, with the exception of the recently deceased President Jimmy Carter, have been honored with a $1 circulating coin.\n\nIn closing, we urge you to follow the intent of the law and choose designs for the Semiquincentennial quarter and dollar that honor images and concepts foundational to American history, not those honoring or promoting the current President of the United States.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-welcomes-24-million-in-liheap-aid-to-help-riers-lower-home-energy-bills", "Reed Welcomes $24 Million in LIHEAP Aid to Help RIers Lower Home Energy Bills", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- As families brace for cold weather and higher utility bills, approximately $3.7 billion in delayed federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is finally being released by the Trump Administration.\n\nLIHEAP is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives. Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a leading member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a Congressional champion for LIHEAP, cheered the release of funds and says it includes $24,068,998 for Rhode Island. Reed led a November 14 letter calling for the swift release of the funding.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t just leave vulnerable people in the cold. LIHEAP is a lifeline and getting this aid to those who need it is a moral and economic imperative. We\u2019ve got to move faster and provide robust LIHEAP funding because more and more people are struggling and falling behind with higher energy bills,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\nThe federal LIHEAP aid was held up during the beginning of the cold-weather season because of the federal government shutdown, which ended on November 12. In an internal communication sent to state agencies on November 18, the Trump Administration said it anticipated releasing approximately $3.7 billion in LIHEAP funding by the end of November. That message was sent by the Administration for Children and Families, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) division that currently oversees LIHEAP, after the Trump Administration terminated the entire LIHEAP staff in early April \u2013 about two dozen federal workers who were tasked with managing the multi-billion program annually.\n\nReed noted that in addition to terminating the entire LIHEAP staff, the Trump Administration proposed eliminating LIHEAP entirely in its annual budget blueprint, but Congress voted on a bipartisan basis to continue funding the program, with Senator Reed working on a bipartisan basis with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to include a $20 million increase for LIHEAP, raising the overall amount to $4.045 billion in the Senate\u2019s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026.\n\n\u201cThis latest infusion of federal LIHEAP funding will provide overdue support to families in need and help them cope with high energy costs. In addition to easing the strain on household budgets, the release of LIHEAP funds also helps local small businesses that supply home heating fuel to customers with fixed or limited incomes,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed in Rhode Island 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 28,200 Rhode Island households.\n\nThe average household will pay about $976 for home heating this winter, up from $907 just a year ago \u2014 an increase that outpaces inflation, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.\n\nLast year, the average LIHEAP benefit covered about $500 in winter home heating costs for eligible Rhode Islanders.\n\nRhode Islanders wishing to apply for LIHEAP may click here to reach the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website to get more information and links to an online application.\n\nSenator Reed noted that while the overdue release of these federal funds to state agencies is good news, he remains deeply concerned about the Trump Administration decimating the LIHEAP staff and the impact it could have on the federal government\u2019s ability to effectively manage the program and assist states with LIHEAP going forward. Reed says he has no doubt that President Trump will once again try to eliminate LIHEAP altogether but vowed to continue working on a bipartisan basis to include LIHEAP funding in future Appropriations laws.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-shooting-of-national-guard-soldiers-in-washington-dc", "Reed Statement on Shooting of National Guard Soldiers in Washington, DC", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after two National Guard soldiers were shot in Washington, DC, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am profoundly saddened and disturbed by the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in our nation\u2019s capital today. Every member of the National Guard serves with a commitment to protect their country and support their community. It is unconscionable that these two soldiers were attacked while carrying out that mission.\n\n\u201cMy thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Guard community, and I hope for the soldiers\u2019 swift and full recovery. This was a reprehensible act of violence, and I expect law enforcement to pursue accountability to the fullest extent of the law.\n\n\u201cThere is no place for violence like this in our country. In this difficult moment, I urge calm, compassion, and unity.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/vice-ranking-member-amo-ranking-member-meeks-request-usaid-state-department-inspectors-general-investigate-and-update-on-reports-that-trump-administration-wasted-food-assistance", "Vice Ranking Member Amo, Ranking Member Meeks Request USAID, State Department Inspectors General Investigate and Update on Reports that Trump Administration Wasted Food Assistance", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 TODAY, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks, sent a letter to the USAID and the State Department Acting Inspectors General requesting information on their investigation of wasted food assistance funded by U.S. taxpayers. In the aftermath of the Trump administration\u2019s elimination of USAID, public reporting found that, at the direction of the Trump administration, millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer funded food commodities were either left to spoil or discarded, though the administration has so far failed to provide details on the scale and circumstances of that waste despite Congressional requests to do so.\n\nThe Members write:\n\nDear Acting Inspectors General Aldridge and Baker:\n\nWe have raised concerns to the Department of State that remain unaddressed about reports of the destruction of taxpayer-funded food assistance intended for vulnerable populations abroad. These reports raise serious concerns about the Department\u2019s program oversight, supply chain integrity, safety of food distribution, and stewardship of taxpayer-funded humanitarian and development aid.\n\nPublicly available accounts and preliminary reports suggest that Secretary Rubio and other State Department officials discarded or destroyed significant quantities of food aid\u2014procured and distributed under USAID auspices\u2014prior to reaching their intended recipients. The circumstances surrounding these incidents remain unclear, including whether the losses were due to spoilage, diversion, logistical failure, or external interference.\n\nDuring his testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee on May 21, 2025, Secretary Rubio, in response to a question about State Department\u2019s delivery delays of bought ready-to-use therapeutic food (also known as RUTFs), said, \u201cthere was no State Department delays.\u201d However, after that hearing, public reporting appeared that government officials allowed $800,000 worth of emergency food commodities to expire, causing its destruction, despite multiple warnings from concerned USAID staff. Regardless of cause, such incidents raise serious concerns surrounding the Executive Branch\u2019s possible misuse of congressionally authorized funds, erode the credibility of U.S. foreign aid, and jeopardize our strategic humanitarian objectives.\n\nAs announced on May 29, the USAID Office of Inspector General, Inspections and Evaluations division is initiating a series of inspections of the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) warehouses used to preposition food aid. We respectfully request a status update on those and any other related inspections currently being undertaken. As the Committee with oversight authority over foreign affairs and foreign assistance, we are committed to ensuring that U.S. aid programs operate with transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Therefore, we also request your offices review the following and would appreciate your response by December 5, 2025:\n\nThe total number, scope, and scale of incidents in which food commodities bought with Congressionally-appropriated foreign assistance have been destroyed at the direction of USAID or State Department officials since January 20, 2025.\n\nThe justifications for and contributing factors leading to such food aid destruction.\n\nThe decision-making processes used to direct and implement such food aid destruction and the degree to which such processes accounted for any internal objections or concerns raised.\n\nThe adequacy of the State Department\u2019s internal controls, monitoring and evaluation systems, and partner oversight mechanisms with respect to the expenditure of humanitarian and development assistance.\n\nIf your office requires additional authorities or resources to conduct this review, please advise us accordingly. Thank you for your continued service and commitment to safeguarding the integrity of U.S. foreign assistance. We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter.\n\nThe full PDF of the letter can be found here.\n\nWATCH: Congressman Amo Questions Secretary Rubio as he Claims \u2018No One Has Died\u2019 after Tons of Food Aid Destroyed\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnston-police-department-introduces-new-motorcycles-and-emergency-equipment", "Johnston Police Department Introduces New Motorcycles and Emergency Equipment Funded by Grant Secured by Rep. Magaziner", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JOHNSTON, RI \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined the Johnston Police Department and Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. to celebrate the arrival of new equipment for the town police department, including two new Harley-Davidson police motorcycles, purchased with federal funding secured by Rep. Magaziner.\n\n\u201cLocal law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep Johnston safe, and they deserve the absolute best equipment so they can do their jobs,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cI am proud to have secured federal funding for these motorcycles and radios, which will help the Johnston Police Department protect and serve Rhode Islanders efficiently and effectively.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Magaziner\u2019s support has directly strengthened the Johnston Police Department by providing the tools and technology our officers need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Fromupgraded portable radios to new motorcycles, improved backup communication systems, and enhanced training, this funding makes a real difference on the ground. We\u2019re grateful for his commitment to our Johnston police officers and to the safety of our entire community,\u201d said Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena Jr.\n\n\"This grant has allowed us to purchase state-of-the-art portable radios for our officers and two new police motorcycles. This equipment has strengthened officer safety and enhanced our ability to respond quickly and effectively. These upgrades have elevated our communication, increased our mobility, and improved our overall readiness. We are grateful to Representative Magaziner for securing this funding and for his steadfast support of the Johnston Police Department and the community we proudly serve,\" said Johnston Police Chief Mark Vieira.\n\nIn April 2024, Rep. Magaziner announced the $485,000 of federal funding for the Johnston Police Department to purchase new portable radios and acquire the two new motorcycles. Those vehicles have now arrived and are ready for service as part of the department\u2019s special services unit.\n\nThis investment in updated equipment supports Johnston\u2019s police officers, enhances community safety, and improves emergency preparedness. The Johnston Police Department serves almost 30,000 residents and over 850 businesses.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/pawtucket-wwii-veteran-lauded-posthumously", "Pawtucket WWII Veteran Lauded Posthumously", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "CRANSTON, RI \u2013 On January 16, 1943, Henry Ambrose Maynard of Pawtucket left his job with the New Haven Railroad and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. Sergeant Maynard served as a radio mechanic for the 93rd Bombardment Squadron in the Pacific during World War II.\n\nSgt. Maynard joined his two older brothers \u2013 Vincent and Raymond \u2013 who were also serving overseas in the U.S. military during the war. He received training as a radio mechanic at the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in Washington, DC and received top marks from his instructors. During the war, radio mechanics were responsible for ensuring vital communication lines remained open in extremely difficult conditions and were absolutely crucial for aircraft in order to navigate, coordinate, and communicate.\n\nUpon returning home from the war, Maynard capitalized on his training as a radio mechanic to launch a lengthy and successful career as an electrical engineer at Miller Electric in Woonsocket. Soon after Mr. Maynard returned home, he met Lucille Prefontaine. They married and brought up their daughters Donna, Linda, Pamela, and Lauren in the Darlington section of Pawtucket.\n\nMr. Maynard passed away in 1998.\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed held a special medal ceremony for Sgt. Maynard\u2019s family to celebrate his service and present them with several military honors that Sgt. Maynard earned in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II and should have obtained for his service.\n\n\u201cOur state and nation are grateful to Henry Ambrose Maynard for his profound commitment to duty and service. It is my honor to recognize Sgt. Maynard and his brothers for their distinguished service during World War II. Like so many of their generation, they put their lives on hold and risked everything in order to stand a post for freedom and save the world from the forces of evil,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cWe offer our heartfelt thanks to Sgt. Maynard and his fellow servicemembers for the sacrifices they made. Sgt. Maynard did not seek out accolades for his service in the military, but he certainly earned them, and it is never too late to present them, salute his service, and keep his memory alive This is a long overdue tribute to an outstanding hometown hero.\u201d\n\nDuring today\u2019s special medal ceremony, Senator Reed presented Mr. Maynard\u2019s family with the following military awards in recognition of his exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity while serving in the U.S. Army:\n\n\u2022 Good Conduct Medal;\n\n\u2022 American Campaign Medal;\n\n\u2022 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal;\n\n\u2022 World War II Victory Medal, and;\n\n\u2022 Marksman Badge with Carbine Bar.\n\nA Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active federal military service\n\n\u201cThe entire Maynard family, especially Henry\u2019s four daughters, would like to thank Senator Reed and his staff for their timely and thorough assistance in locating and receiving these military honors. This information has brought our dad back to us in a very meaningful way,\u201d said the Maynard Family.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/at-federal-hill-houses-swiss-street-food-pantry-reed-touts-plan-to-reverse-trumps-snap-cuts-and-restore-nutrition-assistance", "At Federal Hill House\u2019s Swiss Street Food Pantry, Reed Touts Plan to Reverse Trump\u2019s SNAP Cuts & Restore Nutrition Assistance", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 As families prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is concerned a growing number of Americans may not have enough to eat. The problem is compounded by President Trump slashing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), America\u2019s most effective anti-hunger program, by roughly 20 percent and adding new red tape to the program that could cause many people who qualify for nutrition assistance to go without.\n\nToday, Reed visited one of Rhode Island\u2019s largest and busiest food pantries \u2013 Federal Hill House\u2019s (FHH) Swiss Street Food Pantry \u2013 to highlight the urgent need to deliver nutrition assistance and rally support for new legislation to overturn Trump-Republican cuts to SNAP, the biggest cut to the food aid program in American history.\n\nSNAP is a lifeline for over 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans \u2013 including 144,000 Rhode Islanders.\n\nAs President Trump\u2019s economic policies contribute to rising prices, more Rhode Islanders are being squeezed when it comes to essentials such as food, health care, heating, housing, and transportation. That has led to increased demand at food pantries across the state and the nation.\n\nThe Congressional Budget Office estimates President Trump\u2019s budget and tax law will eliminate $187 billion in food assistance over the next decade, even as grocery prices rise. Trump\u2019s cuts will cause as many as 88,000 Rhode Islanders to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits, according to an analysis by the Urban Institute. In total, Rhode Island would lose $85.8 million in SNAP funds every year under the new Trump budget law.\n\nThe state currently receives roughly $343.5 million annually in SNAP benefits. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, SNAP participants in Rhode Island received an average of $198.52 per month in SNAP benefits which nets out as about $6.52 per person per day.\n\n\u201cWe are so grateful to food pantries like Federal Hill House. And it\u2019s important to note that community food banks across the country are experiencing the same high prices, federal cuts, and surge of demand that was exacerbated by President Trump needlessly withholding SNAP funds. Our foodbanks and volunteers are doing heroic work, but they can only do so much, and President Trump\u2019s SNAP cuts are dragging the country in the wrong direction. The federal government needs to do more, not less. The Trump Administration is forcing higher costs and a heavier economic burden onto states and vulnerable families, and that is a recipe for increasing poverty,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cAs more Americans feel the pinch, Congress must act swiftly to restore and strengthen SNAP before Trump-Republicans\u2019 devastating cuts kick in. We must also deliver relief to hard-working families bearing the undue burden of President Trump\u2019s cost-raising tariff taxes and repeated failures to address the skyrocketing costs of health care.\u201d\n\nThis week, Senator Reed teamed up with Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM) and others to introduce the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 (S.3281). The bill would reinstate SNAP funding and access, reversing the changes that slashed $187 billion in food benefits from Americans in need.\n\n\u201cFHH\u2019s Swiss Street Food Pantry works daily to feed our neighbors in need, but we are only part of the solution to hunger in our community. We appreciate Senator Reed\u2019s leadership on legislation that restores essential support for individuals and families whose income doesn\u2019t provide enough to put nutritious food on the table. We also applaud his efforts to strengthen local food systems by increasing access to fresh, locally sourced foods from farmers and producers\u201d said Kimberly Fernandez, executive director of Federal Hill House.\n\nFederal Hill House operates one of Rhode Island\u2019s largest and most visited food pantries, serving approximately 3,900 families across nearly 21,000 visits so far this year \u2013 an 14 percent increase over the same period last year. The organization distributed 2 million pounds of food to Rhode Islanders in 2024.\n\nSenator Reed is also the author of bipartisan legislation that would increase access to locally-sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities and schools. The Strengthening Local Food Security Act (S.2338) would create a permeant grant program for state and tribal governments to procure local foods from family farmers, fishermen, and food producers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-condemns-ices-aggressive-overreach-in-wrongfully-detaining-ri-judges-intern", "Reed Condemns ICE\u2019s Aggressive Overreach in Wrongfully Detaining RI Judge\u2019s Intern", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI -- Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempted to wrongfully abduct a Rhode Island Superior Court intern and high school student who the agents misidentified. They also apparently broke the rules of the Licht Judicial Complex and reportedly surrounded a judge\u2019s car, demanding everyone exit the vehicle and threatening to smash in windows if the vehicle\u2019s occupants did not comply -- and were confronted by the head of Security Operations for R.I. Superior Court. The ICE agents did not release the intern until Superior Court Judge Joseph McBurney intervened by correctly noting ICE had the wrong person.\n\nCondemning the negligence of these ICE agents and the agency\u2019s troubling pattern of unlawfully detaining U.S. citizens nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed condemned the incident, stating:\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration refuses to accept we\u2019re a nation of laws with a constitution that provide all of us with rights. Trump and his team\u2019s tactics are jeopardizing public trust and public safety. Innocent people are being wrongfully targeted. We should not accept a bunch of masked armed individuals running rampant, ignoring the rules, and threatening innocent students and judges as routine law enforcement. Every day law enforcement across our state don their uniforms and display their badges proudly. The leadership of ICE and any unprofessional field agents must be held accountable for this type of outrageous incident. The pattern of too many ICE agents committing civil rights abuses and disregarding the law is very disturbing. We have to protect everyone\u2019s rights and legal obligations. Failing to speak out against escalating authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics only invites the further use of these tactics against more Americans and the erosion of due process.\u201d\n\nJournalists have uncovered dozens of cases nationwide where U.S citizens, including children, have been unlawfully swept up in ICE raids and held for days or weeks without legal recourse.\n\nSenator Reed is cosponsoring legislation to address a growing concern of Homeland Security-controlled field agents engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear and concealing clothing that obscures both their agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government or law enforcement officials. Indeed, the FBI put out an official bulletin warning of criminals dressed and acting like immigration enforcement to commit violence and theft.\n\n\u201cThe utter lack of transparency set by the Trump administration endangers public safety by causing confusion, fear, and mistrust. It also puts everyone at risk \u2013 including the targeted individuals, ICE officers, and bystanders who may misunderstand what is happening and attempt to intervene, as well as local law enforcement who may be called to the scene. This is a real law enforcement worry since even the FBI put out a bulletin on how criminals are now dressing and acting like these immigration patrols,\u201d noted Reed.\n\nSenator Reed is a cosponsor of the VISIBLE Act (S.2212), which would require immigration officers, including DHS personnel (such as CBP/ICE), federal agents, and deputized state or local officers engaged in immigration operations to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement action. Led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) the bill would:\n\nRequire offices to display clearly legible identification \u2013 including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number;\n\nProhibit non-medical face coverings (such as ski masks or balaclavas), with some exceptions; and\n\nRequire DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations.\n\nThe Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety (IEIS) Act (S.2594), led by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) seeks to enhance the safety of the public and law enforcement by specifically requiring any officer or agent conducting immigration enforcement operations, including any Federal or non-federal law enforcement officers, to:\n\nVisibly display their name and unique identifier and the name of their law enforcement organization;\n\nVisibly display their face; and\n\nProvides reimbursement privacy-enhancing services to thwart doxxing attempts.\n\nBoth bills make exceptions to ensure the safety of federal agents, including allowances for covert action.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/homeland-security-committee-member-magaziner-statement-ice-detainment-rhode", "Homeland Security Committee Member Magaziner Statement on ICE Detainment of Rhode Island Superior Court Intern", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Ranking Member of the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee on the House Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement in response to the wrongful targeting and detention of a Rhode Island Superior Court intern by ICE, who was only released after intervention by a judge.\n\n\u201cThe incident today in Providence involving a Superior Court judge and the wrongful detainment of an intern by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is completely unacceptable.\n\nThis is yet another example of the disregard for civil liberties by immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration.\n\nAs a Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I will continue to call out the Administration\u2019s reckless actions, in Rhode Island and across the county.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-mackenzie-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-american-diplomacy-with-australia", "Amo, Mackenzie Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen American Diplomacy with Australia", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 TODAY, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) introduced the Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act to ensure American diplomats in Australia have the resources they need to promote American political, economic, and national security interests. The bipartisan bill asks for a review of current capacity at the U.S. Mission in Australia and recommendations about future resource needs as the U.S. government expands its presence in Australia.\n\n\u201cOur hardworking diplomats in Australia need ample resources to support their efforts working with our ally to bolster our interests in the Indo-Pacific,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cI am proud to partner with Congressman Mackenzie on our new bipartisan bill to help ensure the American mission to Australia has the staff and resources they need to support the growing U.S. presence in Australia and our national security, economic, and diplomatic work with our long-time ally.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur foreign policy objectives benefit from having a robust team of support personnel,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cAlongside the upcoming growth in USG staff at the US Mission in Australia, it\u2019s important that we have the appropriate amount of support staff necessary to be as effective as possible. Conducting a report on staffing capacity at the Mission will ensure that proper resources are in place to get the job done.\"\n\nWATCH HERE: Amo Discusses Need for Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act in the House Foreign Affairs Committee\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\nBackground\n\nVice Ranking Member Amo is proud to serve as a member of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus to promote the close relationship between the United States and Australia.\n\nOn August 21, 2025, Vice Ranking Member Amo and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5013, the AUKUS Improvement Act, which would strengthen the defense partnership between the United States and Australia by exempting defense entities already vetted by the State Department as AUKUS Authorized Users from additional scrutiny. The AUKUS Improvement Act passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee on September 18, 2025, as an amendment to the State Department Reauthorization package.\n\nOn September 18, 2025, similar language to the bipartisan Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act also passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee as an amendment to the State Department Reauthorization package.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-statement-house-administration-committee-hearing-stock-trading", "Magaziner Statement on House Administration Committee Hearing on Stock Trading", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) \u2013 the Democratic co-lead of the leading bill to ban Members of Congress from trading stocks, Restore Trust in Congress Act \u2013 released the following statement in reaction to the House Administration Committee\u2019s hearing today on congressional stock trading:\n\n\u201cThe House Administration Committee\u2019s hearing on congressional stock trading is a sign of the growing momentum we have to finally ban Members of Congress from trading stocks.\n\nBut the American people have made it clear that hearings alone are not enough. We have a strong, enforceable, bipartisan bill to ban stock trading once and for all, and we need Speaker Johnson to bring it to the floor immediately for a vote.\n\nHearings are an important first step, but now we need real action to end corruption and insider trading in Washington.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-seek-to-repeal-gops-self-dealing-january-6-related-phone-data-payout", "Reed & Whitehouse Seek to Repeal GOP\u2019s Self-Dealing January 6-Related Phone Data Payout", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- After Senate Republican leaders added a secretive, self-dealing provision to the continuing resolution (CR) government funding bill that allows several Republican senators to receive payments of up to $500,000 if their phone records were accessed by January 6 investigators without their knowledge, a group of 33 U.S. Senators is pushing back to repeal the measure and prevent lawmakers from cutting themselves half a million dollar checks using U.S. taxpayers\u2019 money.\n\nThe highly controversial provision, inserted at the last minute by Senate Republican leadership, has drawn strong rebukes from Democrats and many Republicans. House Republicans have introduced a standalone bill to repeal this provision, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) claiming he was \u201cshocked\u201d and \u201cangry\u201d when he learned about the measure.\n\nNow, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, and 30 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Anti-Cash Grab Act (S.3195). This bill would repeal the provision allowing eight Senate Republicans to claim at least $500,000 in taxpayer money over phone record collections that lawfully occurred during the January 6th insurrection investigation process.\n\nThe phone records that were seized were legally obtained through a grand jury subpoena and covered the call logs, numbers, times, and durations of several lawmakers, but not the contents of their conversations. They were subject to a lawful non-disclosure order signed by a federal judge, as part of a lawful criminal investigation. Under the provision, the senators could receive \"the greater of statutory damages of $500,000 or the amount of actual damages\" for each violation, plus legal fees. The provision was made retroactive to January 1, 2022.\n\n\u201cWhile Democrats were fighting to make health care more affordable and help working families put food on the table, Senate Republicans were focused on taxpayer-funded windfalls for themselves. Let\u2019s be crystal clear: negotiating a $500,000 windfall for yourself while refusing to help everyday Americans is wrong and deserves to be called out,\u201d said Senator Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. \u201cOur bill is about accountability, transparency, and fighting for working families. The Senate must take this bill up and pass it now.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Republicans who wrote this bill tried to sneak a $500,000 payout for a select group senators who were caught up in the investigation of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Nobody wants to admit responsibility for inserting this provision into the bill. And many of potential beneficiaries of the provision have disavowed it and have said they were not aware of its inclusion. Regardless of how it made its way into the government funding bill, it should be repealed. It smacks of corruption and both parties should repudiate it,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cWhile Democrats are fighting for affordable health care, Republicans are trying to enrich themselves with your tax dollars,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis commonsense legislation stops a scheme where Republicans slyly voted money ($500K each!) for the Trump DOJ to dole out to senators. Grift seems to be the G in MAGA.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Heinrich, Reed, and Whitehouse, the Anti-Cash Grab Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Brain Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-house-vote-to-force-release-of-epstein-files", "Amo Statement on House Vote to Force Release of Epstein Files", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cFor too long, Epstein\u2019s heinous crimes against countless innocent survivors have been kept hidden by powerful men. In fact, Donald Trump could release the files today and provide the truth Americans deserve.\n\nIn Congress, too many Republicans have obfuscated and delayed at every turn, at the behest of a President found guilty of sexual abuse. Make no mistake, Epstein said Trump \u201cknew about the girls.\u201d Trump\u2019s coverup is not an accident, but a willful scheme to keep his involvement with a convicted pedophile and human trafficker secret.\n\nI voted yes to seek justice, ensure the truth sees the light of day, stand with the survivors, and make sure powerful people are held accountable for perpetrating abuse. The Senate should pass this bill immediately and the President should sign it promptly.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-25m-for-new-hybrid-buses-for-ripta", "RI Delegation Announces $25M for New Hybrid Buses for RIPTA", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to strengthen public transportation, reduce pollution, and lower costs, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that Rhode Island will soon receive $25 million in Low or No Emission Grant Program funding to support the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority\u2019s (RIPTA) transition to low- or zero-emission buses.\n\nThe Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is awarding Rhode Island the federal funding through the Low or No Emission Grant, which provides federal funding through a competitive process to states and transit agencies to purchase or lease low- or no-emission buses and other transit vehicles that use advanced technologies such as battery electric or fuel-cell power to provide cleaner, more energy efficient transit service in communities across the country.\n\nRIPTA\u2019s new electric bus fleet will provide modern, sustainable, and emissions-free transportation for riders across the state.\n\nThe funds are being made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58), which Senators Reed and Whitehouse helped pass in 2022.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help shift RIPTA\u2019s bus fleet to newer, more energy-efficient buses, resulting in reliable rides, cleaner air, and lower costs for taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who has successfully led bipartisan efforts to plus up the Low-No Emissions Bus Grant Program. \u201cI am committed to delivering federal resources to help steer us toward a cleaner energy future with less pollution and more convenient and efficient public transportation options.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will support RIPTA\u2019s transition to a modernized hybrid fleet,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. \u201cOur Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make smart investments in public transportation that move the Ocean State toward a clean energy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal funding for RIPTA to transition to low- or no-emission fleets means lower costs for travelers, cleaner air, and more energy-efficient systems,\u201d said Rep. Magaziner. \u201cI am proud to assist in this transition and make Rhode Island cleaner, more affordable, and better connected.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in energy-efficient buses will help Rhode Island do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and support our clean energy future,\" said Congressman Amo. \"I'm thrilled this new federal funding will help RIPTA reduce costs and expand its energy-efficient fleet.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our congressional delegation for their unwavering support and tireless advocacy of public transit,\u201d said RIPTA Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand. \u201cThis vital $25 million federal investment will help fund our vision for a modern, sustainable transit system while improving the passenger experience, supporting cleaner air, and delivering meaningful benefits to communities across Rhode Island.\u201d\n\nWith this latest grant, RIPTA has now been awarded over $77 million in federal competitive grants since 2020 to make capital investments in upgrading its clean energy fleet of buses and charging infrastructure.\n\nRIPTA operates a fleet of about 230 fixed-route buses and continues to actively transition its fleet to include more sustainable, zero-emission vehicles.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-denounces-trumps-threats-to-press-and-excuses-for-the-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi", "Reed Denounces Trump\u2019s Threats to Press & Excuses for the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Extending a pattern of calling for broadcasters who criticize him to lose their license, President Donald Trump today called for ABC to have its broadcast license revoked after one of its reporters asked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and later asked President Trump about the Jeffrey Epstein files.\n\nUnconscionably, President Trump sought to brush off Khashoggi\u2019s murder by Saudi agents, which U.S. intelligence says was ordered by the Saudi crown prince, by saying: \u201cYou\u2019re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn\u2019t like that gentleman you\u2019re talking about. Whether you like him or didn\u2019t like him, things happen.\u201d\n\nThen, referring to the crown prince, Trump said: \u201cBut he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.\u201d\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated:\n\n\u201cOnce again, President Trump is dismissing U.S. intelligence and seeking to undermine press freedoms. He wants to silence his critics and evade accountability. His Administration has systematically sought to put down key independent watchdogs and tried to restrict press access.\n\n\u201cThere is a clear pattern of President Trump putting his own narrow self-interest above American values. He continues to threaten government retaliation against organizations that disagree with his views or criticizes his irresponsible policies that are creating serious economic hardships for everyday Americans.\n\n\u201cOur democracy requires a free, independent press that has a right and a duty to ask questions, challenge the government\u2019s positions, help root out corruption, and speak truth to power without fear of government interference, revenge, and reprisal.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth should remember that in America, unlike Saudi Arabia, the press serves the public -- not the government. Here in the United States, journalists are protected by the law, have the right to free speech, and a duty to truthfully report the facts \u2013 even if the President himself disagrees. And we as lawmakers and citizens must stand up for those rights, freedoms, and protections lest they be taken away or eroded by executive overreach.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-announces-25m-for-new-hybrid-buses-for-ripta", "RI Delegation Announces $25M for New Hybrid Buses for RIPTA", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "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 strengthen public transportation, reduce pollution, and lower costs, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that Rhode Island will soon receive $25 million in Low or No Emission Grant Program funding to support the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority\u2019s (RIPTA) transition to low- or zero-emission buses.\n\nThe Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is awarding Rhode Island the federal funding through the Low or No Emission Grant, which provides federal funding through a competitive process to states and transit agencies to purchase or lease low- or no-emission buses and other transit vehicles that use advanced technologies such as battery electric or fuel-cell power to provide cleaner, more energy efficient transit service in communities across the country.\n\nRIPTA\u2019s new electric bus fleet will provide modern, sustainable, and emissions-free transportation for riders across the state.\n\nThe funds are being made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58), which Senators Reed and Whitehouse helped pass in 2022.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will help shift RIPTA\u2019s bus fleet to newer, more energy-efficient buses, resulting in reliable rides, cleaner air, and lower costs for taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who has successfully led bipartisan efforts to plus up the Low-No Emissions Bus Grant Program. \u201cI am committed to delivering federal resources to help steer us toward a cleaner energy future with less pollution and more convenient and efficient public transportation options.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will support RIPTA\u2019s transition to a modernized hybrid fleet,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. \u201cOur Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make smart investments in public transportation that move the Ocean State toward a clean energy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal funding for RIPTA to transition to low- or no-emission fleets means lower costs for travelers, cleaner air, and more energy-efficient systems,\u201d said Rep. Magaziner. \u201cI am proud to assist in this transition and make Rhode Island cleaner, more affordable, and better connected.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in energy-efficient buses will help Rhode Island do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and support our clean energy future,\" said Congressman Amo. \"I'm thrilled this new federal funding will help RIPTA reduce costs and expand its energy-efficient fleet.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our congressional delegation for their unwavering support and tireless advocacy of public transit,\u201d said RIPTA Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand. \u201cThis vital $25 million federal investment will help fund our vision for a modern, sustainable transit system while improving the passenger experience, supporting cleaner air, and delivering meaningful benefits to communities across Rhode Island.\u201d\n\nWith this latest grant, RIPTA has now been awarded over $77 million in federal competitive grants since 2020 to make capital investments in upgrading its clean energy fleet of buses and charging infrastructure.\n\nRIPTA operates a fleet of about 230 fixed-route buses and continues to actively transition its fleet to include more sustainable, zero-emission vehicles.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/senedia-awarded-follow-on-contractfor-workforce-development", "Reed Helps SENEDIA Land New Submarine Workforce Development Contract", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "MIDDLETOWN, RI \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed today joined with SENEDIA, the Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation, to announce a four-year, $98.3 million contract, if all options are exercised, from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue to advance workforce development in the New England submarine industrial base. This Follow-On Production Agreement (FPA) is a continuation of an August 2020 award and can support the trades and industrial skills training of more than 8,600 candidates through 2029.\n\nAcross New England, the defense sector supports more than 407,000 jobs and $40 billion in income.\n\n\u201cThis announcement is great news that recognizes the progress we\u2019ve made and further solidifies submarine production as an engine for economic growth in Rhode Island and the region for years to come. I worked with SENEDIA to create and champion this skills-development workforce pipeline from the very beginning to train Rhode Islanders for these critical, good-paying jobs that contribute significantly to our nation\u2019s defense. It has grown across New England because the program works, and the need is that great. This is a smart investment in hardworking people that expands opportunity, creates desirable career paths, and strengthens our economy and the nation\u2019s Maritime Industrial Base,\u201d said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n\nThe 2020 award \u2013 which grew from an initial award of $18.6 to $78.4 million total by its completion in October 2025 \u2013 facilitated training for over 8,600 new and incumbent workers. It also supported outreach to more than 6,000 people, from grade school students to under and unemployed adults, about the high-skill, high-wage career opportunities in the submarine industrial base.\n\nThat work will continue through this FPA, thanks to SENEDIA\u2019s New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership. The Partnership directs resources and opportunities towards the economic and workforce development of the region\u2019s maritime industrial base.\n\n\u201cThe New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership today includes regional suppliers and stakeholders from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, allowing SENEDIA to effectively mobilize the supply chain and connect them with the pipeline of skilled workers for today and tomorrow,\u201d said SENEDIA Chief Executive Officer Molly Donohue Magee. \u201cFrom K-12 education to skilled training to career placement, SENEDIA works across the workforce continuum to reinforce New England\u2019s role as the epicenter of submarine shipbuilding.\u201d\n\nThe contract is with the Department of Defense Innovation Capability and Modernization Office, executed through the Cornerstone Other Transaction Authority Agreement, with technical support from the U.S. Navy Maritime Industrial Base program office.\n\n\u201cThe New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership plays an important role in strengthening the region\u2019s ability to support the Navy\u2019s submarine programs,\u201d said Matt Sermon, Direct Reporting Program Manager for the Maritime Industrial Base Program. \u201cThis work helps expand access to training and connect more people to the careers required to build and sustain the undersea fleet our nation depends on.\u201d\n\nIn addition to industry suppliers and stakeholders, the Partnership includes a regional training network of 10 partners at community colleges, universities, and training facilities.\n\n\u201cSENEDIA training programs have prepared thousands of employees for rewarding careers in shipbuilding at Electric Boat,\u201d said Mark Rayha, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. \u201cTo provide the U.S. Navy with the Virginia and Columbia-class submarines our nation needs, we must continue to grow and develop our workforce, and our continued partnership with SENEDIA is important to our success in that effort.\u201d\n\nSENEDIA also supports career and technical education programs across Connecticut and Rhode Island, growing the annual pipeline of K-12 candidates from a dozen in 2021 to over 200 in 2025. The retention of these CTE graduates is significantly higher than general new hires. Under the FPA, SENEDIA is expanding this support to Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/us-senate-passes-bill-to-compel-the-release-of-epstein-files", "U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Compel the Release of Epstein Files", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, after bucking a months-long pressure campaign by President Donald Trump and partisan maneuvering by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to try and delay the release of the \u201cEpstein files,\u201d the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to direct U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his associate and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, and any communications regarding those cases. The bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, previously passed the U.S House of Representatives by a vote of 427-1. The measure now goes to President Trump\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nThirty days after the bill becomes law, all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation are to be released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ has leeway to withhold or redact personal information about victims, explicit depictions of child abuse, anything jeopardizing a federal investigation, depictions of death or injury, and information properly classified to protect national security. However, within 15 days of the initial release of the files, DOJ must provide Congress a full list of all materials released and withheld, as well as a comprehensive report on any redactions, and a list of all government officials and \u201cpolitically exposed persons\u201d named in the materials.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a supporter of releasing the Epstein files, warned that this is not the end of the battle to transparently release the files, stating:\n\n\u201cThis was a positive step toward justice. But it\u2019s still an uphill climb to transparently provide the American people with facts, ensure justice for the victims, and hold the perpetrators, accomplices, and enablers accountable.\n\n\u201cThe Epstein scandal is about the getting justice and full disclosure for the survivors of Epstein\u2019s child sex trafficking ring. We can\u2019t forget that the center of this story is dozens of women who, as young girls, were horrifically abused. They were taken advantage of by wealthy men who abused their power. And, to make matters worse, Epstein was given a sweetheart deal by a now-disgraced U.S. Attorney who went on to serve in President Trump\u2019s cabinet.\n\n\u201cThe American people are not going to tolerate it if the Trump Administration tries to play partisan games to withhold key information and leave Epstein\u2019s victims in the dark once again.\n\n\u201cAmericans saw Attorney General Bondi wildly backtrack on her promise of transparency when it comes to the Epstein files. They know President Trump spent months resisting calls to release these documents. They see Ms. Maxwell is being given unexplained preferential treatment in prison and President Trump dangling a pardon for her. They\u2019ve read emails suggesting Donald Trump could have had more detailed knowledge and involvement than previously known. They\u2019ve seen the disturbing birthday card image presented to Mr. Epstein with Trump\u2019s signature \u2013 that he claims is not his \u2013 and a message that references a \u201cwonderful secret\u201d and their long friendship. Now is the time to unravel the web of secrets related to this case.\n\n\u201cIt is no coincidence President Trump recently ordered a fresh Epstein investigation to look into former President Clinton and others. This will undoubtedly be used to claim cover of an \u2018active investigation\u2019 as an excuse to withhold evidence. Lawmakers must not allow partisan games to coverup the crimes of rich and influential men or allow them to use their wealth and political influence to avoid accountability.\n\n\u201cI will continue working to ensure the Epstein files are released in their entirety. No one is above the law. Mr. Epstein is dead. Ms. Maxwell was sentenced to twenty years for perpetrating heinous crimes against children. It\u2019s long past time for Americans to know the full truth.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-local-substitute-teacher-facing-skyrocketing-premiums-call-out-republican-health-care-crisis", "Amo, Local Substitute Teacher Facing Skyrocketing Premiums Call Out Republican Health Care Crisis", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) and local teacher and breast cancer survivor, Marlene Prichard, spoke to the media about the catastrophic consequences of Republicans\u2019 health care crisis. Marlene shared her story about how her health insurance premiums will jump from roughly $800 a month to over $1400 a month in 2026.\n\n\u201cMarlene is one of thousands of Rhode Islanders feeling the pinch of price hikes caused by Donald Trump\u2019s and Republicans\u2019 choice to cut $1 trillion from our health care system and let the Affordable Care Act tax credits 22 million Americans rely on expire,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cRepublicans\u2019 health care crisis is driving up health care costs for everyone and forcing people to make impossible choices. Choices between feeding and housing their families or going without insurance and praying that they don't get sick. I\u2019m going back to Washington to fight to stop the cuts, lower the costs, and save health care for Rhode Islanders.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a soon-to-be retiree who purchases care through HealthSource RI, with a little over two years before I can access Medicare, my health insurance is set to jump by $600 a month or possibly more next year,\u201d said Marlene Prichard, substitute teacher and breast cancer survivor. \u201cHow can anyone afford that? I shouldn\u2019t have to choose between getting the cancer screenings I need and making ends meet. Thank you to Congressman Amo for his advocacy, fighting so people can afford their care.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo has fought Trump and Republicans\u2019 attempts to undercut Americans\u2019 health care system at every turn.\n\nRather than extend the Affordable Care Act Extended Premium Tax Credits that help 22 million Americans afford health care, Republicans shut down the government. Congressman Amo voted against their rigged spending bill that failed to address this looming health care cliff that will hurt Rhode Islanders like Marlene.\n\nTrump and Republicans\u2019 Big, Ugly Law cut $1 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Congressman Amo voted no after speaking out against the bill on the House floor at 3am not once, but twice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-bill-would-dump-trumps-coffee-tariffs-and-help-lower-prices", "Reed Bill Would Dump Trump\u2019s Coffee Tariffs & Help Lower Prices", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI -- Donald Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs are brewing up economic volatility, uncertainty, and higher prices for American businesses and consumers alike -- making a cup of coffee more expensive than ever. And with Americans drinking about 400 million cups of coffee per day, according to the National Coffee Association, Trump\u2019s tariff price hikes really add up.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs have driven up the cost of coffee \u2013 jolting prices by more than 40 percent over a year ago. For coffee shop owners, roasters, and customers alike, Trump\u2019s coffee price hikes have been a bitter brew to swallow,\u201d said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.\n\nToday, Senator Reed visited Mills Coffee Roasting Company to discuss his latest efforts to help lower coffee prices.\n\nDating to 1860, Mills Coffee is one of the oldest family-owned roasters in the country.\n\nSenator Reed is backing the No Coffee Tax Act (S.3072). This legislation would repeal Trump\u2019s tariffs on coffee imports from Brazil, Vietnam, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and every foreign country and prevent him from putting new tariffs on coffee in the future. If the bill becomes law, tariff rates on coffee would return to what they were on January 19, the day before President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration \u2013 which was 0 percent.\n\nPresident Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazil, a country from which American imports around one-third of its coffee, after the country refused to drop criminal charges against far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been convicted of attempting to overthrow Brazil\u2019s government. The next two biggest coffee exporters to the U.S., Vietnam and Colombia, have been hit with 20 percent and 10 percent tariffs, respectively.\n\nNow, the average U.S. price of a pound of ground coffee is $9.14 as of September, the latest data government data currently available -- 41 percent higher than the year before, according to U.S. government data.\n\nCoffee production is not an industry the U.S. can reasonably onshore and the U.S. is the largest importer of coffee in the world. Ninety-nine percent of all coffee consumed in the United States is imported, according to the National Coffee Association, because there are very few places in the U.S. with the climate necessary to grow coffee.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. can\u2019t grow our own coffee to meet demand, so President Trump\u2019s reckless coffee tariffs won\u2019t create a single American job or suddenly bring coffee production to the U.S. Instead, President Trump is misusing so-called emergency declarations as an excuse to unfairly tax coffee drinkers and he\u2019s making it harder for small businesses that roast and sell coffee to budget and plan for the future,\u201d said Reed.\n\n\u201cMills Coffee dates back to 1860, and it has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. We work directly with our growers and take a very hands-on approach to our supply chain because we value quality, community, sustainability, and stability in all that we do,\u201d said Susan Mills, who is the fourth-generation owner and operator of Mills Coffee Roasting Company. \u201cOur customers want stability, but chaotic tariffs have been making it more and more difficult to budget, plan ahead, and give our customers the stability they need. There is no way to plan for rapidly changing tariffs on the inputs we need to run our business. And as a family-owned small business, we are being forced to either take on significant cost increases on our own or pass them down to our customers. Tariffs don\u2019t belong on agricultural products that we cannot grow sufficiently in the United States. I am very grateful for Senator Reed\u2019s leadership on the No Coffee Tax Act and I hope that the tariffs on coffee will swiftly be eliminated.\u201d\n\nNCA\u2019s latest economic report shows that the total economic impact of the coffee industry in the United States in 2022 was $343.2 billion. It found that the coffee industry is responsible for more than 2.2 million U.S. jobs and generates more than $100 billion in wages per year.\n\nWhile the coffee industry faces several challenges that impact prices \u2013 including extreme weather stemming from climate change as well as supply issues \u2013 Senator Reed notes that President Trump\u2019s tariff are particularly avoidable, unwarranted, and reversible. Last month, Senator Reed helped pass three resolutions to end blanket tariffs on countries that President Trump installed via executive order.\n\nThe U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments earlier this month for a case that will decide the fate of many of Trump\u2019s tariffs, with most Supreme Court justices expressing skepticism that the duties were legal.\n\nReed says there isn\u2019t time to wait and there is bipartisan momentum for the No Coffee Tax Act, which is led by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Rand Paul (R-KY).\n\nThis week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent finally acknowledged that tariffs do increase prices on American consumers and hinted that the Trump Administration may start reversing some of its price-hiking policies. However, the Trump Administration\u2019s initial plan only eliminates a tiny fraction of the President\u2019s tariffs and offers no real help lowering prices.\n\nSenator Reed stated: \u201cThe Trump Administration seems to be finally waking up to the financial damage its policies are causing. But so far, the so-called deals they have announced aren't finalized, don\u2019t provide real relief, and only apply to 7 percent of the coffee that the U.S. imports. So, as I learned from my coffee tour today: we need to keep \u2018grinding away\u2019 and \u2018keep the heat on\u2019 to ensure the Trump Administration follows through and actually lowers prices -- not just with respect to coffee, but on everyday staples, including health care, housing, energy, and other big-ticket essentials.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-collins-murkowski-and-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-home-heating-aid", "Reed, Collins, Murkowski & Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Home Heating Aid", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The federal government shutdown is over but as utility rates continue to rise, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are leading a bipartisan push for 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. Currently, the Trump Administration is sitting on $4 billion in federal LIHEAP dollars that have yet to be distributed this year.\n\n\u201cAs Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 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,\u201d the 31 U.S. Senators wrote.\n\nThe bipartisan group of Senators say the federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year.\n\nStates and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. While eligibility varies by state, most applicants must have a household income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline or 60 percent of the state median income.\n\nThe Trump Administration has proposed eliminating LIHEAP, including zeroing out funds in its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget plan, but Senators Reed, Collins, and Murkowski have led successful bipartisan pushback to save and fund the program. The Senate\u2019s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 would provide a $20 million increase for LIHEAP to $4.045 billion, while the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $10 million increase.\n\nLIHEAP applications are now open for all income-eligible households. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2026 \u2014 or until the funding is exhausted. To find your state agency, visit the U.S. Department of Energy LIHEAP State Map of Contacts.\n\nIn addition to Reed, Collins, and Murkowski, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Richard Durbin (D-IL) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nAccording to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher \u2013 to 10 percent above last year.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nThe Honorable Robert Kennedy, Jr.\n\nSecretary of Health and Human Services\n\n200 Independence Avenue SW\n\nWashington, DC 20201\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nAs Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 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.\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 marked 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 and tribes 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. 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", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-and-amo-speak-community-health-center-leaders-about-health-care", "Magaziner and Amo Speak with Community Health Center Leaders About Health Care Affordability Crisis", "2025-11-13", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) joined local health care providers and the Rhode Island Health Center Association to highlight the growing health care affordability crisis, which is driving up insurance premiums for patients and putting strain the community health centers that provide primary care to one in five Rhode Islanders.\n\nThe conversation comes just after the start of open enrollment through HealthSource RI, a time when thousands of Rhode Islanders are seeing steep premium increases for 2026. Magaziner and Amo have repeatedly called for Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders afford coverage.\n\n\u201cI am hearing every day from Rhode Islanders whose health care costs are skyrocketing,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cThese rising costs not only hurt working people, they strain community health centers that are already stretched thin. It\u2019s time for Republicans in Congress to stop playing games and extend Affordable Care Act funding before more people are priced out of coverage.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith open enrollment underway, Rhode Islanders are seeing their health costs soar,\" said Congressman Gabe Amo. \"I appreciated hearing from Rhode Island community health centers leaders about the challenges families and providers are facing because of this Republican health care crisis. I remain committed to fighting for an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that people need to ensure they can afford health coverage and to shore up our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to have met with Representatives Magaziner and Amo today. In January, Rhode Island\u2019s eight community health centers will see a sharp increase in the number of patients who are uninsured. Initially this will be due to the Affordable Care Act tax credits ending and will accelerate as federal Medicaid eligibility restrictions are implemented. At the same time, federal funding for health centers has expired, and other revenue sources are decreasing. We are in challenging times and acknowledge the support Representatives Magaziner and Amo have consistently shown for health centers, their employees, and the more than 220,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on health centers for their care.\u201d said Elena Nicolella, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association.\n\nRepresentatives from local Rhode Island community health centers in attendance included Merrill Thomas, CEO Providence Community Health Centers; Cristy Pacheco, CEO Blackstone Valley Community Health Care; Chuck Jones, CEO Thundermist Health Center; Chris Mansfield, CEO Comprehensive Community Action Agency; Alison Croke, CEO Wood River Health; Elena Nicolella, CEO & President of the RI Health Center Association; and Jesse Shipley, COO of East Bay Community Action Program.\n\nThe lawmakers and local health care leaders discussed the devastating impact that these cuts will have on both patients facing higher costs and the stability of Rhode Island\u2019s entire health care system.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-republican-bill-that-betrays-rhode-islanders-and-allows-health-care-costs-to-soar", "Amo Statement on Republican Bill that Betrays Rhode Islanders and Allows Health Care Costs to Soar", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\"After stealing over $1 trillion from our health care system in their Big, Ugly, Law, this continuing resolution is another betrayal from Donald Trump and Republicans that hurts working families.\n\nThe Republican shutdown needlessly offered a series of false choices. Republicans chose a shutdown instead of addressing the health care crisis they created. They pitted hungry families needing food against those facing skyrocketing premiums and held workers\u2019 paychecks hostage to avoid bipartisan negotiation.\n\nWith this dastardly deal, Trump and Congressional Republicans are shirking responsibility and forcing parents to decide between treating an illness and paying for rent, a young person between food and insurance, and a retiree between heat and medication.\n\nThis is not a deal Rhode Islanders can afford. It will cause irreparable harm to our health care \u2014 for all of us. I\u2019m going to keep calling out the cruelty, fighting to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, and addressing Trump\u2019s affordability crisis because we cannot back down in the face of Americans being left sicker and poorer.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-warren-demand-answers-regarding-suspicious-ouster-of-fhfas-internal-watchdog", "Reed & Warren Demand Answers Regarding Suspicious Ouster of FHFA\u2019s Internal Watchdog", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As the Trump Administration tries to avoid independent oversight and take unjustified steps to possibly cover up misconduct by a senior official at a key housing agency, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, are demanding to know why the acting inspector general (IG) for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) was ousted in the midst of an investigation into potentially unlawful administrative actions by President Trump\u2019s FHFA Director Bill Pulte.\n\nThe FHFA IG, who serves as an independent, internal watchdog at the agency, was removed at a time FHFA Director Pulte is playing an unprecedented partisan role in using government resources to target President Donald Trump\u2019s perceived political enemies.\n\nReed and Warren are demanding answers and accountability surrounding the IG\u2019s removal, which occurred in flagrant violation of legal removal procedures.\n\n\u201cFederal law requires that Congress be notified and provided with a justification at least 30 days before an inspector general is removed from office. The Administration did not provide notice or an explanation for Mr. Allen\u2019s firing, but FHFA\u2019s website currently lists the Inspector General position as vacant. According to a November 3rd Reuters news article, Mr. Allen was removed from his position just as he was preparing to notify Congress that FHFA was not cooperating with the Inspector General\u2019s office,\u201d Reed and Warren wrote.\n\nFHFA oversees key elements of the mortgage industry. Senator Reed helped create FHFA, which was established under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and oversees and manages two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) known as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), which guarantee and securitize mortgages to facilitate financing for single-family homes and for apartment buildings.\n\nGiven the suspicious circumstances and timing surrounding the IG\u2019s removal, Reed and Warren want to know whether this move could be an attempt to coverup previous misdeeds: \u201cThe removal of the Acting Inspector General adds to the cloud of uncertainty hanging over FHFA, which, under Director William J. \u201cBill\u201d Pulte, has operated in a highly partisan and legally questionable fashion. As we noted in the enclosed letter to the former FHFA Inspector General at the very start of Mr. Pulte\u2019s tenure, Mr. Pulte appears to have violated Federal law by appointing himself Chairman of the Boards of Directors at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and he seems to have run afoul of FHFA regulations by installing business associates and unqualified partisan loyalists to independent positions at both companies. In the time since, Mr. Pulte has used agency resources to partisanly and publicly accuse three public officials of mortgage fraud and to meddle in the affairs of the Federal Reserve, an independent entity over which he has no jurisdiction,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nNoting the importance of non-partisan, independent oversight - and echoing recent concerns about IG removals on the Senate floor from Republican Senator Charles Grassley - the Senators expressed concern that inspectors general are being removed from office simply for doing their job and following the facts of a case.\n\n\u201cIn its reporting, Reuters also noted that just before his firing Mr. Allen had made efforts to provide information to the office of Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who is prosecuting New York Attorney General Letitia James at your direction based on Mr. Pulte\u2019s accusations. According to the article, the information Mr. Allen turned over was \u201cconstitutionally required\u201d and \u201cpotentially relevant in discovery,\u201d\u201d wrote Reed and Warren. \u201cThese reports deserve scrutiny and independent investigation, as does the conduct of Mr. Pulte. To that end, we ask that, not later than November 19, 2025, you provide a full explanation for your removal of Mr. Allen and for recent press reports concerning circumstances surrounding his firing, which we have outlined here.\u201d\n\nReed and Warren, along with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), previously asked the FHFA IG\u2019s office to probe the legality of Mr. Pulte\u2019s controversial reshuffling of the boards of directors of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.\n\nIn an effort to evade independent oversight and accountability, the Trump Administration has fired nearly two dozen IGs across the federal government since the start of President Trump\u2019s second term. There are 74 statutory IG positions in the U.S. federal government. Additionally, President Trump\u2019s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed a blockade on federal funding to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), which supports IGs and helps prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Trump:\n\nWe write regarding your apparent removal of Mr. John \u201cJoe\u201d Allen from his post as the Acting Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).\n\nFederal law requires that Congress be notified and provided with a justification at least 30 days before an inspector general is removed from office. The Administration did not provide notice or an explanation for Mr. Allen\u2019s firing, but FHFA\u2019s website currently lists the Inspector General position as vacant. According to a November 3rd Reuters news article, Mr. Allen was removed from his position just as he was preparing to notify Congress that FHFA was not cooperating with the Inspector General\u2019s office.\n\nThe removal of the Acting Inspector General adds to the cloud of uncertainty hanging over FHFA, which, under Director William J. \u201cBill\u201d Pulte, has operated in a highly partisan and legally questionable fashion. As we noted in the enclosed letter to the former FHFA Inspector General at the very start of Mr. Pulte\u2019s tenure, Mr. Pulte appears to have violated Federal law by appointing himself Chairman of the Boards of Directors at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and he seems to have run afoul of FHFA regulations by installing business associates and unqualified partisan loyalists to independent positions at both companies. In the time since, Mr. Pulte has used agency resources to partisanly and publicly accuse three public officials of mortgage fraud and to meddle in the affairs of the Federal Reserve, an independent entity over which he has no jurisdiction.\n\nIn its reporting, Reuters also noted that just before his firing Mr. Allen had made efforts to provide information to the office of Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who is prosecuting New York Attorney General Letitia James at your direction based on Mr. Pulte\u2019s accusations. According to the article, the information Mr. Allen turned over was \u201cconstitutionally required\u201d and \u201cpotentially relevant in discovery.\u201d\n\nThese reports deserve scrutiny and independent investigation, as does the conduct of Mr. Pulte. To that end, we ask that, not later than November 19, 2025, you provide a full explanation for your removal of Mr. Allen and for recent press reports concerning circumstances surrounding his firing, which we have outlined here.\n\nThank you for your attention to this serious matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-presents-local-vietnam-veteran-with-combat-action-ribbon", "Reed Presents Local Vietnam Veteran with Combat Action Ribbon", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "CRANSTON, RI \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today hosted a special medal ceremony for local Vietnam veteran and former Warren Fire Chief, Alexander \u201cAl\u201d Galinelli.\n\nChief Galinelli served four years on active duty in the U.S. Navy from September 1965 to September 1969. He served aboard the USS Waldron (DD-699), a 2200-ton Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer that was commissioned in June 1944 and arrived in Vietnamese waters on July 24, 1967, to provide gunfire support for various operations onshore.\n\nThe USS Waldron earned one battle star for service during the Vietnam conflict, signifying meritorious participation in combat or a specific campaign.\n\nSenator Reed today presented Chief Galinelli with the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) he earned while serving aboard the USS Waldron. The CAR is a military honor that was established by the Department of the Navy during the height of the Vietnam War. It is both the most highly regulated and most retroactively awarded honor in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.\n\n\u201cChief Al Galinelli is a true patriot that has dedicated his life to service, from standing a post for freedom during Vietnam to saving countless lives here at home in Warren. I am honored to present him with the military honors he earned through his dedicated service to our nation. A grateful nation and a proud state gives our eternal thanks to Chief Galinelli and his family,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Senator Reed and his staff for helping to ensure that the military honors I earned in Vietnam were finally delivered to me today,\u201d said Chief Galinelli. \u201cService has always been very important to my family, on both my mother\u2019s and father\u2019s sides. I am proud that these awards will forever be a part of my family\u2019s history.\u201d\n\nAfter his time in the Navy, Chief Galinelli returned home to Rhode Island and worked in maintenance at Brown University before becoming a firefighter at the U.S. Naval Station Newport. After becoming a fire captain, he left to fulfill his lifelong dream of serving as a firefighter in Warren, where he later became chief. Chief Galinelli retired from the Warren Fire Department after a total of 52 years of service, including nearly three decades as Warren\u2019s fire chief.\n\nChief Galinelli is the father of two daughters, Lisa and Amy, a proud grandfather to three, and a great-grandfather to two. He currently resides in Warren with his partner of many years, Sue Annarummo.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/the-dog-that-hasnt-barked-newly-released-epstein-emails-may-explain-convicted-sex-offender-ghislaine-maxwells-prison-perks", "The \u201cdog that hasn\u2019t barked\u201d: Newly Released Epstein Emails May Explain Convicted Sex Offender Ghislaine Maxwell\u2019s Prison Perks", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 On April 2, 2011, long before Donald Trump ran for president, Jeffrey Epstein sent an email to Ghislaine Maxwell that allegedly read: \"I want you to realize that that dog that hasn\u2019t barked is trump.. Virginia [sic] spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned. Police chief. etc. im 75 % there\".\n\nMs. Maxwell replied several hours later: \u201cI have been thinking about that\u2026\u201d\n\nFourteen years later, and just a few years into her 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, Ghislaine Maxwell is now in a cushy federal prison camp, where news reports indicate she has recently been granted a puppy to play with \u2013 part of the preferential treatment she is now mysteriously receiving, apparently thanks to the \u2018dog that hasn\u2019t barked.\u2019\n\nEpstein and Maxwell were friends of Donald Trump\u2019s in the 1990s and 2000s. Ms. Maxwell is seeking a pardon or commutation from President Trump and he refuses to rule one out for her.\n\nMaxwell was suspiciously transferred from a Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas in August \u2013 just days after extensive meetings with President Trump\u2019s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously represented Trump as his personal lawyer. Ms. Maxwell seemingly has been granted all sorts of unexplained prison perks.\n\nAnd the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has yet to explain the highly controversial move, despite U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) requesting detailed answers in an August letter to the head of BOP and a follow-up letter sent late last month.\n\nSenator Reed says the 2011 emails released today by the House Oversight Committee may shed crucial light on the situation. Reed stated:\n\n\u201cThe Epstein files should be released because the American people deserve to know the truth and President Trump\u2019s actions surrounding this case simply don\u2019t add up.\n\n\u201cI am still pressing BOP for answers about Ms. Maxwell\u2019s highly unusual prison transfer and preferential treatment. In light of these new emails, it heightens concern about potential witness tampering. There are serious questions about whether President Trump, through his lawyer, and Ms. Maxwell are together concealing damning information.\n\n\u201cIf Donald Trump knew his friends were engaged in child sex trafficking and said nothing then he himself is guilty of a heinous crime.\n\n\u201cSpeaker Johnson has kept the House of Representatives in recess for the last 54 days. And for seven weeks, he refused to seat a duly elected member of the House in order to block bipartisan legislation to force the release of the Epstein files. Whether the evidence implicates princes or presidents, it\u2019s time that the American people get the facts.\u201d\n\nJeffrey Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-celebrates-contributions-of-rhode-islanders-on-veterans-day", "Amo Celebrates Contributions of Rhode Islanders on Veterans Day", "2025-11-11", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) joined Veterans, military families, and Veterans Service Organizations across the First Congressional District to commemorate Veterans Day.\n\n\u201cRhode Islanders have served our nation in uniform with honor and distinction for generations, \u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cWe must ensure that those who have borne the burden, and their families, have the support and services they need to succeed. On Veterans Day, we thank all of those who have served.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo is committed to supporting Rhode Island\u2019s Veterans.\n\nOn September 14, 2025, Amo hosted his second annual Veterans Barbecue and Resource Fair.\n\nOn July 3, 2025, Amo voted no on Trump\u2019s Big, Ugly Law, which gutted SNAP, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. An estimated 3,000 Rhode Island Veterans received SNAP between 2021 and 2023. As of 2023, 4,200 Rhode Island Veterans were enrolled in Medicaid.\n\nOn May 15, 2025, Amo introduced a bicameral, bipartisan resolution to support Veteran mental health by establishing \u201cVets Get Outside Day.\u201d\n\nOn March 11, 2025, Amo voted no on the extreme Republican Continuing Resolution year that failed to fund the PACT Act and the commitment to provide health care to Veterans impacted by toxic exposure.\n\nOn February 13, 2025, Amo introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to recognize America\u2019s first integrated military unit \u2014 the First Rhode Island Regiment \u2014 by posthumously awarding its members with the Congressional Gold Medal.\n\nOn May 28, 2024, Amo launched his District Veterans Advisory Committee, a group of respected local Veterans, to ensure RI Veterans interests are well-represented in Washington.\n\nOn August 28, 2024, Amo hosted his first Barbecue to honor the Veterans of Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District.\n\nOn February 27, 2024, Amo announced over $586,000 in federal funds to help homeless Veterans and their families find permanent housing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-and-magaziner-speak-with-community-health-center-leaders-about-health-care-affordability-crisis", "Amo and Magaziner Speak with Community Health Center Leaders About Health Care Affordability Crisis", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01) and Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined local health care providers and the Rhode Island Health Center Association to highlight the growing health care affordability crisis, which is driving up insurance premiums for patients and putting strain the community health centers that provide primary care to one in five Rhode Islanders.\n\nThe conversation comes just after the start of open enrollment through HealthSource RI, a time when thousands of Rhode Islanders are seeing steep premium increases for 2026. Amo and Magaziner have repeatedly called for Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders afford coverage.\n\n\u201cWith open enrollment underway, Rhode Islanders are seeing their health costs soar,\" said Congressman Gabe Amo. \"I appreciated hearing from Rhode Island community health centers leaders about the challenges families and providers are facing because of this Republican health care crisis. I remain committed to fighting for an extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that people need to ensure they can afford health coverage and to shore up our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am hearing every day from Rhode Islanders whose health care costs are skyrocketing,\u201d said Congressman Seth Magaziner. \u201cThese rising costs not only hurt working people, they strain community health centers that are already stretched thin. It\u2019s time for Republicans in Congress to stop playing games and extend Affordable Care Act funding before more people are priced out of coverage.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to have met with Representatives Magaziner and Amo today. In January, Rhode Island\u2019s eight community health centers will see a sharp increase in the number of patients who are uninsured. Initially this will be due to the Affordable Care Act tax credits ending and will accelerate as federal Medicaid eligibility restrictions are implemented. At the same time, federal funding for health centers has expired, and other revenue sources are decreasing. We are in challenging times and acknowledge the support Representatives Magaziner and Amo have consistently shown for health centers, their employees, and the more than 220,000 Rhode Islanders who rely on health centers for their care.\u201d said Elena Nicolella, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association.\n\nRepresentatives from local Rhode Island community health centers in attendance included Merrill Thomas, CEO Providence Community Health Centers; Cristy Pacheco, CEO Blackstone Valley Community Health Care; Chuck Jones, CEO Thundermist Health Center; Chris Mansfield, CEO Comprehensive Community Action Agency; Alison Croke, CEO Wood River Health; Elena Nicolella, CEO & President of the RI Health Center Association; and Jesse Shipley, COO of East Bay Community Action Program.\n\nThe lawmakers and local health care leaders discussed the devastating impact that these cuts will have on both patients facing higher costs and the stability of Rhode Island\u2019s entire health care system.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-honors-rhode-island-veterans-2nd-annual-veterans-appreciation", "Magaziner Honors Rhode Island Veterans at 2nd Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2014 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner held his 2nd Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Legislative Update today to commemorate Veterans Day and honor those who served our country in uniform. He was joined by community partners to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations that have dedicated their time and effort to supporting Rhode Island veterans.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s veterans have bravely answered the call to serve and defend the freedoms we hold dear,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cOur nation has a sacred obligation to care for them when they return home. I am proud to host this second annual event to honor their service and sacrifice, and I will continue fighting in Washington to make sure every veteran receives the benefits and health care they rightfully earned.\u201d\n\nThe keynote speaker at today\u2019s event was Tim Gray, a filmmaker and the President & Founder of the World War II Foundation, a non-profit devoted to educating new generations about WWII history via documentaries.\n\n\u201cOf the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, only 0.5 percent remain, roughly 44,000. In Rhode Island, it's estimated roughly 314 are still with us. Soon these men and women will all be gone and we will have lost the ability to learn firsthand important lessons from those who saved the world and preserved Democracy. Many who fought were just teenagers and young men. We need to preserve their legacy for current and future generations,\" said Tim Gray.\n\nOther distinguished speakers at today\u2019s event included the Director of Veterans Affairs for the State of Rhode Island Lt. Commander Kasim J. Yarn and 45th Adjutant General of Rhode Island, Major General Andrew J. Chevalier.\n\nRep. Magaziner partnered with the State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services, the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training - Veterans Services Unit, the United Way of Rhode Island, Operation Stand Down RI, Mission: Boots to Briefcases, and Foster Care Connections RI to provide information about the resources and services available to Rhode Island veterans and their families. Presentation of the colors was led by the Coventry High School JROTC.\n\nVeterans and their families can find more information by reaching out to a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO). Caseworkers from Rep. Magaziner\u2019s office can also assist with VA-related issues and can be contacted at (401) 244-1201.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nRep. Magaziner presented four awards today: Two Veterans Leadership Awards and two Excellence in Community Service Awards.\n\nThe Veterans Leadership Award recognizes outstanding individuals who have made it their life\u2019s work to give back to the military and veteran community.\n\nThe Excellence in Community Service Award recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families through exceptional volunteerism, advocacy, and mentorship.\n\nBiographies of the awards recipients are below.\n\nCommander Bob Flynn, USN, Retired is the Director of the Center for Military and Veteran Education at the University of Rhode Island. He served 28 years in the Navy where he was a naval flight officer in carrier-based aircraft and retired as a Commander. He also served on the military faculty of the Strategy and Policy Department at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. His most recent aviation assignment was as Executive Officer of the Blue Angels.\n\nCommander Bob Flynn received the Veterans Leadership Award.\n\nRhode Island State Rep. Samuel Azzinaro has served the residents of District 37 in Westerly since first being elected in November 2008. He is the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, where he has been a steadfast advocate for service members and veterans. He served in the National Guard for four years, and was a member of the Army Reserve for four years, including two years of active duty. He was a Staff Sergeant E6.\n\nRep. Azzinaro received the Veterans Leadership Award.\n\nOperation Stand Down Rhode Island is an independent non-profit organization and Rhode Island's primary resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Johnston, OSDRI offers an array of services for veterans, including housing, rental assistance, pro bono legal services, employment and training, basic human needs, and assistance in applying for and appealing VA benefit claims for service-connected disabilities. Annually, OSDRI serves approximately 2500 local veterans.\n\nOperation Stand Down Rhode Island received the Excellence in Community Service Award.\n\nMeals on Wheels of Rhode Island has been serving Rhode Islanders since 1969. Their programs and initiatives have worked to help homebound older adults, including veterans, and other at-risk Rhode Island residents receive increased access to adequate nutrition, safety assurances, and socialization.\n\nMeals on Wheels of Rhode Island received the Excellence in Community Service Award.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-cr-funding-bill", "Reed Statement on CR Funding Bill", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has presided over the two longest shutdowns in American history and that is not a coincidence. People are struggling under the financial burden of his irresponsible and chaotic economic policies. President Trump and Congressional Republicans unilaterally cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid in the \u2018big ugly bill\u2019 -- sending our already fragile health care system into decline.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, every Democrat voted to prevent this Republican health care disaster and every Republican voted to let it happen.\n\n\u201cIn addition, the Trump-Republican refusal to prevent these massive premium price shocks across America is a testament to their utter indifference to the plight of everyday Americans.\n\n\u201cOver the last several weeks, I voted seven times to responsibly reopen the government and lower health care costs. But I can\u2019t support this bill because it fails to deliver actual relief and doesn\u2019t stop the devastating health care price spikes. It is also clear that President Trump will continue to flout the laws passed by this Congress until my Republican colleagues stop supporting him in lockstep.\n\n\u201cPeople are making decisions today about whether or not they can afford to keep their health insurance. They cannot wait for the Republicans to get serious about a bipartisan solution. They need help now.\n\n\u201cBeing healthy should not just be for the wealthy. The fight for health care affordability and access is not a game and it\u2019s not about which party wins or loses \u2013 it\u2019s about who actually listens to the American people and puts their well-being first. It\u2019s about doing our jobs and providing real oversight, not just a rubber stamp. Democrats are listening and will continue working to improve people\u2019s lives, help save health care, and lower prices.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-senate-deal-that-fails-to-address-the-republican-health-care-crisis", "Amo Statement on Senate Deal that Fails to Address the Republican Health Care Crisis", "2025-11-09", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) released the following statement on Trump and Republicans\u2019 plan that will make Americans sicker and poorer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/vice-ranking-member-amo-leads-125-democrats-calling-on-secretary-rubio-to-provide-robust-american-leadership-to-feed-palestinian-civilians", "Vice Ranking Member Amo Leads 125 Democrats Calling on Secretary Rubio to Provide Robust American Leadership to Feed Palestinian Civilians", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) led 125 colleagues calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Gazan civilians. Nearly one month into the ceasefire agreement, there are still no details from the Trump administration on what aid is allowed into Gaza and what role the United States will play in aid delivery.\n\nThe lawmakers write:\n\n\u201cTwo years after Hamas\u2019 brutal attack on Israel on October 7, we are encouraged by the ceasefire announced on October 8, 2025, and urge all parties to embrace this opportunity to create lasting peace and security in the region. While we welcome the news that humanitarian aid is entering Gaza after the October 8 ceasefire agreement, we seek clarity on your plan to ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter over two years, there remains an insufficient supply of food, water, baby formula, medicine, and other essential humanitarian supplies needed to support life for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. People are dying of starvation, including over 100 children since the start of the war, with an additional 320,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are encouraged that more aid is being delivered following the recent ceasefire agreement, and we urge that aid distribution to be conducted by reputable international institutions. We hope that amidst the challenges of maintaining the ceasefire, there remains a robust commitment to all parties involved to continuing the flow of aid into Gaza. However, several questions remain about the implementation of this ceasefire and the State Department\u2019s plan to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza for civilians.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow will the State Department ensure that there is not only a sufficient amount but also a proper combination of humanitarian aid, such as food, water, baby formula, medicine, and housing supplies, to meet the needs of Palestinian civilians in Gaza?\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE.\n\nThe following Members of Congress have signed the letter:\n\nAlma Adams, Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Ami Bera, Donald Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Ed Case, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, James Clyburn, Steve Cohen, Herbert Conaway, Joe Courtney, Angie Craig, Jason Crow, Sharice Davids, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Dwight Evans, Cleo Fields, Shomari Figures, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Laura Friedman, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Maggie Goodlander, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Pablo Hern\u00e1ndez, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, William Keating, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rick Larsen, John Larson, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Chris Pappas, Nancy Pelosi, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Emily Randall, Jamie Raskin, Luz Rivas, Deborah Ross, Raul Ruiz, Andrea Salinas, Linda S\u00e1nchez, Janice Schakowsky, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Eric Sorensen, Melanie Stansbury, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Lori Trahan, Derek Tran, Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, James Walkinshaw, Maxine Waters, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams\n\nBackground\n\nAs the Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Amo has fought to strengthen and protect America\u2019s foreign aid initiatives.\n\nIn July, Amo led a letter with 51 colleagues opposing Secretary Rubio\u2019s decision to withhold and subsequently incinerate nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food.\n\nIn May, Amo questioned Secretary Rubio in the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the Trump Administration\u2019s destruction of America\u2019s foreign aid enterprise and failure to deliver Rhode Island-made Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food aid to those in need.\n\nIn July 2024, Amo sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power in support of dedicated funding for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to address acute malnutrition in Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere throughout the world.\n\nIn May of 2024, Amo spoke about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to allow for the humanitarian aid and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods to flow to Palestinian civilians.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-backs-effort-to-reopen-government-with-1-year-aca-fix", "Reed Backs Effort to Reopen Government with 1-Year ACA Fix", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In yet another effort to urgently end the budget impasse, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is backing a plan that would immediately reopen the government and simultaneously extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits for one year, and create a bipartisan panel to work together on longer-term solutions to reduce health care costs.\n\n\u201cSenate Democrats have offered a simple compromise to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes health care affordability. This is not everything Democrats wanted, but it would immediately reopen the government, help working families, and address rising health care costs while Congress works on a bipartisan, long-term solution. It\u2019s time for Republicans to say \u2018yes\u2019 and for President Trump to actually engage and lead his party,\u201d said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\nThe shutdown began on October 1 and open enrollment for health care started on November 1. Under this proposal, insurers could update their rates after Congress passes a simple extension of the tax credits.\n\nThe parameters of this commonsense approach are consistent with what Republicans have requested, and it ensures the American people get the immediate health care help they absolutely need.\n\nAs Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) noted on the floor today: \u201cSince what we are proposing is only a simple extension of current law, the Senate could do this within a few hours. This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability, and begins a process for negotiating reforms to the ACA tax credits for the future. Now, the ball is in Republicans\u2019 court. We need Republicans to just say yes.\u201d\n\nThe clean, one-year extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits would prevent the doubling of health insurance premiums for more than 24 million Americans.\n\nThe U.S. Senate is heading toward a likely weekend session.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-speaker-emerita-pelosi-s-decades-of-public-service", "Amo Statement on Speaker Emerita Pelosi\u2019s Decades of Public Service", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThank you to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for a lifetime of service to the American people. For nearly 40 years, Speaker Pelosi has been a tireless champion for opportunity, equality and progress; she shattered glass ceilings and blazed trails. She fought for the people, for the children, and for our nation \u2014 she is the embodiment of American values.\n\nThroughout her career, Speaker Pelosi took on big fights that have shaped our country, including: leading the fight to end the AIDS crisis, spearheading the charge to repeal Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell, holding Wall Street accountable after the 2008 financial crisis, and securing the passage of the most consequential expansion of health care in a generation, the Affordable Care Act. And as our nation\u2019s Capitol was attacked on January 6th, she stood watch to protect our democracy.\n\nWe will all remember Speaker Pelosi's many legislative accomplishments and impressive whip counts, securing her position as our nation\u2019s greatest Speaker of the House.\n\nI hope she will get to spend some well-earned time with her husband, Paul, her children and grandchildren. I am grateful to have served alongside this true patriot and look forward to working together to ensure Democrats take back the majority and build on her remarkable legacy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-statement-speaker-emerita-nancy-pelosis-announced-retirement", "Magaziner Statement on Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi\u2019s Announced Retirement", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) released the following statement in response to Speaker Emerita\u2019s Nancy Pelosi\u2019s announcement to retire from Congress after this term:\n\n\u201cSpeaker Nancy Pelosi is a trailblazer whose legacy as one of our nation\u2019s most effective leaders is unmatched.\n\nUnder her leadership, our country made historic progress to expand health insurance to millions of Americans, stabilize the economy after the 2008 financial crisis, expand access to housing, rebuild critical infrastructure, and much more. She is a fierce defender of democracy, standing firmly during moments of crisis, including in the wake of the January 6th attacks on the Capitol.\n\nOn a personal level, it has been an honor to work with and learn from her. Speaker Pelosi is universally known as a tough, compassionate leader. She will be remembered as one of our nation's most consequential figures.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-salutes-speaker-nancy-pelosi-for-outstanding-service-to-the-nation", "Reed Salutes Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Outstanding Service to the Nation", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12), the first and only woman ever elected to serve as Speaker of the House, announced her decision to serve out her current term and not seek reelection in 2026, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cSpeaker Pelosi has had a remarkable, trailblazing career and incredible record of achievement. She remains a formidable force and I know she will continue to tenaciously serve the people of San Francisco until her last day of office.\n\n\u201cHer strong conviction, steely resolve, and principled leadership helped guide passage of the Affordable Care Act, Wall Street reform, the American Rescue Plan, and many more consequential pieces of legislation.\n\n\u201cUndoubtedly there will be many more women who lead the U.S. House of Representatives in the future, but Nancy Pelosi will always be the first Madame Speaker. She broke that barrier and blazed a trail for others to follow. We are grateful for her service. She has helped make America a better place for all.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/cranston-police-department-introduces-new-k-9-vehicles-funded-grant-secured", "Cranston Police Department Introduces New K-9 Vehicles Funded by Grant Secured by Rep. Magaziner", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CRANSTON, RI \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined the Cranston Police Department and local leaders to celebrate the arrival of newly upgraded K-9 vehicles purchased with federal funding Rep. Magaziner secured through Congress\u2019 appropriations process.\n\nThe funding enabled the department to acquire four specialty vehicles designed to safely transport canines and their handlers. The new vehicles will support three patrol dogs and one therapy dog who assist with search-and-rescue missions for missing children and vulnerable individuals, property searches, narcotics detection, and other critical public safety operations.\n\nThe new fleet replaces aging vehicles and includes vehicles equipped with emergency lighting, sirens, patrol technology systems, and fire suppression devices designed specifically to protect officers and K-9 units. Today\u2019s event marks the final arrival and deployment of the new K-9 fleet.\n\n\u201cLocal law enforcement officers and their canine partners work hard every day to keep Cranston safe, and they deserve the tools and support to do their jobs,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cI am proud to have secured federal funding for these upgraded K-9 vehicles, which will help the Cranston Police Department protect and serve Rhode Islanders.\n\n\u201cThese new K-9 vehicles are an essential addition to our law enforcement capabilities, allowing us to enhance our response times and effectiveness in various critical situations,\u201d Mayor Ken Hopkins said. \u201cThe safety and well-being of our residents are of utmost importance, and these vehicles will play a vital role in ensuring that Cranston remains a safe community for all. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Representative Magaziner for his continued support for Cranston in securing the federal funding necessary for this procurement.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Cranston Police Department is grateful to Congressman Magaziner for securing this important federal funding. These upgraded vehicles will enhance the safety of our officers and K-9 partners while ensuring we can continue providing critical services to the residents of Cranston,\u201d said Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of Police. \u201cOur K-9 teams play a vital role in keeping the community safe, and this investment helps us support their mission with the best equipment available.\u201d\n\nThe Cranston Police Department\u2019s K-9 unit includes Officer Zach Burns and K-9 Beny, Officer Jason Dagnese and K-9 Tyr, Officer Michael Rocchio and K-9 Odin, and Shane Odonnell and K-9 Czar. The unit also includes a therapy dog, CALI, who provides comfort and support to young victims of abuse in partnership with Hasbro Children\u2019s Hospital.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-statement-trump-withholding-snap-benefits-defiance-court-order", "Magaziner Statement on Trump Withholding SNAP Benefits in Defiance of Court Order", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02) released the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s post on Truth Social indicating that he will withhold SNAP funding, despite a court order to release the funds.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump continues to use hunger as a political weapon, depriving 40 million Americans \u2013 most of them children and the elderly \u2013 of SNAP benefits in defiance of a court order. It is horrific that an American President would give $40 billion to Argentina while depriving his own citizens of food.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-rips-trump-for-threatening-to-defy-courts-and-unlawfully-withhold-snap", "Reed Rips Trump for Threatening to Defy Courts & Unlawfully Withhold SNAP", "2025-11-04", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Despite the fact that the Trump Administration has the money and authority to fully and immediately fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), President Trump appeared today threatened to defy court orders and withhold SNAP Assistance to 42 million low-income Americans until the end of the government shutdown.\n\nSNAP is a nutrition assistance lifeline that helps feed 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million disabled Americans, and many more who struggle to make ends meet -- people who work hard but don\u2019t earn a living wage.\n\nA day after saying his administration would comply with a federal court order and pay out at least half a month of SNAP benefits using contingency funds -- which Treasury Secretary Bessent said could happen as soon as tomorrow -- President Trump today seemed to pull an about face when he posted on social media that SNAP: \u201cwill be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) blasted President Trump for willfully and wildly seeming to threaten SNAP benefits for millions of Americans across the country:\n\n\u201cIt sure seems desperate and indecent to willfully withhold food aid from needy kids and seniors on fixed incomes. It would be indefensible for President Trump to try and take food off the plates of vulnerable children and inflict mass-suffering on their families. President Trump is trying to bully Americans. His budget would push millions more into poverty in order to give billionaires a bigger tax benefit. The government is supposed to work for the American people and improve their lives, not deny them services and shrink opportunity. As we approach Thanksgiving, I believe Americans will strongly condemn President Trump for trying to bully kids, the elderly, sick, disabled, and vulnerable. Democrats are fighting to lower prices, save health care, and reopen the federal government. And we will hold President Trump accountable.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/health-care-sticker-shock-aca-open-enrollment-begins-with-huge-spike-in-premiums", "Health Care Sticker Shock: ACA Open Enrollment Begins with Huge Spike in Premiums", "2025-11-03", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance marketplace is now open for enrollment for 2026 coverage. Between now and January 31, 2026, Rhode Islanders can shop for health and dental insurance that meets their needs and budgets using the state\u2019s ACA portal: HealthSource RI.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed says many Rhode Islanders are already facing sticker shock due to President Trump\u2019s policies and Congressional Republicans\u2019 refusal to extend ACA tax credits. As a result, millions of families across the country will pay double or triple what they did before \u2014 or may lose their coverage altogether.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is refusing to even meet and talk about this crisis. Instead, Trump is forcing Americans to pay more for their health care or lose coverage altogether. Rather than invest in innovations that help patients or reducing the costs of prescription drugs, President Trump is cutting health care to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and special interests. He continues to try to tear down the ACA, and still has no plan to replace it \u2013 he hasn\u2019t even produced his so-called \u2018concepts of a plan.\u2019 His health care policy is a cruel joke that makes it harder to see a doctor, more expensive to get health coverage, and more difficult to keep and renew it. And he\u2019s forcing these health care price increases at the same time his tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and economic policies are causing higher grocery bills, housing, utilities, and other basic expenses,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\nAccording to experts at HealthSource RI, many Rhode Islanders could see their average monthly health costs double, depending on their circumstances and level of coverage. HealthSource RI enrollees are projected to pay about $111 more per person per month unless Republicans in Congress join with Democrats to extend enhanced federal tax credits that are expiring at the end of the year.\n\nAn estimated 13,000 Rhode Islanders could drop insurance coverage if that happens, according to HealthSource RI estimates.\n\nNationwide, Republicans\u2019 steep cuts to Medicaid, coupled with the likely expiration of ACA tax credits, could leave roughly 14 million Americans without insurance.\n\n\u201cEvery American deserves affordable, quality health coverage,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThat is why I am fighting to re-open the government, lower costs, and protect people\u2019s access to health care so it is there when they need it. With open enrollment, people are starting to see the reality of the Trump-Republican plan and experience the resulting price shocks, dropped coverage, and marketplace instability.\u201d\n\nThe cost of health insurance for the roughly 165 million Americans under the age of 65 who receive their coverage through work is also rapidly rising and is expected to increase by the biggest annual jump in 15 years.\n\nOver the last twelve years, Rhode Island\u2019s uninsured rate has decreased by more than two-thirds: in 2024 the uninsured rate was 2.2 percent, down from 11 percent in 2012.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-blasts-trump-for-only-partially-funding-snap-despite-having-legal-authority-and-funds-to-fully-fund-program", "Reed Rebukes Trump for Only Partially Funding SNAP Despite Having Legal Authority and Funds to Fully Fund Program", "2025-11-03", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- After deleting its own authorized contingency plan and refusing to release billions of dollars in emergency funds, the Trump Administration was required to provide a compliance update to a federal court order that issued a temporary restraining order directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue November benefit payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).\n\nToday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement after the Trump Administration begrudgingly announced it is choosing to only partially fund SNAP:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s outrageous that it took a court order for President Trump to follow the law and fund SNAP. He\u2019s had the money and authority all along. His half-baked approach to only provide partial funding hurts the whole country and underscores Trump\u2019s gross mismanagement. This is about Trump actively denying food assistance to millions of children and vulnerable seniors while he\u2019s simultaneously increasing costs, hurting local economies, and pushing more people into poverty.\u201d\n\nSNAP is a nutrition assistance lifeline that helps feed 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million disabled Americans, and many more who struggle to make ends meet -- people who work hard but don\u2019t earn a living wage.\n\nTrump\u2019s move to delay and deny the federal funding comes after Senate Republican leaders blocked consideration of both the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), and the Keep SNAP Funded Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) refused to put Senator Hawley\u2019s bipartisan bill to keep SNAP benefits flowing up for a vote\u2014despite the fact that it has the necessary votes to pass.\n\nIt also comes on the heels of President Trump and Congressional Republicans enacting the largest cuts to SNAP in American history this summer\u2014and both President Trump\u2019s budget request and House Republicans\u2019 draft fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill cut WIC benefits for millions of moms and kids.\n\nThose who rely on SNAP to buy groceries for themselves and their families make up about 12 percent of all grocery sales nationwide, according to the National Grocers Association.\n\nGrocery stores typically time larger shipments of goods to the start of the month to coincide with the reloading of EBT cards. Smaller grocers and convenience stores, particularly those located in areas with high concentrations of SNAP recipients, make up a majority of the stores that accept SNAP credits and often have smaller margins to navigate the financial strain on their customer base. A drop in sales could lead to layoffs and increased costs for all consumers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-joined-volunteers-and-rhode-islanders-facing-trump-s-snap-inaction-and-republican-health-care-cost-hikes", "Amo Joined Volunteers and Rhode Islanders Facing Trump\u2019s SNAP Inaction and Republican Health Care Cost Hikes", "2025-11-01", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, WOONSOCKET, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) joined volunteers at food pantries across the First Congressional District to pack food and supplies for Rhode Islanders facing food insecurity because of President Donald Trump\u2019s choice to illegally threaten to withhold SNAP benefits for the month of November.\n\nAmo joined volunteers at Mount Hope Community Center in Providence, the ELISHA Project in Pawtucket, and the Milagros Project in Woonsocket to help pack boxes of food and supplies for families who may need them.\n\n\u201cWe look out for our neighbors, that\u2019s the spirit of Rhode Island,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cDespite Trump and Republicans\u2019 inaction to end the shutdown, to lower costs, and to make sure people are fed, Rhode Islanders are stepping up, reflecting the best of us. But it should not be this way, the President must comply with the law and not illegally withhold the $6 a day in SNAP benefits that 144,000 Rhode Islanders, including 46,000 Rhode Island children depend on. Thanks to the work of Attorney General Peter Neronha and Rhode Island municipal and nonprofit leaders, federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered the President to use contingency funds to pay SNAP recipients. Trump must act quickly, without any further delay and comply with this order. \u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo, a Member of the House Budget Committee, is a champion of the SNAP program and has fought Republican cuts to the program at every turn.\n\nAmo voted against the Big, Ugly Law which cut $187 billion from SNAP and threatens to kick over 35,000 Rhode Islanders off the program, leaving working families even more vulnerable to Trump and Republicans\u2019 cost of living crisis. Trump and Republicans are also forcing states to comply with some of the harshest red tape imposed on SNAP in decades by today, November 1, making it more difficult for those up to age 65, including veterans, caregivers, and parents, to access benefits.\n\nIn the fight to protect Rhode Islanders access to nutrition assistance, Amo also introduced the Continuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Act to ensure states\u2019 that fill the federal funding gap for WIC during a government shutdown are reimbursed and can continue to provide vital nutrition services, whether or not Republicans show up to work.\n\nSince Trump and Republicans began their efforts to decimate America\u2019s social safety net, Amo has visited food pantries across the First Congressional District, which are seeing a spike in need as SNAP is cut, and Trump\u2019s tariffs have caused grocery prices to jump dramatically. The State of Rhode Island has put together resources for those in need, which can be found at snapsupport.ri.gov.\n\nAmo is fighting to reopen the government and reverse Republican cuts to the services on which Rhode Islanders rely.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-blasts-trump-for-skyrocketing-health-insurance-costs-as-aca-open-enrollment-begins", "Amo Blasts Trump for Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs as ACA Open Enrollment Begins", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) issued the following statement on the high costs Rhode Islanders will face as open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance through HealthSourceRI begins tomorrow, November 1, 2025.\n\n\u201cTrump and Congressional Republicans' health care crisis means Rhode Island families are facing soaring insurance costs for 2026,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cAs open enrollment begins, many Rhode Islanders are being forced to make impossible choices: between affording health care next year and necessities like food and housing. It\u2019s time for Trump and Republicans to demonstrate they care by moving quickly to negotiate with Democrats to reopen the government and lower health care costs.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nDonald Trump and Congressional Republicans are inflicting a systematic health care crisis on the American people. If Republicans let the tax credits that help millions of Americans afford their health care through the Affordable Care Act expire, more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders will see their health insurance costs rise exponentially.\n\nOpen enrollment for health coverage through Rhode Island\u2019s Affordable Care Act exchange, HealthSource RI, begins on November 1, 2025. You can visit the HealthSource RI website to learn more and explore your coverage options.\n\nCongressman Amo has voted to protect Rhode Islanders\u2019 health care since being sworn in to Congress in 2023. He voted against Republicans\u2019 Big, Ugly Law, which stripped more than $1.5 trillion from America's health care system in July after speaking against the bill at 3 am, not once but twice.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-statement-on-court-orders-on-trump-s-illegal-withholding-of-snap-funds", "Amo Statement on Court Orders on Trump\u2019s Illegal Withholding of SNAP Funds", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cTrump\u2019s choice to withhold SNAP funds from American families amidst the ongoing Republican government shutdown was always cruel and illegal. Now the President and USDA must act. I am hopeful because our federal courts have stepped in to force Trump to pay November SNAP benefits. Nonprofit and municipal leaders from across Rhode Island showed great courage in bringing a case to force Trump to make sure families are fed. And thanks to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha for joining with Attorneys General to make clear Rhode Islanders won\u2019t accept our neighbors going hungry. Trump must act quickly, without any further delay and comply with this order. We must continue holding Trump accountable, and I will continue to fight on behalf of Rhode Islanders.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/sasc-leaders-request-defense-department-orders-and-information-on-counternarcotics-operations", "SASC Leaders Request Defense Department Orders and Information on Counternarcotics Operations", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) released two letters to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requesting execute orders (EXORDs), legal rationale, and designated terrorist organization lists related to Department of Defense operations against drug trafficking cartels.\n\nThe September 23, 2025 letter addresses existing legal requirements under the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2025 that mandate congressional oversight of military execute orders. The senators are seeking all EXORDs approved by the Secretary of Defense or combatant commanders that underpin DOD activities to combat drug trafficking cartels.\n\nThe October 6, 2025 letter requests any written opinion from the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel regarding the domestic or international legal basis for these operations and strikes, and a complete list of all designated terrorist organizations and drug trafficking organizations with whom the President has determined the United States is in a non-international armed conflict and against whom lethal military force may be used.\n\nTo date, these documents have not been submitted. These oversight requests were made pursuant to Section 1067 of the FY2025 NDAA, Section 1744 of the FY2020 NDAA, and Section 1230 of the FY2024 NDAA.\n\nA copy of the September 23rd letter may be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-joins-rhode-island-jewish-leaders-denouncing-antisemitism-bigotry-and-hazing", "Amo Joins Rhode Island Jewish Leaders Denouncing Antisemitism, Bigotry, and Hazing", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Smithfield, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) stood shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Rhode Island Jewish Community against antisemitism and hate.\n\n\u201cAntisemitism has no place anywhere, not in Smithfield, not in Rhode Island, not in the world,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cWe have seen an alarming trend of rising antisemitism, and now more than ever must reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no Rhode Islander of any age is targeted because of who they are. We can and must do better, so thank you to every person who came out to advocate for the safety of Jewish Rhode Islanders against bigotry and hate. I will continue to carry this commitment to combating antisemitism to Congress and ensure that this moment is not forgotten, but is a catalyst for better days.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo is a member of the bipartisan House Task Force on Combating Antisemitism.\n\nSince his election to Congress from Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District in 2023, Amo has led bipartisan efforts to ensure full funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides grants to assist targeted nonprofits, including houses of worship, to increase their security.\n\nHe also led bipartisan efforts to push back against President Trump\u2019s pause on drawdowns for funding under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program earlier this year.\n\nPrior to his election to Congress, Amo served as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs working with mayors and local elected officials to help implement President Biden\u2019s National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-joins-health-care-workers-discuss-health-care-affordability-crisis", "Magaziner Joins Health Care Workers to Discuss Health Care Affordability Crisis and Government Shutdown", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) joined Rhode Island health care workers to highlight the emerging health care affordability crisis, which is driving up insurance premiums for patients and straining hospital budgets.\n\nDuring the event, Magaziner joined doctors and representatives from HealthSource RI to discuss the devastating impact that expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits and deep Medicaid cuts will have on hospitals, health care workers, and patients.\n\nView or download photos from the event here.\n\n\u201cHealth care costs are skyrocketing,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cIt is time for Republicans in Congress to stop playing political games and extend Affordable Care Act funding, because every day people cannot afford to have their health insurance costs go up by thousands of dollars a year.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe shutdown is already hurting Rhode Islanders, but the consequences will be far greater if ACA subsidies disappear. We share Congressman Magaziner\u2019s concern that losing this support would devastate families and further strain an already fragile health care system,\u201d said Michael Migliori, MD, Chair Rhode Island Medical Society Public Laws Committee.\n\n\u201cToday we are just four days from the start of Open Enrollment, when the grim reality of the APTC expiration coupled with rate increases will hit tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders who purchase health coverage through the state marketplace,\u201d said HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang. \u201cWithout action on these tax credits, we will all soon begin to see the effects of rising uninsurance, with sicker patients, strained emergency departments, and a cycle of further elevated costs. Keeping the 13,000 or more Rhode Islanders at risk connected to coverage protects not just them, but every Rhode Islander who relies on our fragile healthcare system.\u201d\n\nThe event comes just before Magaziner is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., to fight in Congress to include critical health care funding in the federal budget and end the federal government shutdown. The shutdown coincides with the pending expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits that help more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders afford their coverage.\n\nSpeakers will call for Congress to extend these vital tax credits and reverse nearly $1 trillion in Republican-led Medicaid cuts passed in July. Despite these urgent challenges, Speaker Mike Johnson has not held a vote in the House since September 19.\n\nWith open enrollment for HealthSource RI set to begin on November 1, Magaziner and local health care workers outlined the devastating impacts that budget cuts would have on both patients and providers in Rhode Island.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-demand-trump-reverse-plan-to-open-new-offshore-oil-and-gas-leases", "Reed & Whitehouse Demand Trump Reverse Plan to Open New Offshore Oil and Gas Leases", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In response to leaked plans that the Trump Administration wants to open up offshore drilling along the East and West coasts, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today joined over 100 lawmakers in demanding President Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum immediately cease any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf.\n\nThe lawmakers warned that opening these untouched coastlines to new offshore drilling would devastate coastal economies, jeopardize our national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put millions of Americans\u2019 health and safety at risk, hurting people across the political spectrum.\n\nBy reversing long-standing legal protections for vulnerable coastal waters, new offshore leases would cause significant environmental damage to communities already reeling from natural disasters and recent oil spills. Oil spills not only cause irreparable environmental damage, but also suppress the value of coastal homes, harm tourism economies, and weaken coastal infrastructure. Already, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forced to respond to over 150 oil and chemical spills each year. One disastrous spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs, and ecosystem restoration.\n\nThese threats of expanded oil drilling come as the Administration already dismantled NOAA\u2019s oil spill prevention and response programs, as almost 30 percent of the team in charge of addressing oil spills has been laid off or took early retirement. The Emergency Response Division team and the oil spill program would also lose half their funding under the Administration\u2019s proposed FY 2026 budget.\n\n\u201cThis is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201c\u2026 Expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreation economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States already leads the world in oil and gas production. The industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres of federal waters \u2014 yet fewer than 500 of those leases are actively producing oil and gas,\u201d continued the lawmakers. \u201cThere is no justification for opening vast swaths of our oceans to leasing when existing leases remain largely unused, while imposing mounting environmental and economic costs on coastal communities.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, the Department of Defense (DOD) previously warned that oil and gas leases in portions of the Eastern Gulf would impact areas critical to our military readiness, including for military training and testing opportunities and assets. DOD has also signaled that parts of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas are \u201cnot compatible with oil and gas activities and infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers condemned the potential expansion of offshore drilling while the Administration simultaneously curtails offshore wind and clean energy development. This year, the Trump Administration has halted all outer continental offshore wind leasing, rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas, and eliminated $679 million in offshore-wind-related port infrastructure funding.\n\nSpecifically, the lawmakers demanded that President Trump and Secretary Burgum:\n\n\u2022 Halt any steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic, Pacific, off the coast the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska, and the Eastern Gulf;\n\n\u2022 Limit offshore drilling, consistent with previous statutory and agency protections;\n\n\u2022 Prioritize coastal resilience, including expanded storm-surge and flood protection, restoration of wetlands and sand dunes, and early-warning systems, so that communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Alaska, and beyond are better protected; and\n\n\u2022 Restore a credible pathway for offshore wind and other clean-energy projects by rescinding the OCS wind-leasing withdrawal and rescinded WEAs, enabling science-based projects that support jobs and coastal economies.\n\n\u201cOur coastal communities, fishermen, small business owners, Tribal Nations, tourism operators, and families cannot be sacrificed in the name of short-term drilling booms,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cOpening new offshore lease areas while cancelling clean energy progress is potentially illegal, a failure of leadership, and a dereliction of the public trust.\u201d\n\nSenator Reed co-leads the COAST Act (S.1486) with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Whitehouse leads the bipartisan New England Coastal Protection Act (S.1472). Whitehouse has long been the lead sponsor of legislation to permanently ban offshore oil and gas drilling off the coast of New England. While working in the Rhode Island Attorney General\u2019s office, Whitehouse assisted Attorney General James O\u2019Neill with the state\u2019s response to the 1989 World Prodigy oil spill. As U.S. Attorney, Whitehouse led the federal response to the 1996 North Cape oil spill, securing what was then the largest settlement payment in Rhode Island history.\n\nIn addition to Reed and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nIn 2018, during President Trump\u2019s first term, his administration proposed opening up vast stretches of the Atlantic Coast to offshore drilling. However, thanks to strong public resistance by residents from coastal towns and inland cities, Trump\u2019s attempt to drill for oil near East Coast beaches was defeated.\n\nThe 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and well were located off the coast of Louisiana when an explosion and blow-out released about 171 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil coated more than 1,100 miles of the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida.\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Mr. President and Secretary Burgum:\n\nWe write to express our strongest opposition to any effort to open new offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the Arctic Ocean and northern Bering Sea off of Alaska, and in the Eastern Gulf. This is a matter of national consequence for coastal communities across the country, regardless of political affiliation. It puts our economies, national security, and our most vulnerable ecosystems at severe risk. These reported proposals would reverse long-standing protections that shield sensitive coastal waters from new drilling, including withdrawals under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, statutory moratoria, and agency restrictions.\n\nExpanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreation economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines. Many of these communities are already reeling from compounded disasters: hurricanes, sea-level rise, storm surge, and the lingering legacy of oil-spill disasters. Since 1980, hurricanes alone have generated well over $1.5 trillion in damage in the United States. Expanding offshore leasing increases the likelihood that future storms, oil spills, or other disasters will impose even greater burdens on front-line coastal communities.\n\nIn addition to storms, the threat of oil spills remains real and costly. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard reported a spill of more than 30,000 gallons of \u201coily-watery mixture\u201d off Louisiana\u2019s coast earlier this year. Oil spill damage threatens not just the environment, but the value of coastal homes, the health of tourism economies, and the resilience of coastal infrastructure. A single catastrophic spill could cost taxpayers, states, and local communities tens of billions of dollars in cleanup costs, lost revenue, and degraded ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) already responds to over 150 oil and chemical spills in U.S. waters every year. Under the administration\u2019s proposed plan, every part of the United States\u2019 coastline would be at risk of disaster.\n\nThese risks are magnified by the administration\u2019s dismantling of NOAA and its oil spill prevention and response programs. Nearly 30 percent of NOAA\u2019s Office of Response and Restoration Emergency Response Division staff\u2014the team that addresses oil spills\u2014were already laid off or took early retirement as part of the administration\u2019s ongoing reductions in force. The administration\u2019s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget would cut in half funding for the oil spill program and the Emergency Response Division.\n\nUnder the administration\u2019s reported plans, harmful seismic testing could take place across every coast. NOAA Fisheries recently concluded that oil and gas activities like seismic exploration in the Gulf of Mexico could drive the endangered Rice\u2019s whale\u2014of which only a few dozen individuals remain\u2014to extinction. Seismic testing for oil and gas disrupts communication, navigation, and breeding among whales, fish, and other marine species, inflicting irreversible harm on ocean ecosystems.\n\nThe administration\u2019s reported plans would also open up oil and gas leasing in areas the Department of Defense (DOD) has previously stated would be problematic for military readiness. Leaked documents report that the administration will conduct leasing in parts of the Eastern Gulf, which includes irreplaceable military training and testing opportunities and assets. The DOD has similarly labeled portions of the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas \u201cnot compatible with oil and gas activities and infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe United States already leads the world in oil and gas production. The industry currently holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering over 12 million acres of federal waters \u2014yet fewer than 500 of those leases are actively producing oil and gas. There is no justification for opening vast swaths of our oceans to leasing when existing leases remain largely unused, while imposing mounting environmental and economic costs on coastal communities.\n\nWhile the administration prepares to expand offshore drilling, it is simultaneously undermining offshore wind and clean energy development, thereby reducing our ability to expand energy supplies and build resilient coastal economies. On January 20, 2025, the President issued a memorandum withdrawing all areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from offshore wind leasing, pending review. On July 30, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) rescinded all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs). The Department of the Interior has issued directives curbing so-called \u201cpreferential treatment\u201d for wind and solar, and the U.S. Department of Transportation withdrew $679 million in offshore-wind-related port infrastructure funding. These actions raise electricity costs for families, make our coastlines less safe, and our communities more vulnerable.\n\nWe therefore urge your administration to take the following actions to reverse course immediately:\n\n1. Halt any steps toward new offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic, Pacific, off the coast the Arctic and Bering Sea coasts of Alaska, and the Eastern Gulf;\n\n2. Limit offshore drilling, consistent with previous statutory and agency protections;\n\n3. Prioritize coastal resilience, including expanded storm-surge and flood protection, restoration of wetlands and sand dunes, and early-warning systems, so that communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Alaska, and beyond are better protected; and\n\n4. Restore a credible pathway for offshore wind and other clean-energy projects by rescinding the OCS wind-leasing withdrawal and rescinded WEAs, enabling science-based projects that support jobs and coastal economies.\n\nProtecting our waters from offshore drilling is broadly supported by the American public. Nearly two-thirds of registered voters oppose new offshore drilling, and hundreds of municipalities along the Atlantic, Pacific, the eastern Gulf, and these regions of Alaska have passed formal resolutions against its expansion. These communities have made clear that safeguarding their coastal economies, fisheries, and way of life must take precedence over short-term fossil fuel interests. Our coastal communities, fishermen, small business owners, Tribal Nations, tourism operators, and families cannot be sacrificed in the name of short-term drilling booms. Opening new offshore lease areas while cancelling clean energy progress is potentially illegal, a failure of leadership, and a dereliction of the public trust.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response detailing what specific steps the Administration will take to halt this course of action and recommit to safeguarding our nation\u2019s shores, economy, and shared future.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-trumps-nuclear-saber-rattling-could-upend-decades-of-weapons-cooperation", "Reed: Trump\u2019s Nuclear Saber Rattling Could Upend Decades of Weapons Cooperation", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, President Donald Trump created international confusion with an apparent call for the Pentagon to start testing nuclear explosive weapons, a reversal of decades of U.S. nuclear policy that could have far-reaching consequences.\n\nIn response, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cOnce again, President Trump has it wrong when it comes to nuclear weapons policy. This time, he seems to have ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear explosive weapons testing. This confusing directive reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of our nuclear enterprise\u2014it is the Department of Energy, not the Department of Defense, that manages our nuclear weapons complex and any testing activities.\n\n\u201cBreaking the explosive testing moratorium that the United States, Russia, and China have maintained since the 1990s would be strategically reckless, inevitably prompting Moscow and Beijing to resume their own testing programs. Further, American explosive testing would provide justification for Pakistan, India, and North Korea to expand their own testing regimes, destabilizing an already fragile global nonproliferation architecture at precisely the moment we can least afford it.\n\n\u201cThe United States would gain very little from such testing, and we would sacrifice decades of hard-won progress in preventing nuclear proliferation.\"\n\nThe last U.S. nuclear explosive weapon test was held in 1992, before President George H.W. Bush implemented a moratorium on such exercises at the conclusion of the Cold War.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/us-senate-rebukes-trump-and-rejects-emergency-global-tariffs", "U.S. Senate Rebukes Trump & Rejects \u2018Emergency\u2019 Global Tariffs", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In a resounding rebuke of President Donald Trump\u2019s costly and reckless economic policies, the U.S. Senate voted on a bipartisan basis, 51-47, to reject Trump\u2019s tariffs on a global scale. U.S. Senator Jack Reed was among the majority of U.S. Senators voting to approve the resolution and block Trump\u2019s tariffs.\n\nToday\u2019s vote marked the fourth time the Senate came together on a bipartisan basis in support of a resolution to terminate Trump\u2019s misuse of emergency powers to enact steep tariffs on American consumers. Under the guise of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977, President Trump declared he would enact a tariff of 10 percent or higher on countries across globe. His executive order sought to proclaim a \u201cnational emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits\u201d as a reason to impose the tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s unwarranted tariffs increased prices and punished American consumers and businesses alike. Despite the President\u2019s claims, American companies, small businesses, and consumers \u2013 not foreign companies \u2013 are paying nearly all of the costs of his tariffs, with Goldman Sachs estimating that foreign companies paid less than 10 percent of tariff costs this summer. Researchers at Yale estimate American families will pay an extra $1,700 this year due to President Trump\u2019s tariffs. This bipartisan rebuke of Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs is a positive step forward for consumers. But the job won\u2019t be done unless Speaker Johnson (R-LA) reconvenes the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington to finish the job,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cHistorians and economists across the political spectrum agree that IEEPA was never meant to authorize tariffs, and for its nearly fifty years of existence, no president sought to abuse and ignore the law this way until President Trump came along trying to seize new power and authority for himself at the expense of everyday Americans and by upending the constitutional order.\n\nThe Senate\u2019s previous three votes were narrowly targeted at specific tariffs on Brazil and Canada, while the latest vote was in support of ending the so-called \u2018national emergency\u2019 Trump used to try to justify \u201creciprocal\u201d tariffs on countries around the world.\n\nFour Republican Senators crossed party lines in voting to disapprove of Trump\u2019s tariffs today: Rand Paul (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY).\n\nDemocrats were able to force a vote on the issue by invoking a Senate rule that allows Congress to vote to block a president\u2019s emergency powers.\n\nOn November 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding President Donald Trump\u2019s power to impose sweeping tariffs on virtually all goods imported into the United States. Senator Reed filed an amicus brief in that case urging the high court to strike down Trump\u2019s \u2018emergency\u2019 tariffs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-tillis-make-push-for-corporate-governance-fairness-act", "Reed & Tillis Make Push for Corporate Governance Fairness Act", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "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 protect investors, enhance corporate governance, and hold proxy advisory firms accountable, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are teaming up on the bipartisan Corporate Governance Fairness Act (S.3055). This bill would help ensure that investors may confidently rely on the advice of proxy advisory firms by requiring the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate all major proxy advisory firms under the Investment Advisers Act (IAA). This advice is critical for investors as they decide how to vote their shares on important corporate governance matters, such as director elections or whether to sell the company.\n\nProxy advisory firms are an essential tool for investors, and the senators want to ensure they are well-regulated and ensure that the information that they provide to their institutional clients is factual and unbiased.\n\nThe Corporate Governance Fairness Act would direct the SEC to conduct periodic examinations, which must include a serious review of the conflicts of interest policies of registered proxy advisory firms and whether firms knowingly made false statements to any of its clients. It also requires the SEC to consult with all relevant stakeholders and report back periodically to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee with recommendations for any additional investor protections beyond continued access to proxy advisory firms so that investors have the tools to make informed investment decisions and exercise their rights as shareholders.\n\n\u201cGiven the importance that investors have placed on continued access to proxy advisory firms, it is critical that proxy advisory firms are appropriately transparent, well-regulated, and held accountable to investors. The bipartisan Corporate Governance Fairness Act would help ensure conflicts of interest are avoided while boosting confidence in our public markets,\u201d said Senator Reed, a leading member of the Banking Committee. \u201cUnder our legislation, all major proxy advisory firms would be required to register as investment advisers under the IAA, and therefore have a fiduciary duty to their clients. So as to not discourage new entrants into the proxy advisory business, our bill provides smaller proxy advisory firms the choice to voluntarily register under the IAA, but does not require them to do so. The Congressional intent of this legislation is to preserve the critical role played by proxy advisory firms and to hold them accountable to investors.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvestors deserve confidence that the advice they receive from proxy advisory firms is accurate and free from conflicts of interest,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation strengthens oversight and accountability to ensure our markets remain fair, competitive, and trustworthy.\u201d\n\nUnder the Reed-Tillis bill, all major proxy advisory firms would be required to register as investment advisers under the Advisers Act. They will owe a fiduciary duty to their clients, and that duty will be enforceable under federal law.\n\nThe legislation also directs the SEC to conduct periodic examinations, which must include a serious review of the conflicts of interest policies of registered proxy advisory firms and whether firms knowingly made false statements to any of its clients.\n\nThe bill also requires the SEC to consult with all relevant stakeholders and report back periodically to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee with recommendations for any additional investor protections beyond continued access to proxy advisory firms so that investors have the tools to make informed investment decisions and exercise their rights as shareholders.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-backs-bipartisan-snap-patch-to-prevent-first-ever-snap-lapse-in-history", "Reed Backs Bipartisan SNAP Patch to Prevent First Ever SNAP Lapse in History", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 With billions of federal dollars available to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says a failure by the Trump Administration to disburse these funds would be immoral, indefensible, and unlawful.\n\nSenator Reed is calling on Republican leaders to put bipartisan bills on the floor and urging his colleagues to vote their conscience and pass bipartisan legislation to keep SNAP food assistance flowing uninterrupted to 42 million Americans.\n\nEven President Donnald Trump, who is currently on a weeklong overseas trip \u2013 and whose chaotic and disjointed Administration has forced the shutdown and caused panic by prematurely ordering the suspension of SNAP benefits on November 1 \u2013 now suggests a SNAP reversal by USDA: Speaking aboard Air Force One while in Asia today, President Trump told reporters \u201cwe\u2019re going to get it [SNAP funding] done,\u201d but offered no details on how it might happen.\n\nWith the President in Asia and offering no concrete plan, and with the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives still on an indefinite hiatus because House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refuses to bring lawmakers back to Washington, DC, Senator Reed says urgent action by the Senate is needed to prevent over 40 million Americans from going hungry.\n\nSenator Reed is throwing his support behind two key SNAP funding bills: the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), and the Keep SNAP Funded Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO).\n\nThe Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act would provide such funds as are necessary to provide uninterrupted benefits for SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) at times when continuing or full year appropriations have not been enacted for the Department of Agriculture in FY26.\n\nHawley\u2019s Keep SNAP Funded Act would fund the food aid program for states across the country until the nearly-month-long government shutdown ends and the USDA can receive its allotments through appropriations or stopgap measures.\n\nSo far, ten Republican Senators have cosponsored Senator Hawley\u2019s bill, including: James Lankford (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (RM-E), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jon Husted (R-OH) and John Cornyn (R-TX).\n\nAround 42 million Americans \u2013 including 140,000 Rhode Islanders -- depend on SNAP benefits for nutrition assistance each month, with funds uploaded onto electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to be used at local grocery stores. Each month, Rhode Island receives about $29 million to administer the SNAP program across the state.\n\nWith USDA announcing a pause in federal funding, states had to scramble. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee declared a state of emergency over the impending lapse, freeing up his ability to make emergency funds available to those in need -- and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined a federal lawsuit with nearly two dozen states against the Trump Administration over the impending end of federal food assistance.\n\nSenator Reed noted: \u201cAs my colleagues in both parties have attested and agree: There is no reason millions of Americans should go hungry. There is a bipartisan solution on the table. It\u2019s not the exact bill I would have written, but time is of the essence and bipartisan action is required. Democrats are willing to do their part. The only question is: Will Senate Republican leaders allow the Senate to work its will and allow a vote using a 60-vote threshold? This is about helping low-income children, seniors on a fixed income, and disabled Americans who depend on SNAP to make ends meet. If given the chance, I believe both parties can come together to help these vulnerable Americans. But the question is: will Congressional Republicans prioritize protecting the American people, or let the American people go hungry? I urge them to do the right thing and tee up a vote ASAP. If they do, we can get this done on a bipartisan basis.\u201d\n\nWhile a strong majority of Senators support extending SNAP funding, it only takes one senator to object to passing a bill by unanimous consent. And only the Senate Majority Leader can schedule a vote in a timely manner.\n\nThe quickest way to get SNAP aid out in November is for the Trump Administration to simply follow the law and tap into the SNAP contingency fund, which has over $5 billion ready to go immediately, and transfer other USDA funds temporarily to ensure SNAP benefits keep flowing during the shutdown.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-warns-trumps-politicization-of-the-military-breaks-250-years-of-tradition", "Reed Warns Trump\u2019s Politicization of the Military Breaks 250 Years of Tradition", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "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 (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered a floor speech condemning President Trump\u2019s efforts to politicize the U.S. military and turn it into a partisan instrument. Reed warned that Trump\u2019s actions\u2014including holding campaign-style rallies on military bases, firing senior officers for political reasons, and deploying troops into American cities\u2014undermine 250 years of apolitical military tradition and threaten civilian control of the Armed Forces.\n\nSenator Reed called on Congress to take immediate, bipartisan action to safeguard the Constitution\u2019s balance of powers, codify prohibitions on political activity at military installations, and ensure that the U.S. military remains loyal only to the Constitution\u2014not to any individual or party.\n\nA video of Senator Reed\u2019s remarks may be viewed here.\n\nA transcript of Senator Reed\u2019s floor speech follows:\n\nDrawing the Line: Congress Must Protect America\u2019s Apolitical Military\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed\n\nRanking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee\n\nWednesday, October 29, 2025\n\nREED: Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a matter that transcends party lines and goes to the very heart of what makes America's military the most trusted institution in our country.\n\nI speak from a lifetime of devotion to the Army and our Armed Services. I joined the Army at seventeen when I took the oath to defend and protect the Constitution as a New Cadet at West Point. I served twelve years on Active Duty. I earned my Ranger Tab and my Senior Jump Wings. I had the privilege of commanding an Infantry Company in the 82nd Airborne Division. I taught at West Point. But, I want to make clear that I am not a combat veteran. I have spent nearly three decades on the Senate Armed Services Committee, with the great privilege of serving as both Ranking Member and Chairman.\n\nMy connection to the military is neither transient nor incidental. That is precisely why I must speak out today about what President Trump is doing to our Armed Forces. He is attempting to politicize an institution that has remained steadfastly apolitical for nearly 250 years. He is disrespecting the professionalism and sacrifice of our servicemembers. And if we in Congress do not reject his actions \u2014and soon\u2014the damage could take generations to repair.\n\nAmerica\u2019s Apolitical Military Tradition\n\nAmerica's apolitical military was constructed deliberately by leaders who understood that republics die when generals and soldiers become political pawns.\n\nGeorge Washington set the standard. When he resigned his commission in 1783, he established the principle that military leaders serve the nation, not a party or president. He made clear that military leadership is not a pathway to personal political power. Washington could have made himself king. He refused, and in that refusal, created the tradition we inherit today.\n\nThe Founders enshrined a non-political military in our Constitution, giving Congress\u2014not the President\u2014the sole power to raise armies, establish laws governing the military, and, importantly, to declare war. The Founders built checks and balances precisely to prevent the situation we now face: a President who views the military as his personal political instrument.\n\nThis tradition is maintained in the United States through deliberate policy. The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits active-duty personnel from partisan political activities. Military bases do not host campaign rallies. Servicemembers do not appear in uniform at political events.\n\nThe Supreme Court itself has affirmed this principle. In Greer v. Spock (1976), the Court upheld military regulations strictly prohibiting partisan political activity on military bases. The Court\u2019s conclusion was unequivocal. The majority opinion explained that the military has a special responsibility to avoid \"both the reality and the appearance of acting as handmaiden for partisan political causes or candidates.\"\n\nJustice Powell also warned that, quote, \u201cIt is the lesson of ancient and modern history that the major socially destabilizing influence in many European and South American countries has been a highly politicized military. . . . Complete and effective civilian control [of the military] would be compromised by participation of the military in the political process.\u201d\n\nThe Supreme Court understood what we must remember: once the military appears political, civilian control itself is compromised. Public confidence evaporates. And history shows us where that leads.\n\nThese are not bureaucratic niceties. Once the military becomes politicized, it loses the trust of the American people. A military seen as serving one party cannot claim to serve the nation. For nearly 250 years, this principle has held. The American military has remained the most trusted institution precisely because it has stayed out of politics.\n\nTrump\u2019s Politicization of the Military\n\nPresident Trump is systematically dismantling this bedrock principle\u2014brazenly, repeatedly, and with apparent pride.\n\nOn May 24th, he addressed West Point's graduating class while wearing a red MAGA hat\u2014a political campaign symbol at a military ceremony. This was not an accident. It was a statement. He told our nation\u2019s future Army officers that his election victory gave him the right to, quote, \"do what we wanna do.\" He told cadets about to take their oath to the Constitution that winning an election means you can do whatever you want.\n\nIn June, at an event at Fort Bragg, President Trump made this politicization even more explicit. Soldiers attending the event were apparently screened for physical appearance and enthusiasm, and were positioned in the bleachers as background props for what Trump boasted was a political rally. The troops were encouraged to boo his opponents, cheer his applause lines, and jeer the press.\n\nAlmost as disturbing, President Trump's team brought vendors onto Fort Bragg to sell campaign merchandise to soldiers in uniform. This was an explicit violation of longstanding Army regulations and Department of Defense policies. It exploited soldiers and the prestige of their service for the President's partisan and personal gain.\n\nAnd again, just last month at Quantico, Trump spoke to a hall of hundreds of generals and admirals to make explicit what had previously been unspoken. He complained about, quote, \"an enemy within,\" and told the assembled officers that dealing with this domestic enemy \"is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That's a war, too. It's a war from within.\"\n\nLet us be clear about who Trump means when he says \"the enemy within.\" He does not mean terrorists or foreign agents. He means his political opponents. He means Americans exercising their Constitutional rights to disagree with him.\n\nIndeed, any doubt about who he considers \u201cthe enemy within\u201d was erased when he pardoned more than 1,500 people convicted of attacking Congress and Capitol Police on January 6th, 2021. These are people who attacked the Capitol \u2013 at President Trump\u2019s urging \u2013 who savagely beat police officers, who forced members of Congress to flee the chamber for their own lives. The vast majority of my colleagues were there that day and know exactly what they saw.\n\nThese criminals, who supported President Trump, were rewarded with pardons, while those who he believes are opposed to him are being targeted for retribution.\n\nThis is not a theoretical concern. The President went further in his remarks at Quantico, suggesting that he wants to use \"some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.\" He proposed to deploy American troops in American cities to train for operations against American citizens\u2014all without the consent of state and local leaders, and in apparent violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Already, we have seen him order such deployments in Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Portland, and elsewhere.\n\nThe pattern is unmistakable. Trump is attempting to transform the military from an apolitical institution that serves the Constitution into a political tool that serves him. He stages political rallies on military bases. He sells campaign merchandise to troops in uniform. He fires generals who give him professional military advice he doesn't like. He tells military leaders that their mission includes waging war on his domestic political opponents.\n\nThis is not normal. This is not acceptable. And if my Republican colleagues don\u2019t publicly reject this behavior, the President will fundamentally alter the character of American civil-military relations.\n\nTrump\u2019s Disrespect Toward the Military\n\nBeyond politicization, President Trump has shown consistent disrespect for the military's leaders and values.\n\nAt his West Point graduation speech, he claimed he defeated ISIS \"in three weeks.\u201d There\u2019s just one problem: it's not true. General Caine himself has refuted the story that President Trump repeatedly tells about that campaign \u2013 that he defeated ISIS. In fact, according to the 2025 Intelligence Community Threat Assessment \u2013 which was prepared by the Trump Administration itself \u2013 ISIS \"remains the world's largest Islamic terrorist organization.\" The President stood before America's future military leaders and lied to inflate his ego and his reputation.\n\nTrump also told West Point graduates, quote, \"we do not need an officer corps of yes-men.\" Yet, he fired General Kruse, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, because the DIA\u2019s expert analysts contradicted Trump's claims about his military strikes on Iran. He has fired General CQ Brown, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, General Timothy Haugh, and many others in a purge of flag officers that appears motivated by race, gender, and political loyalty rather than merit. The message is clear: give the President the advice he wants to hear, or lose your job.\n\nPresident Trump disrespects not just military leaders, but also military customs and traditions. At the West Point graduation, he left before the diplomas were presented. He declined the opportunity to present the first and last cadets their diplomas\u2014a tradition honored by Presidents before him. He couldn't be bothered to fully participate in a ceremony that meant everything to those young officers and their families.\n\nAnd earlier this month at Norfolk, at the Navy's 250th anniversary celebration, Trump dispensed with any pretense. He declared, quote, \"Let's face it, this is a rally.\u201d He closed the ceremony by dancing to his campaign song, \"Y.M.C.A.\" by the Village People. The Navy's 250th anniversary became about Trump, not about the history of blood and sacrifice of sailors and the service they represent.\n\nTo my Republican colleagues who have served in uniform: you understand what service requires. Honesty. Humility. Respect for those who came before you. You know that officers must give their best professional advice, even when it's not what the Commander-in-Chief wants to hear. You know that when officers fear giving honest answers, people die. Missions fail. Wars are lost.\n\nSo when the President lies about military operations, he disrespects every soldier who has told the truth about the battlefield. When he fires officers for honest advice, he disrespects every officer who has had the courage to speak truth to power. When he turns military ceremonies into political rallies, he disrespects every servicemember who has kept politics out of their professional life.\n\nYou know this. The question is what you will do about it.\n\nCongress Must Act\n\nWe are at a crossroads. The damage Trump is inflicting is not theoretical. It is happening now, and if we don\u2019t act, it will accelerate.\n\nAmerica\u2019s civil-military relationship took 250 years to build, but it can be destroyed in a fraction of that time. Once the military is seen as a partisan instrument serving one party, once it is deployed domestically against political opponents, the trust that sustains it will evaporate. And that trust, once lost, can take generations to rebuild.\n\nConsider the dangers if this continues. Will military officers refuse to serve under future administrations, depending on the party in power? Will they resist civilian authority over policy disagreements? Will the military fracture along partisan lines?\n\nConsider what happens if Trump continues to deploy the National Guard against his political opponents. What happens when citizens see soldiers in their streets to suppress Constitutionally permitted dissent? What happens to recruiting when young Americans view the military as a partisan tool? What happens to military cohesion when soldiers treat fellow citizens as enemies?\n\nThese are not hypothetical questions. President Trump told our most senior military leaders that fighting the \"enemy within\" is their mission. He suggested using American cities as training grounds. The precedent he sets will outlast his administration and be available to every president after.\n\nCongress has the Constitutional authority and moral obligation to stop this. We are not powerless. We control the purse. We have oversight authority. We can pass legislation. And we must act now.\n\nAfter nine months of this presidency, it is clear that my Republican colleagues must do more than recognize the problem\u2014they must act. Republicans must work with us to call out the President and take concrete legislative action.\n\nFirst, we must codify prohibitions on political activities at military installations and block federal funds from supporting such activities. No more campaign rallies on military bases. No more merchandise sales to troops in uniform.\n\nSecond, we must pass legislation\u2014already in the Senate NDAA\u2014to require explanations and notifications for senior general and flag officer dismissals. If these decisions are based on merit, the administration should have no problem explaining them publicly.\n\nThird, we must strengthen the Hatch Act as it applies to political leaders interacting with military personnel. The rules that constrain servicemembers from politics must also constrain politicians from exploiting servicemembers for political purposes.\n\nAnd fourth, we must establish clear standards requiring congressional approval for domestic military deployments except in genuine emergencies. The Founders gave Congress the power over the military for exactly this reason\u2014to prevent any president from deploying troops as a personal force.\n\nI recognize the political pressures that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle face. But we all took the same oath\u2014either in uniform or in elected office\u2014to support and defend the Constitution, not a President or party. The American military is trusted by the American people because it has earned that trust by remaining apolitical, professional, and devoted to defending the Constitution.\n\nConclusion\n\nMr. President, I'll close with this. Yesterday in Japan, President Trump boarded an aircraft carrier to address American sailors and Marines. For a full hour, standing before hundreds of young men and women deployed thousands of miles from home, the Commander-in-Chief lectured them on his political grievances. He complained the 2020 election was stolen. He mocked reporters. He whined about the Nobel Peace Prize. He boasted about deploying the National Guard domestically. He invented false stories about President Biden and jeered him. The sailors and Marines, for their part, remained silent and respectful, like the professionals they are.\n\nBut the name of that aircraft carrier is worth noting: the USS George Washington.\n\nHow fitting that our first president set the standard for the military we inherit today, and how shameful that President Trump so badly fails that standard. Washington recognized that the presidency and the military are grander than any one person\u2014and he recognized the danger of any man who believes otherwise. As he warned in his Farewell Address: \"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.\"\n\nIn President Trump, I fear that Washington\u2019s warning has come to bear. Simply put, President Trump is politicizing the military for his benefit. He is disrespecting our servicemembers. And he is setting precedents that will haunt us for generations.\n\nEvery day that passes, every political rally on a military base, every firing of an officer for honest advice, every statement about deploying troops against domestic opponents\u2014each inflicts damage that becomes harder to repair.\n\nTo my Republican colleagues: this is your moment. You can help defend the military you cherish. You can exercise your constitutional authority as the majority power. Or you can stand by and concede to an executive who recognizes no limits. I suspect history will not forgive this body for remaining silent while the President transforms the military into his personal political tool.\n\nThe military I served in deserves better. The country we all swore to defend deserves better. And the young men and women taking the oath today deserve the apolitical, professional military our Founders fought and died to establish.\n\nLet us reassert Congress\u2019s power and preserve the military tradition we inherited.\n\nThank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/amo-joins-over-200-house-democrats-in-urging-usda-to-take-immediate-action-to-fund-snap", "Amo Joins Over 200 House Democrats in Urging USDA to Take Immediate Action to Fund SNAP", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Last week, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) joined Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and 211 House Democrats in sending a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. Thanks to President Donald Trump and Secretary Rollins\u2019 refusal to use contingency funds, SNAP funding is set to lapse on November 1st, putting 42 million children and families, including 144,000 Rhode Islanders, at risk of experiencing hunger.\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not,\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cNow, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month. A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits. There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their tables in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available here.\n\nDespite claims by Donald Trump and Republicans, there is sufficient funding and legal authority to use the SNAP contingency reserve to cover nearly two-thirds of the amount needed for a full month of benefits. As such, the Members also advocate that the agency use statutory transfer authority or other legal means to supplement shortfalls the contingency reserve cannot cover.\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo, a member of the House Budget Committee, has fought to protect Americans\u2019 SNAP benefits and nutrition assistance.\n\nAmo recently introduced theContinuity and Reimbursement for Essential Nutrition (CARE) for WIC During Shutdowns Act to ensure states\u2019 that fill the federal funding gap for WIC during a government shutdown are reimbursed and can continue to provide vital nutrition services, whether or not Republicans show up to work.\n\nIn addition to the chaos of their government shutdown, Republicans\u2019 Big, Ugly Law cut $187 billion in funding from SNAP, threatening to kick over 35,000 Rhode Islanders off the program, leaving working families even more vulnerable to Trump and Republicans\u2019 cost of living crisis. The Trump administration is also forcing states to comply with some of the harshest red tape imposed on SNAP in decades by November 1, making it more difficult for those up to age 65, including veterans, caregivers, and parents, to access benefits.\n\nSince Trump and Republicans began their efforts to decimate America\u2019s social safety net, Amo has visited food pantries across the First Congressional District, which expect to see a further spike in need as SNAP benefit cuts take effect at a time when Trump\u2019s tariffs have caused grocery prices to jump dramatically.\n\nAmo is fighting to reopen the government and reverse Republican cuts to the services working Rhode Islanders rely on.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/bipartisan-us-senators-file-supreme-court-brief-urging-high-court-to-strike-down-trumps-emergency-tariffs", "Bipartisan U.S. Senators File Supreme Court Brief Urging High Court to Strike Down Trump\u2019s \u2018Emergency\u2019 Tariffs", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "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 prevent the abuse and misuse of emergency powers by the president \u2013 regardless of party -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) joined over 200 members of Congress in filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging President Donald Trump\u2019s authority to impose tariffs without permission from Congress.\n\nThe brief was filed ahead of a November U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the consolidated case Learning Resources et al. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections et al., which challenges President Donald Trump\u2019s unlawful use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on imported goods.\n\nThe sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump have increased average tariffs to their highest rate since the Great Depression and would cost households almost $2,400 more a year, according to the Yale Budget Lab.\n\nThe brief Senator Reed and his colleagues signed argues that the Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to impose tariffs and regulate commerce with foreign nations, and that Congress did not delegate that power to the President under IEEPA, which was enacted in 1977. It urges the Supreme Court to reaffirm Congress\u2019s constitutional authority over tariff policy and to strike down the President\u2019s misuse of IEEPA.\n\n\u201cIEEPA was never meant to authorize tariffs, and for its nearly fifty years of existence, no president has sought to abuse and ignore the law this way until President Trump came along trying to seize new power and authority for himself at the expense of everyday Americans and by upending the constitutional order,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cWhat President Trump is attempting to do is seize new powers for himself. If the Supreme Court rules in his favor then he and every future president may weaponize tariffs, unilaterally pick winners and losers, and use tariffs to punish opponents or curry favor with certain industries.\u201d\n\nThe brief notes that the Trump Administration\u2019s recent tariffs were not imposed through trade statutes in which Congress did delegate tariff authority to the President, such as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Rather, President Trump imposed them under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law originally intended to restrict financial transactions with hostile foreign actors during national security emergencies. By invoking IEEPA to impose tariffs without Congressional input or a transparent policy process, the Trump Administration is attempting an unlawful executive overreach that harms Americans\u2019 financial interests and undermines Congress\u2019s constitutional authority.\n\n\u201cPresidents have used IEEPA to block financial transactions with hostile actors, freeze assets, and to impose targeted sanctions ... Yet between 1977 and 2024, not once did a President use IEEPA to impose tariffs. The total absence of tariffs for nearly fifty years reinforces the conclusion that the statute does not authorize such measures,\u201d the amicus briefing states.\n\nThe Supreme Court filing follows consistent rulings from three key courts: The Federal Circuit; the Court of International Trade; and the District Court for the District of Columbia, which all found the Trump Administration\u2019s misuse of IEEPA to impose tariffs to be unlawful.\n\nOral arguments in the case are set to begin before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 5.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined with Reed and 34 other U.S. Senators in signing the brief, which is also backed by 171 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-seek-to-boost-social-security-benefits-for-seniors", "Reed & Whitehouse Seek to Boost Social Security Benefits for Seniors", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The Trump Administration announced the latest Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) this month: a paltry 2.8 percent increase that is unlikely to keep pace with the cost of surging healthcare premiums and other price hikes fueled by President Donald Trump\u2019s irresponsible tariff policies and tax laws that are geared toward billionaires. This amounts to an average of $52 per month per recipient starting in January 2026. But the projected 11.6 percent increase in Medicare Part B premiums next year would wipe out about 40 percent of the COLA increase for retirees.\n\nOver 70 million Americans receive their earned Social Security benefits, and for 40 percent of older Americans, Social Security is their primary source of income.\n\nThis week, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introduced the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act (S.3059). This legislation seeks to protect and expand Social Security benefits for older adults. As Social Security benefits have failed to accurately account for rising costs and inflation, the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act makes necessary changes to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) formula, better supporting older Americans who rely on Social Security benefits.\n\n\u201cThis overdue measure makes necessary adjustments to Social Security benefits\u2014more accurately accounting for rising prices and inflation\u2014to better support older Americans,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cOur nation\u2019s seniors are struggling to afford basic necessities like food, medication, and clothing, and the overall cost of living index may not reflect their particular needs. This legislation ensures that older Americans have the support they deserve to live with dignity.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is boosting inflation and shortchanging seniors. Rapidly rising costs and health care price spikes mean more Social Security recipients are feeling the pinch. I am concerned the latest COLA is inadequate and seniors on fixed incomes will feel the real value of their Social Security payments decrease. Our seniors deserve a bump in Social Security pay to ensure their purchasing power keeps pace with economic reality,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cPresident Trump must join Democrats in trying to get costs under control. We must protect Social Security, strengthen it, and prevent partisan detractors from further undermining it and trying to reduce benefits or cut the COLA altogether.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island seniors pay into Social Security over a lifetime of hard work so they can enjoy a dignified retirement,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, a founding member of the Expand Social Security Caucus. \u201cAs the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans drive up costs for Rhode Islanders, our commonsense legislation increases benefits and protects the promise of Social Security for future beneficiaries.\u201d\n\nWhitehouse\u2019s Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act would protect the solvency of Social Security and Medicare for at least 75 years by requiring the nation\u2019s highest earners to contribute a fairer share of their income into the system. Reed and Whitehouse also cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in January. The legislation eliminated two policies that reduced Social Security benefits for public service employees.\n\nThe Social Security Administration has paid COLAs since 1975.\n\nThe Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act directs the Social Security Administration to adjust benefits based on the Consumer Price Index for Americans aged 62 or older (CPI-E), whereas current benefits are based off the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). The CPI-E takes into account more of the costs incurred by older Americans, such as medical expenses\u2014making it more a more reflective index to use when calculating benefits.\n\nForbes.com notes: \u201cWhile the COLA increase is a welcome boost in a small benefit check, not many people realize \u2014 until they receive a Social Security check \u2014 that Medicare premiums are deducted from it. According to projections from AARP published August 12, 2025: 'How Social Security COLA May Increase 2026 Benefits\u2019, premiums could rise nearly 12%, from $185 in 2025 to an estimated $206.50 in 2026. For many retirees, this will offset the COLA. A retiree with a $2,000 monthly benefit might see a gross increase of $54, but after Medicare deductions, the net increase could be as little as $32.50.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Fetterman (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).\n\nThe Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act is supported by a number of organizations, including: the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Social Security Works, California Alliance for Retired Americans, Alliance for Retired Americans, Justice in Aging, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Education Association, National Organization of Social Security Claimants\u2019 Representatives, New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, and Women\u2019s Institute for a Secure Retirement.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-the-passing-of-ambassador-j-william-middendorf", "Reed Statement on the Passing of Ambassador J. William Middendorf", "2025-10-25", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2013 Ambassador J. William \u201cBill\u201d Middendorf II passed away Friday at the age of 101. A seventy-plus year resident of Little Compton, Middendorf had an extensive career that included serving as an engineering officer and navigator during World War II, an investment banker, as treasurer of the Republican National Committee, and was appointed to ambassadorships in the Netherlands, the Organization of American States, and the European Union. He also served as the 62nd Secretary of the Navy.\n\nU.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today paid tribute to Ambassador Middendorf, issuing the following statement:\n\n\u201cBill Middendorf was a true patriot, a strong leader, and an impactful Rhode Islander. We are grateful for his distinguished service as a sailor, statesman, and thoughtful diplomat. His contributions to the state as a businessman, author, artist, and community leader are many.\n\n\u201cAs a diplomat and Navy secretary, he understood the importance of international relations, alliances, and the power of American values. I didn\u2019t always see eye to eye with Bill on every issue, but I always respected his scholarly insight and integrity, and appreciated his passion, wit, and self-effacing humor.\n\n\u201cRhode Island and the nation have lost a faithful public servant and I have lost a friend. We salute both Bill and his late, great wife, Isabelle, for a life well lived and extend our condolences to their beloved children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-presents-purple-heart-and-other-military-honors-family-wwii-veteran", "Magaziner Presents Purple Heart and Other Military Honors to Family of WWII Veteran", "2025-10-24", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WARWICK, RI \u2013 U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) presented the Purple Heart Medal and other military honors to the family of U.S. Navy veteran Richard Wellington Vertz, who was killed in action during World War II. Magaziner\u2019s staff secured the reissuance of Purple Heart for the family after it was lost, and in the process, discovered other awards earned by the veteran.\n\nMagaziner presented the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin to Sylvia Duxbury during a small presentation ceremony.\n\nDuxbury\u2019s uncle, Richard Wellington Vertz, served in the U.S. Navy and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart after being killed in action near Okinawa in 1945. The Purple Heart was presented to Vertz\u2019s family shortly after his death but was lost over the years.\n\n80 years later, Duxbury contacted Magaziner\u2019s office to request assistance in getting the Purple Heart reissued. After correspondence with the Navy, Magaziner\u2019s office secured a replacement for the Purple Heart award and secured the other medals earned by Vertz that his family had never previously received.\n\n\u201cRichard Wellington Vertz represents the very best of our country, giving his life near Okinawa during World War II to protect the freedoms we hold close,\u201d said Magaziner. \u201cHis bravery, and his family\u2019s dedication to preserving his legacy, are truly commendable. I am honored to have helped replace Mr. Vertz\u2019s Purple Heart and ensure his service is recognized with the medals he rightfully earned.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/latest-data-shows-trump-policies-causing-prices-to-rise-job-market-to-shrink-and-economic-uncertainty-to-spread", "Latest Data Shows Trump Policies Causing Prices to Rise, Job Market to Shrink, & Economic Uncertainty to Spread", "2025-10-24", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- President Donald Trump\u2019s weak handling of the economy and costly trade wars are hampering American commerce and forcing consumers to pay more for groceries, medicine, cars, housing, and everyday goods and services. At the same time, Trump is forcing a much heavier economic burden onto working families and states by cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid and causing people to pay double or triple for health insurance. As a result, more Americans are about to be hit with price shocks, inflation is rising, the Trump economy is shedding jobs, and small businesses and big companies alike are paralyzed by needless economic uncertainty.\n\n\u201cPeople are really struggling. More Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. And Donald Trump\u2019s chaotic and irresponsible economic policies are making things worse. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are raising costs, putting people out of work, and putting Main Street companies out of business because they\u2019re uncertain of what Trump will do to them next. President Trump bragged about giving a big tax cut to billionaires, but he's making everyone else poorer -- taking a bigger bite out of people\u2019s paycheck, making them pay more for essentials, and driving up inflation and the debt alike. The Trump Administration must change course before the president drives America into recession,\u201d said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.\n\nThe latest economic data released this week shows annual inflation hitting 3 percent -- a full percentage point higher than the Federal Reserve\u2019s target. And it comes amidst the backdrop of President Trump abruptly terminating trade negotiations with Canada, after the president got upset about a Canadian television advertisement featuring footage of former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs like the dubious ones imposed unilaterally by Trump.\n\nAccording to a new analysis by Moody\u2019s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, 21 states nationwide -- including Rhode Island -- are currently in or at high risk of entering a recession, while another 13 are classified as \u2018treading water.\u2019\n\nTrump\u2019s war on renewable energy and eagerness to halt shovel-ready and nearly finished projects that compete with his oil or coal backers is reducing energy supply -- causing America to fall behind on meeting its energy demands while increasing utility bills for homes and businesses alike. All Americans are paying more for Trump's backward energy policies which have caused electricity prices to surge and outpace inflation, increasing 10 percent in the past year.\n\nBusinesses are also hiring far fewer workers than in recent years, pushing unemployment higher and forcing millions of Americans into deeper financial pain. Businesses have also been negatively impacted by Trump's immigration policies. Some sectors, like housing, construction, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and the restaurant industry have been hit particularly hard, and many more have been unable to find enough low-skilled workers. Additionally, Trump took a sledgehammer to the H-1B visa worker program, blocking high-skilled workers from overseas coming to American companies in fields such as sciences, medicine, technology, and biotechnology -- hampering innovation and economic growth and giving foreign competitors a leg up on the competition to win the future.\n\nAnd while Trump\u2019s unmoored and chaotic policies are making it harder for U.S. businesses to compete, Trump is handing out personal favors to prop up foreign friends, such as the President of Argentina. The Trump Administration provided Argentina President Javier Milei\u2019s government with a $20 billion U.S. taxpayer backed bailout earlier this month, which both Trump and his staff made clear was provided solely to help President Milei in October\u2019s elections. Argentina repaid President Trump\u2019s giveaway by promptly suspending certain export taxes and doubling its soybean sales to China overnight -- undercutting American soybean farmers who have been frozen out by China, normally their largest market, since President Trump\u2019s tariffs took effect earlier this year. Instead of learning its lesson, the Trump Administration is now offering President Milei another sweetheart deal; this time to buy more beef from Argentina at the expense of American ranchers.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s weak ego is damaging Americans in every state -- not for the betterment of the country, quite the opposite: He is being fiscally irresponsible and putting his own personal interests above the nation\u2019s to the detriment of hardworking Americans,\u201d said Reed.\n\nAmericans have taken notice: a new Quinnipiac University poll released this week shows just 38 percent of voters approve of Trump\u2019s handling of the economy.\n\nU.S. job growth has slowed from an average of 150,000 per month at the start of 2025 to just 25,000 by August, according to analysis from Elsie Peng, research economist at Goldman Sachs. More recent data from payroll company ADP found the private sector actually lost 32,000 jobs last month. Ms. Peng's report noted that uncertainty created by constant changes in trade policy appear to be dampening investment and holding companies back from hiring.\n\nSenator Reed noted that the United States has many economic advantages, America\u2019s economy can come roaring back, and that the United States must continue to be the world\u2019s most innovative nation. But that requires President Trump to change course, to start prioritizing the middle-class and Main Street, and to start behaving in a more balanced, strategic, and stable manner that puts America\u2019s interests above his own personal whims.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s economic policies are negatively impacting people\u2019s financial health and spiking health care costs at the same time. Hardworking Americans deserve relief. Instead, they are suffering while Trump proposes paying himself a quarter billion dollars courtesy of American taxpayers, sends $20 billion in U.S. tax dollars to Argentina, and builds himself a gilded palace ballroom that would make Marie Antoinette blush. And he is using dark money for the ballroom that he claims is \u2018donated\u2019 but refuses to tell anyone where the money is actually coming from, who provided it, and what favors he did in return to those who provided it. The American people want and deserve answers and Republicans in Congress need to stop hiding and join Democrats in providing real oversight,\u201d concluded Reed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-call-on-trump-admin-to-release-snap-contingency-funds", "Reed & Whitehouse Call on Trump Admin. to Release SNAP Contingency Funds", "2025-10-24", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Historically, both Democratic and Republican administrations have found ways to sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program during past budget crises and federal shutdowns by using contingency funds, carry-over appropriations, and short-term adjustments. That was the case in 2013 and 2018-2019. But now, despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is legally obligated to release SNAP contingency funds, the Trump Administration is threatening to withhold roughly $6 billion in reserve funding meant to help feed vulnerable Americans and is choosing not to transfer funds from other available USDA reserve accounts.\n\nStressing the importance of sustained funding for SNAP, which helps feed nearly 42 million Americans nationwide, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined 44 of their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to protect and deliver full SNAP benefits for the coming month. If the Trump Administration refuses to follow the law and take appropriate action, 140,000 Rhode Islanders may not receive SNAP benefits on November 1.\n\nSNAP is administered jointly by states and USDA and receives federal funding through the annual appropriations process. However, the Trump-Republican budget law that was recently enacted cut SNAP by $186 billion over the coming years to fund the GOP\u2019s billionaire tax breaks. Still, SNAP has a contingency fund of about $6 billion that, by law, should be tapped, and USDA has other sources of funding it could use to ensure SNAP benefits are disbursed without interruption.\n\nThis week, Reed and Whitehouse joined with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and forty-three of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins urging the Trump Administration not to delay or deny SNAP funds to states. The senators say USDA should release the billions of dollars currently at USDA\u2019s disposal to ensure SNAP benefits continue uninterrupted in November. The senators warn that inaction by the Trump Administration would be cruel, unnecessary, and could force millions of Americans to go hungry.\n\nThe Democrats raised the alarm about the USDA\u2019s failure to use available funding to continue SNAP, writing: \u201cWe were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will \u2018run out of money in two weeks.\u2019 In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown,\u201d the 46 U.S. Senators continued.\n\nThe Senators concluded: \u201cIn the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA\u2019s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.\u201d\n\nThe non-partisan Food Research & Action Center echoed these concerns and called out the Trump Administration, stating: \u201cAllowing hunger to deepen during a shutdown is not an inevitability; it is a policy choice. The Trump Administration has demonstrated urgency in funding other priorities, but not the same commitment to protecting low-income families\u2019 access to food through SNAP.\u201d\n\nAccording to USDA\u2019s own funding lapse plan, which the Trump Administration removed after September 30 and replaced with a partisan message trying to blame others for the shutdown, SNAP \u201cshall continue operations during a lapse in appropriations, subject to the availability of funding.\u201d Internet archives show USDA\u2019s funding lapse plan, which clearly acknowledges: \u201cCongressional intent is evident that SNAP\u2019s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown. These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.\u201d\n\nReed and Whitehouse point out that in addition to helping 140,000 Rhode Islanders in need access nutritious food, SNAP supports local farmers and grocers, and strengthens our communities and economy. The state receives about $29 million per month -- nearly $350 million per year -- from the federal government to administer SNAP across Rhode Island.\n\nIn Rhode Island, SNAP participants receive an average individual monthly benefit of roughly $200, or about $6.50 per day. Recipients may use their SNAP benefits to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread and other foods at 900 retailers and markets across the state.\n\nSNAP eligibility and benefit amounts are based on income, expenses, resources and the number of people living in a household. Recipients get an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that can be used at supermarkets, grocery/convenience stores, farmers\u2019 markets and participating online retailers.\n\nLocal foodbanks are bracing for increased demand due to the SNAP disruption and Rhode Islanders in need may call United Way of Rhode Island\u2019s (UWRI) 2-1-1 hotline to get connected to help.\n\nIn addition to Reed, Whitehouse, and Booker, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), 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), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nFull text of the letter follows:\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation\u2019s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.\n\nWe were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will \u201crun out of money in two weeks.\u201d In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.\n\nAmericans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA\u2019s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 687, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "RI", "p1": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 687, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 379, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}, {"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 308, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "RI", "label": "RI", "count": 687, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 687, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-10-24,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ereed~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Freleases~2Freed-and-whitehouse-call-on-trump-admin-to-release-snap-contingency-funds", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=RI&year=2025&_next=2025-10-24%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ereed~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Freleases~2Freed-and-whitehouse-call-on-trump-admin-to-release-snap-contingency-funds&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 182.25221382454038, "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"}