url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/memo-rhode-island-media-cicilline-2020-fighting-people,Cicilline in 2020: Fighting For the People,2020-12-31,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"To: Rhode Island Editors, Editorial Writers, Reporters From: The Office of Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) Re: 2020 End of Year Report Date: December 31, 2020 Overview In 2020, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) once again delivered on his promises to fight For The People of Rhode Island. Most notably, as a member of House Leadership during an unprecedented public health crisis, he played a key role in ensuring that Rhode Island state and local officials received the federal resources they needed to take on the pandemic. COVID Relief for Rhode Island Families From the moment COVID-19 swept through the country and began wreaking havoc, I started working with my colleagues to ensure we addressed Rhode Islanders' urgent needs: Keeping your family healthy Since we first learned that the pandemic had hit our shores, I fought for a national testing strategy. The HEROES Act would have supported testing, tracing and treatment, by providing $75 billion in funding for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers, as well as making improvements to our testing infrastructure. The House passed the HEROES Act on May 15, 2020, but the bill never became law because Senator Mitch McConnell refused to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. The CARES Act, passed into law in March, requires that private insurance plans cover COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, and provided $1.3 billion in emergency funding for Community Health Centers, which are responsible for providing health care services for approximately 28 million Americans. On March 18, 2020, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which mandates free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test. This law also included $82 million to the Department of Defense TRICARE health program to carry out detection of COVID-19 and testing related visits; $64 million for the Indian Health Services for COVID-19 diagnosis and testing related visits; $1 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Given the lack of a national testing strategy, the House has done everything we can to ensure that every American is able to get tested for COVID-19 and receive treatment. Helping your family weather the economic crisis When the pandemic forced the American economy to shut down, I fought to make sure Congress sent $1,200 direct cash payments to adults and $500 for children in the CARES Act. And as the economy felt the impact of the virus, the CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance so more Rhode Islanders could access benefits. The bill made available an additional $600 a week and extended benefits for 13 weeks. The CARES Act also made available $454 billion in life-saving loans for businesses, states, and cities. This included $1.25 billion for the State of Rhode Island through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Rhode Islanders have also been able to secure 17,941 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, totaling $1,906,190,125 and 10,679 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for $565,362,000. And I have been fighting for additional funding for cities throughout the pandemic, striving to ensure that Rhode Island cities and towns are able to continue to grow. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law. This bill will send an additional $600 in direct cash payments to adults and $600 for children. While these payments are a step in the right direction, I know Americans need significant survival checks. This past week, I voted for H.R. 9051 - CASH Act, which would raise these payments to $2,000 per adult. Democrats fought hard to include expanded unemployment insurance benefits in this package. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 makes available an additional $300 a week and extended benefits for 10 weeks. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 also makes available an additional $284 billion in Payroll Protection Program forgivable loans. These loans have served as a lifeline for hard-hit small businesses. Keeping Rhode Islanders in their homes Housing is always essential, but especially at a time when staying in our homes protects us from a deadly disease, housing is even more important. To keep Rhode Islanders safely housed, I supported a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the CARES Act. I also supported $11.5 billion to combat homelessness and $100 billion for short term rental assistance in the HEROES Act. Delivering for Rhode Island One of my highest priorities is to ensure that Rhode Islanders have the resources we need to stay healthy, safe, and maintain good jobs. Over the past year, that includes securing: $1.8 million for Rhode Island fire departments, including $209,809 for critical firefighter breathing apparatus for the Central Falls Fire Department. $34 million in regular Community Development Block Grants and CARES Act Community Development Block Grants funds for the State of Rhode Island and first congressional district entitlement communities. Some of these funds were utilized by the state to establish a Microenterprise Stabilization Grant Program, designed to help microbusinesses largely left out of federal relief programs. Millions of dollars to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. This included $209,979 for crisis counseling and $3,342,540 this year in Emergency Management Performance Grants, which assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. And through FEMA's Public Assistance program, Rhode Island has been reimbursed over $94 million to date for life-saving emergency protective measures in response to COVID-19. Hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID relief funding through the CARES Act for educators, students, fisheries, and so much more. This included $8,704,245 through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, $46,350,444 through the School Emergency Relief Fund, and $3,293,234 through the Fishery Disaster Assistance Program. Over $90 million through critical BUILD and INFRA grants to support needed infrastructure investments. This included over $65 million to RIDOT to make improvements, increase safety, and reduce congestion along Route 146. Over $7 million to the state through the Economic Development Administration, including $230,000 for the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls to develop a joint economic development action plan for the Conant Thread District, which overlaps the two municipalities. Over $6 million to the Rhode Island Department of Education to support high quality afternoon school programs through 21st Century Community Learning Centers. $3.4 million in federal funds coming to Rhode Island for the arts, humanities, museums, and libraries. This includes $184,576 for the Preservation Society of Newport County to complete a digitization initiative of 13 high-priority special collections. Fighting for Racial Justice In April 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited Rhode Island and said, I haven't lost faith in the future, but I never intend to adjust myself to the madness of militarism or racial inequality. More than 50 years later we are still fighting the madness of racial inequality. We can build a better, more just country. Since my time as Mayor of Providence I have fought to end racial profiling, end militarism in policing and practices like the chokehold. This is a time for Americans of all races to come together and fight racism and inequality and I have been proud to advocate for that on the floor of Congress. I cosponsored and voted for H.R.7120 - the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would implement sweeping police reform policies to our country by establishing a national standard for the operation of police departments, banning dangerous choke holds, ending qualified immunity for police, prohibiting racial and religious profiling, and mandating data collection on police encounters among other reforms. I cosponsored and voted for S.2163/H.R. 1636, the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act, which establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to make a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys. This bill became law on August 14, 2020. I cosponsored and voted for H.Res. 908, Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19, which calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment, racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance related to COVID-19. Voted for H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act (EIEA), which reestablishes the ability for students who have been wronged to seek justice and dismantle discriminatory policies and practices that unjustly punish them. Cosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 221 4, the NO BAN Act, which rescinds all versions of the Muslim Ban and prohibits religion-based discrimination in our immigration system. Cosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 2639, the Strength in Diversity Act, which seeks to address segregation in America's schools by providing federal funding to support voluntary local efforts to increase diversity in schools. Standing up for Rhode Island Values Taking on Big Tech Monopolies Over the past year and a half, I am proud to have led Congress' biggest investigation into the four largest technology companies and whether they have stifled competition. I am fighting to make sure that the digital economy works for all Rhode Islanders and all Americans, and that it's not a vehicle to make the rich richer at the expense of the rest of us. Our investigation involved seven congressional hearings, the production of nearly 1.3 million internal documents and communications, submissions from 38 antitrust experts, and interviews with more than 240 market participants, former employees of the investigated platforms, and other individuals. This top to bottom review of the state of competition in the digital economy confirms that the digital economy has become highly concentrated and prone to monopolization. Congress must consider a menu of reforms that will achieve three key priorities:Restoring competition in the digital economy, including Structural separations and prohibitions of certain dominant platforms from operating in adjacent lines of business. Strengthening existing antitrust laws. Reviving antitrust enforcement including Civil penalties for unfair methods of competition rules. Investing in the Blue Economy Rhode Island's blue economy, the economic sectors with a direct or indirect link to Rhode Island's coasts and ocean defense, marine trades, tourism and recreation, fisheries, aquaculture, ports and shipping, and offshore renewable energy is bustling, and has room for growth. I have worked hard to grow the blue economy in Rhode Island and the Northeast through the introduction of the Southern New England Regional Commission Act, which would help integrate cross-border assets and information to help the region sustainably utilize its ocean resources for economic growth. I support the Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act, which would extend tax credits for offshore wind development through 2026 a burgeoning industry in the Northeast. I have continued to work to bring investment in Rhode Island's ports, fought to safeguard our fisheries, and worked to promote the state's ocean-based tourism. At the same time, I recognize the threat that climate change poses to Rhode Island's natural resources and have pushed for a shift away from our nation's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Serving You Over the past year, my staff in both Pawtucket and Washington have worked relentlessly to serve the people of our great state. In 2020, we: Provided casework assistance for more than 1,800 Rhode Islanders who requested help with Social Security, Medicare and Veterans benefits, COVID relief programs, IRS tax refunds, and other federal agencies. Hosted and participated in more than 120 constituent meetings and community events, including 18 Town Hall meetings, community conversations, and roundtable discussions on COVID-19 response and recovery, small business assistance, resources for seniors, health care and prescription drug costs, immigration, and more. Responded to 3,058 calls, letters, and emails from constituents. Provided 29 internship opportunities for young people to learn more about the federal government. Provided more than 105 books to three public libraries in the district through the Library of Congress Surplus Book Program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-cnn-newsroom,Cicilline on CNN Newsroom,2020-12-25,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) joined CNN Newsroom this morning to discuss last night's House vote increasing survival checks from $600 to $2,000. Click the following image to watch Cicilline's interview in full. Excerpts of Cicilline's remarks are embedded below. We did two important things yesterday. We overrode the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization bill to be sure, our troops get the pay raise they deserve, that we take care of our veterans, that we protect the defense of our country. And we also passed in a bipartisan way with over two thirds vote of the House to raise the survival checks to $2,000. The president says he supports that. He should be pressuring Mitch McConnell to bring that bill to the floor for a vote. People are struggling. They're facing difficulties paying their bills, or paying rent or mortgage, putting food on the table. We're in the worst economic crisis of our lifetime, the worst pandemic health crisis in 100 years. The federal government needs to do more to help struggling families. The $2,000 again is a down payment, but I hope the Senate will quickly pass it and give badly needed relief to the American people. Mitch McConnell has been a sort of Grim Reaper of legislation historically. There are hundreds of bills that we've passed out of the House that are sitting on his desk that he refuses to bring to the floor. This is just the most recent example, and I think whatever method they can use to force the vote on both those things is a good idea.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/597500-eda-grants-slater-technology-fund-ri-bio-will-boost-health-care-startups-ri,"$597,500 in EDA Grants for Slater Technology Fund, RI Bio Will Boost Health Care Startups in RI",2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"September 17, 2020 Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that two Rhode Island organizations have received a total of $597,500 in grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's 2020 Build to Scale Capital Challenge. Providence-based Slater Technology Fund has been awarded a $300,000 grant to partner with Brown University on a new initiative to boost health care-related technology startups. RI Bio won a $297,500 grant to launch a program aimed at commercializing and expanding life science startup activity in Rhode Island. This is a cost-effective investment in encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation here in Rhode Island. Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, RI Bio and their partners will use this federal funding to help health-tech and life science startups achieve lift off and translate their scientific discoveries into commercial products. Developing these companies and accelerating medical solutions can have major benefits for patients and economic development benefits as well, said Senator Reed. With world-class universities and top-notch health care providers, Rhode Island has a solid foundation for growing our health technology sector, said Senator Whitehouse. Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio will put these federal funds to work helping local health care and life sciences startups bring their businesses to scale, add jobs, and make much-needed investments in the local economy. Rhode Island has a wealth of talent and renowned institutions to lead cutting-edge medical research that can improve lives and boost our local economy, said Congressman Langevin. The grant funding awarded to Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio is a direct investment into the long-term success of Rhode Island. Through this type of support the Ocean State can continue to be a hub for innovation. Rhode Island's emerging startup and growing life science sectors are already creating jobs and generating economic growth around the state, said Congressman Cicilline. These new federal funding awards will remove barriers between research and risk capital and contribute to our developing innovation ecosystem. I am delighted we are bringing these resources home to the Ocean State to support Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio Network to continue to expand life-science and health startup activity. The EDA's Capital Challenge is designed to increase access to capital in communities where risk capital is in short supply. Funding from the Capital Challenge may be used to provide operational support for the formation, launch, or scale of investment funds that seek to invest capital in scalable startups. Slater Technology Fund's Translational Ventures Slater Technology Fund has provided seed and early-stage capital to support technology-based startups in Rhode Island for more than two decades. This EDA funding will allow Slater to collaborate with Brown University and other partners to establish Translational Ventures, a regional initiative dedicated to growing the knowledge economy. The initiative will focus on investing in seed-stage technology companies working in translational researchresearch specifically designed to improve health outcomes. Translational Ventures will help startups seek out new technologies, facilitate connections with founders and funders, and establish best practices to expand the initiative to other universities in the region. Entrepreneurs drive translational research out of the labs and into the world. Money powers these teams, and Slater has been innovating alongside them in the area of risk capital, said Thorne Sparkman, managing director of Slater Technology Fund. The EDA grant will accelerate our capital formation activities which support the most compelling founders attacking the most important problems. There's no better foundation for that than research from a top-tier university, so we're excited to work with our partners at Brown to expand on our mission. Academic leaders at Brown say the initiative reflects a rapidly growing emphasis among the University's biomedical scholars on translational science ensuring that breakthroughs in research are advanced to the point where they can make a meaningful different for patients, and that urgent scientific questions identified among patient populations become research priorities in Brown's laboratories. It also complements Brown and the Innovation Economy, the University's action plan to optimize the ability of faculty to turn research into commercial ventures. We are excited to work with Slater Technology Fund on this important initiative and appreciative of these efforts to grow startups, said Neil Veloso, executive director of Brown Technology Innovations, the technology transfer arm of the University. When paired with entrepreneurs and seeded with capital, innovations launched at Brown can form the basis of high-impact startup companies that can benefit both the state's economy and residents across the region. RI Bio Network Program RI Bio will use the $297,500 EDA grant to launch the new RI Bio Network Program, which is aimed at commercializing and expanding life science startup activity in Rhode Island. The RI Bio Network Program will represent an expansion of RI Bio's suite of business and technical assistance available to the life sciences community. RI Bio is excited to be among the 52 recipients awarded the EDA Build to Scale funds. Through this significant and timely investment, we can grow the Life Sciences entrepreneurial ecosystem in RI and transform the state into a recognized leader as a Life Sciences innovation hub. The future of RI's economic prosperity depends on our ability to support an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem, fueled by vision, partnerships, collaboration and important investments like this, said Carol Malysz, Executive Director of RI Bio. Most importantly, this EDA investment will allow RI Bio and our partners to commercialize and expand life science start-up activity in Rhode Island's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Rhode Island will have the chance to bring medical and scientific excellence to the forefront to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, impacting the health and wellbeing of all Rhode Islanders. RI Bio is Rhode Island's Life Sciences trade organization and state affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the world's largest biotech trade organization. As the Life Sciences convener and hub for Rhode Island, RI Bio connects entrepreneurs with universities, government agencies, medical centers, professional associations, trade organizations, service providers and investors, to help bring their developments to market, create jobs, and make an economic impact in Rhode Island.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/597500-in-eda-grants-for-slater-technology-fund-ri-bio-will-boost-health-care-startups-in-ri,"$597,500 in EDA Grants for Slater Technology Fund, RI Bio Will Boost Health Care Startups in RI",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.17.20 $597,500 in EDA Grants for Slater Technology Fund, RI Bio Will Boost Health Care Startups in RI Federal grants will launch new partnership to support translational research companies and a program to grow life science startups Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that two Rhode Island organizations have received a total of $597,500 in grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's 2020 Build to Scale Capital Challenge. Providence-based Slater Technology Fund has been awarded a $300,000 grant to partner with Brown University on a new initiative to boost health care-related technology startups. RI Bio won a $297,500 grant to launch a program aimed at commercializing and expanding life science startup activity in Rhode Island. This is a cost-effective investment in encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation here in Rhode Island. Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, RI Bio and their partners will use this federal funding to help health-tech and life science startups achieve lift off and translate their scientific discoveries into commercial products. Developing these companies and accelerating medical solutions can have major benefits for patients and economic development benefits as well, said Senator Reed. With world-class universities and top-notch health care providers, Rhode Island has a solid foundation for growing our health technology sector, said Senator Whitehouse. Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio will put these federal funds to work helping local health care and life sciences startups bring their businesses to scale, add jobs, and make much-needed investments in the local economy. Rhode Island has a wealth of talent and renowned institutions to lead cutting-edge medical research that can improve lives and boost our local economy, said Congressman Langevin. The grant funding awarded to Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio is a direct investment into the long-term success of Rhode Island. Through this type of support the Ocean State can continue to be a hub for innovation. Rhode Island's emerging startup and growing life science sectors are already creating jobs and generating economic growth around the state, said Congressman Cicilline. These new federal funding awards will remove barriers between research and risk capital and contribute to our developing innovation ecosystem. I am delighted we are bringing these resources home to the Ocean State to support Slater Technology Fund, Brown University, and RI Bio Network to continue to expand life-science and health startup activity. The EDA's Capital Challenge is designed to increase access to capital in communities where risk capital is in short supply. Funding from the Capital Challenge may be used to provide operational support for the formation, launch, or scale of investment funds that seek to invest capital in scalable startups. Slater Technology Fund's Translational Ventures Slater Technology Fund has provided seed and early-stage capital to support technology-based startups in Rhode Island for more than two decades. This EDA funding will allow Slater to collaborate with Brown University and other partners to establish Translational Ventures, a regional initiative dedicated to growing the knowledge economy. The initiative will focus on investing in seed-stage technology companies working in translational researchresearch specifically designed to improve health outcomes. Translational Ventures will help startups seek out new technologies, facilitate connections with founders and funders, and establish best practices to expand the initiative to other universities in the region. Entrepreneurs drive translational research out of the labs and into the world. Money powers these teams, and Slater has been innovating alongside them in the area of risk capital, said Thorne Sparkman, managing director of Slater Technology Fund. The EDA grant will accelerate our capital formation activities which support the most compelling founders attacking the most important problems. There's no better foundation for that than research from a top-tier university, so we're excited to work with our partners at Brown to expand on our mission. Academic leaders at Brown say the initiative reflects a rapidly growing emphasis among the University's biomedical scholars on translational science ensuring that breakthroughs in research are advanced to the point where they can make a meaningful different for patients, and that urgent scientific questions identified among patient populations become research priorities in Brown's laboratories. It also complements Brown and the Innovation Economy, the University's action plan to optimize the ability of faculty to turn research into commercial ventures. We are excited to work with Slater Technology Fund on this important initiative and appreciative of these efforts to grow startups, said Neil Veloso, executive director of Brown Technology Innovations, the technology transfer arm of the University. When paired with entrepreneurs and seeded with capital, innovations launched at Brown can form the basis of high-impact startup companies that can benefit both the state's economy and residents across the region. RI Bio Network Program RI Bio will use the $297,500 EDA grant to launch the new RI Bio Network Program, which is aimed at commercializing and expanding life science startup activity in Rhode Island. The RI Bio Network Program will represent an expansion of RI Bio's suite of business and technical assistance available to the life sciences community. RI Bio is excited to be among the 52 recipients awarded the EDA Build to Scale funds. Through this significant and timely investment, we can grow the Life Sciences entrepreneurial ecosystem in RI and transform the state into a recognized leader as a Life Sciences innovation hub. The future of RI's economic prosperity depends on our ability to support an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem, fueled by vision, partnerships, collaboration and important investments like this, said Carol Malysz, Executive Director of RI Bio. Most importantly, this EDA investment will allow RI Bio and our partners to commercialize and expand life science start-up activity in Rhode Island's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Rhode Island will have the chance to bring medical and scientific excellence to the forefront to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, impacting the health and wellbeing of all Rhode Islanders. RI Bio is Rhode Island's Life Sciences trade organization and state affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the world's largest biotech trade organization. As the Life Sciences convener and hub for Rhode Island, RI Bio connects entrepreneurs with universities, government agencies, medical centers, professional associations, trade organizations, service providers and investors, to help bring their developments to market, create jobs, and make an economic impact in Rhode Island.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-markey-heinrich-applaud-ferc-completion-of-key-renewable-energy-rule,"Whitehouse, Markey, Heinrich Applaud FERC Completion of Key Renewable Energy Rule",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.17.20 Whitehouse, Markey, Heinrich Applaud FERC Completion of Key Renewable Energy Rule At senators' urging, Commission delivers on commitments to help bring additional renewable energy onto the grid Washington, D.C. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) released the following statement today on the decision of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to finalize a key rule that will help pave the way for Americans to connect their rooftop solar, wind, and energy storage devices to the electrical grid. We're glad the Commission, under Chairman Chatterjee's leadership, delivered on its commitment to complete this important proposal. States like ours are making big strides in helping distributed generation grow and benefit consumers. This new rule will bring more renewable energy onto the grid, reducing carbon pollution and saving Americans on energy costs. Now, it's time to build on this progress. The more FERC can do to level the playing field for renewables, the faster we can help consumers and address the climate crisis. The new FERC rule helps renewable energy aggregatorslike utilities and energy cooperativesto integrate distributed energy resources (DER) into capacity and energy markets. That change will help to grow a more flexible and resilient grid while delivering lower energy prices for consumers, and may also spur swifter adoption of electric vehicles. Whitehouse and Markey have on multiple occasions led colleagues in pressing FERC to finalize both the DER and energy storage rules (see the senators' calls from 2017, 2018, and 2019). They have repeatedly pointed out that the proposals would aid grid operators in bringing renewables online to compete with fossil fuels while improving reliability and reducing costs for customers. As part of this effort, the senators met with FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee before his confirmation in 2017 to discuss the important role FERC plays in growing the renewable energy industry. During his service on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Heinrich has repeatedly pressed FERC nominees and other Trump officials on the need for the new rule. Renewable energy is an increasingly important part of America's energy mix and a key employer. The renewable energy industry currently employs over 800,000 Americans and provides over 15 percent of our energy supply. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/senator-whitehouse-on-partisan-judicial-nominees,Senator Whitehouse on Partisan Judicial Nominees,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/chairman-langevin%E2%80%99s-opening-remarks-ietc-hearing-national-security-commission,Chairman Langevins Opening Remarks at IETC Hearing on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligences Interim Findings,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities, offered the following opening remarks at the subcommittee hearing he is chairing entitled: Interim Review of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Effort and Recommendations. Video of Langevin's statement and a live feed of the proceedings: https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings?ID=70C87ECC-DF3E-4B34-A8C7-CA9EE8B70B3A I am pleased to welcome four commissioners from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, a commission created by this committee in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to consider the methods and means necessary to advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated technologies to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States. Our intent for this commission was to ensure a bipartisan whole-of-government effort focused on solving national security issues, and we appreciate the leadership and hard work of our witnesses in supporting the commission's efforts in that spirit. Today we welcome Dr. Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Commission; Robert Work, Vice Chairman; Mignon Clyburn, commissioner on the workforce and ethics lines of effort; and Dr. Jos Marie Griffiths, commissioner on the ethics line of effort, and chair of the workforce team. Our understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) started in the 1950s and 60s through research funded through the Department of Defense's vital science and technology investments by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research and was aided by the convening power of universities. Now more than half a century later, this Commission is working through the difficult issues requiring national investments in research and software development and new approaches on how to apply AI appropriately for national security missions; attract and hold onto the best talent; protect and build upon our technical advantages; best partner with our allies on AI; stay ahead of the threat posed by this technology in the hands of adversaries; and implement ethical requirements for responsible American-built AI. Indeed, last year the Defense Innovation Board, which was also chaired until recently by Dr. Schmidt, helped the Department begin the necessary discussions on ethics in AI. I applaud the Commission for being forward leaning by not only releasing an initial and annual report as required in law, but also releasing quarterly recommendations. Ranking Member Stefanik and I, along with Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry, were pleased to support a package of provisions in this year's House version of the FY21 NDAA based on the Commission's first quarter's recommendations. The House version carried 11 provisions, with the majority deriving from the Commission's call to Strengthen the AI Workforce. We are pleased that both Commissioner Griffiths and Commissioner Clyburn are with us today to testify on the need for action on AI talent. On that note, we must implement policies that promote a sound economic, political, and strategic environment on U.S. soil where global collaboration, discovery, and innovation can all thrive. The open dialogue and debate resident in academia and the research community can be anathema to the requirement for secrecy in the Department of Defense. But we must recognize and embrace how our free society provides the competitive advantage that lets us innovate faster than our great power competitors. Our free society enables a dynamic innovation ecosystem, and federally funded open basic research focused on discovery has allowed American universities to develop an innovation base that has effectively functioned as a talent acquisition program for the U.S. economy. And that talent is required today as much as ever to solve our most pressing national security challenges. Indeed, great power competition is also a race fortalent. We are looking forward to hearing about your efforts, the observations and recommendations you've already developed, and your plan to continue until you submit the Commission's final report in the spring.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-cicilline-johnson-introduce-stopgap-measure-continue-transportation-projects,"Langevin, Cicilline, Johnson, Introduce Stopgap Measure to Continue Transportation Projects During the Pandemic",2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI), David Cicilline (D-RI), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), have introduced the Highways Coronavirus Relief Act, bipartisan legislation to temporarily increase the amount the federal government contributes to federal highway projects. The bill aims to ensure states, which generally pay for a portion of projects backed by the federal highway trust fund, can continue major infrastructure improvements as they attempt to deal with budget shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Robust federal infrastructure investments help revitalize the economy and improve quality of life, said Langevin. As states continue to face steep fiscal challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must keep transportation projects moving forward to support good-paying jobs for local workers and build the foundation for Rhode Island's future. This legislation will provide the federal resources states need to keep critical construction activities going for the immediate future as we continue to press for broader aid for states. Improving and modernizing our infrastructure is a critical priority, said Cicilline. This bill will help create jobs in our state. I am proud to co-sponsor it and to continue working to rebuild our roads, bridges, and schools. Prior to COVID-19 our nation's infrastructure wasn't in great shape, said Johnson. With state government's seeing less revenue because of the pandemic that means fewer dollars for necessary infrastructure projects. We can't allow our state highways and roads to get further behind this legislation would help us stay on top of our nation's infrastructure projects. I'm proud to help lead this effort along with Representative Langevin. Rhode Island's state share of federal formula grant transportation projects generally amounts to $45 million a year. By temporarily removing the requirement for states to provide matching funds for active construction projects, Rhode Island and other states will be able to continue their infrastructure improvements despite the fiscal challenges brought on by the pandemic. Highway improvements encompass a range of projects from the replacement, repair and painting of bridges, to road paving, maintenance, and other road safety enhancements and operational upgrades. RIDOT applauds the vision this bill shows and its understanding of the precarious nature of our funding situation, said Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti. Right now, RIDOT faces a future where it may not be able to meet the state match required for millions of federal dollars the department has attracted in both discretionary and formula funds. This bill will provide the vital resources we need to continuing rebuilding our bridges and keep many Rhode Islanders employed through this crisis. Upon enactment, the legislation would apply to existing and unliquidated formula grant obligations and those made after its enactment through September 30, 2021. Full text of bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-nearly-6m-hire-24-new-firefighters-enhance-public-safety,RI Delegation Announces Nearly $6M to Hire 24 New Firefighters & Enhance Public Safety,2020-09-17,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"September 16, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC Three local fire departments are getting a big staffing boost thanks to a federal public safety staffing grant. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced a total of $5,877,024 in federal funding to help fire departments in Middletown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket recruit, hire, and train firefighters. The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant will help provide salaries and benefits for these positions for three years. Under this round of SAFER grant funding, Middletown will receive $1,761,288 to hire eight firefighters; Portsmouth will receive a $2,240,760 grant to hire eight additional firefighters; and the Woonsocket Fire Department will receive $1,874,976 to hire eight new firefighters. Ordinarily, SAFER grants would subsidize firefighter salaries by up to 75 percent each for the first two years, and then up to 35 percent for a third year of the program. However, in the wake of COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is waiving the cost-share match and the federal government will pay 100 percent of the grant without any matching funds from the grant recipients. Our firefighters have been on the front lines of COVID-19 response throughout the pandemic and we must ensure they have the resources, support, and staffing levels they need to effectively respond. These federal funds will help ensure fire departments are well-staffed for around the clock staffing coverage and have the flexibility they need to respond to all manners of emergencies. Adding these additional firefighters will improve the level of service and public safety, said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level to help our dedicated firefighters protect our communities and improve emergency response capabilities. These federal awards will boost Rhode Island's emergency preparedness by funding two dozen new firefighter positions across the state, said Senator Whitehouse. With these grants, three local departments will be better positioned to protect their communities. In the midst of this public health crisis our fire departments need our support more than ever to keep communities safe, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. I'm proud that these SAFER grant funds will help ensure crews on the front lines have adequate staffing levels to respond to the myriad of emergency scenarios. We will continue to work diligently to provide additional aid to support our firefighters' heroic work. I'm pleased that we are bringing back nearly $6 million to our state, said Cicilline, who has consistently fought to fund the SAFER program during the appropriations process. This new federal funding will ensure fire departments in Middletown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket are staffed properly and that firefighters receive a decent wage for the incredibly hard work they do. Over the last six years, Rhode Island fire departments and other first responders across the state have successfully secured over $34.8 million in SAFER grant awards to help departments hire new firefighters.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/animal-cruelty-enforcement-act-introduced,Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act introduced,2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.16.20 Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act introduced Washington D.C. - Senator Mike Braun and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse have introduced the bipartisan Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act to ensure that the federal government has a dedicated office for the enforcement of animal cruelty statutes. Senator Braun and Senator Whitehouse are joined on this bipartisan bill by original co-sponsors Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act: 1. Creates by statute a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Division at DOJ to aid in the investigation, enforcement, and subsequent prosecution of felony animal cruelty crimes; and 2. Requires DOJ to report annually on the progress made enforcing animal cruelty statutes. The bill is companion legislation to H.R. 8052, introduced by Representatives Neguse (D-CO-2), Gaetz (R-FL-1), Cohen (D-TN-9), and Carter (R-GA-1). America has recently taken big steps to crack down on animal cruelty with new laws to protect animals from torture and abuse, but we need further action to ensure these laws are being enforced across the country and track our progress in eradicating animal cruelty, said Senator Mike Braun. The Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act would create a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Section at the Department of Justice to help bring those who abuse animals to justice and includes reporting measures to track our progress. I'm pleased to join my colleague Senator Braun to introduce this legislation to protect animal welfare. We need to make sure laws related to serious negligence and cruelty toward animals are clear and enforceable, and that the Department of Justice has the dedicated resources it needs to prosecute them. - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse People who abuse innocent animals often turn their violence on innocent people. The Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act would help better prevent and prosecute animal cruelty, and I'm proud to partner with Sen. Braun and my colleagues to keep our communities safe from sick people who target helpless creatures. - Senator John Kennedy. There is no place for animal cruelty in this country, McSally said. Our bill will help stamp out animal abuse by creating a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Division at the Justice Department. The division will focus on the investigation and prosecution of federal animal cruelty crimes, and be responsible for reporting their progress annually to Congress. I'm proud to have led recent federal efforts outlawing the barbaric torture of animals, but our fight is not yet over. We must swiftly enact the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act to put those laws into effect, hold animal abusers accountable, and track our country's progress in eliminating this heinous crime. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done and to put a stop to animal cruelty once and for all. Senator Richard Blumenthal BACKGROUND: Within the last two years, several prominent animal welfare statutes signed into law have vastly expanded the breadth and depth of the animal cruelty laws on the federal books. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act, and the Pet and Women Safety Act have added significant new laws to the federal code. These laws were passed with significant bipartisan support for the purposes of addressing animal cruelty issues head-on, recognizing the increasingly large body of research that closely links violence against animals with violence against humans. To ensure that these laws are adequately enforced across the country, the federal government must have dedicated staff to ensure adequate enforcement across the board. Over the past several years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken steps to invest significant amounts of attorney time into reviewing reports of animal cruelty and investigating cases. However, given the significant influx of laws on the books, it is important that a dedicated section be established. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse_-energy-and-natural-resources-sc-on-public-lands-forests-and-mining_-offshore-act,"Sen. Whitehouse - Energy & Natural Resources SC on Public Lands, Forests & Mining - OFFSHORE ACT",2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"September 16, 2020 | Sen. Whitehouse testifies on the OFFSHORE Act in the Senate ENR Committee: Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, & Mining.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/time-to-wake-up-271-recent-reports,Time to Wake Up 271: Recent Reports,2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-nearly-6m-hire-24-new-firefighters-enhance-public-safety,RI Delegation Announces Nearly $6M to Hire 24 New Firefighters & Enhance Public Safety,2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Three local fire departments are getting a big staffing boost thanks to a federal public safety staffing grant. Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced a total of $5,877,024 in federal funding to help fire departments in Middletown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket recruit, hire, and train firefighters. The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant will help provide salaries and benefits for these positions for three years. Under this round of SAFER grant funding, Middletown will receive $1,761,288 to hire eight firefighters; Portsmouth will receive a $2,240,760 grant to hire eight additional firefighters; and the Woonsocket Fire Department will receive $1,874,976 to hire eight new firefighters. Ordinarily, SAFER grants would subsidize firefighter salaries by up to 75 percent each for the first two years, and then up to 35 percent for a third year of the program. However, in the wake of COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is waiving the cost-share match and the federal government will pay 100 percent of the grant without any matching funds from the grant recipients. Our firefighters have been on the front lines of COVID-19 response throughout the pandemic and we must ensure they have the resources, support, and staffing levels they need to effectively respond. These federal funds will help ensure fire departments are well-staffed for around the clock staffing coverage and have the flexibility they need to respond to all manners of emergencies. Adding these additional firefighters will improve the level of service and public safety, said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level to help our dedicated firefighters protect our communities and improve emergency response capabilities. These federal awards will boost Rhode Island's emergency preparedness by funding two dozen new firefighter positions across the state, said Senator Whitehouse. With these grants, three local departments will be better positioned to protect their communities. In the midst of this public health crisis our fire departments need our support more than ever to keep communities safe, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA. I'm proud that these SAFER grant funds will help ensure crews on the front lines have adequate staffing levels to respond to the myriad of emergency scenarios. We will continue to work diligently to provide additional aid to support our firefighters' heroic work. I'm pleased that we are bringing back nearly $6 million to our state, said Cicilline, who has consistently fought to fund the SAFER program during the appropriations process. This new federal funding will ensure fire departments in Middletown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket are staffed properly and that firefighters receive a decent wage for the incredibly hard work they do. Over the last six years, Rhode Island fire departments and other first responders across the state have successfully secured over $34.8 million in SAFER grant awards to help departments hire new firefighters.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-whitehouse-call-on-postmaster-general-to-immediately-reverse-operational-changes-to-the-us-postal-service-causing-delays-of-medications-to-rhode-islanders,"Reed, Whitehouse Call on Postmaster General to Immediately Reverse Operational Changes to the U.S. Postal Service Causing Delays of Medications to Rhode Islanders",2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.15.20 Reed, Whitehouse Call on Postmaster General to Immediately Reverse Operational Changes to the U.S. Postal Service Causing Delays of Medications to Rhode Islanders Senators: We continue to have grave concerns regarding widespread delays in the delivery of critical medications that millions of Americans rely upon every day. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and 34 of their Senate colleagues in calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to immediately reverse all operational and organizational changes that have delayed delivery of critical medications to Rhode Islanders. The Postal Service is an essential public institution that must uphold its duty to serve every community. Your recently implemented changes pose an unacceptable threat and continue to have a devastating effect on communities that rely on consistent access to medication through the mail. We have received numerous reports from seniors about delays in receiving their prescriptions through the mail, leaving some without life-sustaining medication for days. Others have been forced to obtain emergency prescriptions from their doctors and pay out-of-pocket for medication because their original prescriptions covered by insurance never arrived, the Senators wrote in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy. We call on you to immediately reverse all operational and organizational changes that have resulted in life-threatening delays of critical medications to Americans. As you noted, it is imperative for the Postal Service to operate efficiently and effectively, while continuing to provide service that meets the needs of [its] customers.' Right now, the Postal Service is failing to meet the needs of many Americans and adhere to its mission of prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas.' As we continue to fight this pandemic, the Postal Service is integral to keeping millions of Americans safe, especially seniors, people with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities, continued the Senators. The full text of the letter can be found here. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/time-to-wake-up-recent-reports,Time to Wake Up: Recent Reports,2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.15.20 Time to Wake Up: Recent Reports As-prepared for delivery Mr./Mdm. President, I rise for the 271st time to call this chamber's attention to two reports on the defining issue of our generation. As I speak, wildfires devour the American West, and consume American lives: in East of Salem, Oregon, two people dead in a scorched vehicle; in Butte County, California, three dead, overrun by a fast-moving fire; in Ashland, a 1-year-old boy; almost the entire town of Malden, Washington burned down. Half a million Oregonians evacuated due to fire; one out of ten people in the entire state. Over the weekend, Oregon's Emergency Management Director said they're preparing for a mass fatality event. Paradise, California suffered apocalyptic destruction in the 2018 Camp Fire, and it's once again under fire warnings, this time the North Complex fire, which has stunned firefighters with its rapid growth and ferocity. We cannot avoid it, Mr./Mdm. President: climate change is here. Plenty of factors contribute to individual wildfires, but climate change is now always among them. Last fall, I visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, and met leading wildfire researcher Daniel Swain. As Dr. Swain puts it, Climate change has not just made the extreme heat waves that coincided with fires worse. The bigger effect is the more subtle, long-term warming. That couple of degrees of (average) warming over decades ... it's lurking in the background, sucking extra moisture out of the vegetation and the soil. The new normal is smoke, ash, orange skies, and constant, nerve-fraying vigilance. Climate change impacts throughout the West land crushing economic blows. The 2018 Camp Fire that burned Paradise cost $16.7 billion dollars. NOAA says natural disasters mostly hurricanes and wildfires, both highly climate-related inflicted $91 billion-worth of damage that year; and over the past 40 years, 241 climate- and weather-related disasters cost Americans $1.6 trillion. But the first report warns: it's not just what's lost in floods and flames. As climate risk worsens, the harder it is for communities to rebuild, for bankers to write mortgages, cor owners to find insurers willing to continue writing policies and paying out claims. That risk spreads beyond burned or flooded land, through the rest of the economy. Climate risk becomes systemic risk, as economists call it. So one of our leading regulatory agencies, the CFTC, has done a report on risk. Think of the 2008 Financial Crisis. The home mortgage problem spread far beyond mortgage lenders, into a brutal global economic recession. Millions of people who had no connection to a bad mortgage lost their jobs, their homes, or their retirement savings. We are still recovering from that collapse. Now think even bigger. The Stanford Business School's Corporations and Society Initiative believes the financial risks from climate change are systemic; that these risks are singular in nature; and that [g]lobal economic losses from climate change could reach $23 trillion three or four times the scale of the 2008 Financial Crisis. Senator Schatz and I have been calling for financial regulators to do a better job accounting for these risks. In May, we wrote to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Subcommittee on Climate-Related Market Risk. We made two simple requests: one, recommend a carbon price, and two, urge our financial regulators to include climate risks in their core market risk assessments and supervisory practices. The CFTC Subcommittee report is out, and I'm happy to say, they did both. They write: Financial markets will only be able to channel resources efficiently to activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions if an economy-wide price on carbon is in place at a level that reflects the true social cost of those emissions. -and- Climate change poses a major risk to the stability of the U.S. financial system and to its ability to sustain the American economy . . . U.S. financial regulators must recognize that climate change poses serious emerging risks to the U.S. financial system, and they should move urgently and decisively to measure, understand, and address these risks. What if we don't? The CFTC report goes on: Failing to act would lead to disorderly repricing of assets with cascading effects through the economy. Put simply: do nothing, and trigger financial chaos far and wide. Just like 2008. The report calls for corporate America to tell the truth about climate-related risks to their business models. Investors need to know the truth for the free market to work. The Subcommittee writes that we must require disclosure by corporations of information on material, climate-related financial risks . . . to ensure that climate risks are measured and managed effectively. That's a key point. We've seen Exxon downplay climate risks to investors and the general public. That mischief will stop if financial regulators require an honest accounting of climate-related risks. The CFTC report is a big deal, but it requires Congress to act. America is among the few industrialized nations worst-prepared for wide-ranging reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Regulators will not be enough; Congress must act. That's where another report comes in: Senate Democrats' Special Report on the Climate Crisis. Under Chairman Schatz's leadership, we recently released a road map for fixing that problem. We propose a plan to cut emissions across our economy; to get on course to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; to create a host of new, well-paying jobs in clean energy and other emerging industries; and to remedy the burdens of pollution across all sectors of the economy. We know we have a battle ahead. The fossil fuel industry runs a covert operation that has blocked progress. This covert op is extremely well funded, and has reached its roots deeply into our politics. We need to tear up those roots. This is how. First, our report tells the dark story of that covert op: the story of the fossil fuel industry apparatus built to obscure the industry's hands behind phony front groups; the story of capture and control of corporate trade associations; the story of lies marketed by flashy PR firms; and of brute-force political spending and threats to blockade climate progress. The tactics were test-run by Big Tobacco. Manufacture false doubt in the science, and flex political muscle against anyone who dares challenge you. That bullying worked pretty well. And when the Supreme Court handed down the Citizens United, the fossil fuel industry supercharged its covert campaign with dark money, almost immediately turning the ability to spend unlimited money in politics into spending unlimited dark money in politics. Then the bullying worked really well. Citizens United was a climate watershed. After that decision unleashed its fearful weaponry, not one Republican in this body joined any comprehensive bill to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Senate heartbeat of bipartisan climate activity before Citizen United flat-lined under the supercharged political pressure unleashed by fossil fuel interests. Our Senate report tells the full rotten story, because that's step one in fighting covert influence. Follow the money. Show the American people how corporate interests pay to block progress on climate. Show the trade associations and front groups. See the scheme, and you're less likely to fall for it. Second is cleaning it up. Fully exposing and ending Citizens United dark money and the fossil fuel scheme will take reform. Bold transparency measures, like the DISCLOSE Act, are needed. Our report calls for that. Then, we need to wake up the so-called good guys in corporate America. They need to see the mischief a few bad actors have perpetrated under their noses. They need to see how the fossil fuel industry commandeered their corporate trade associations, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the two most obstructive organizations against climate action right under their noses. And they need to examine how their own lobbyists, their own trade associations and their own political operatives are doing on climate. Because with very few and very rare exceptions, the answer is that they are doing nothing to lift a finger in Congress. Just last week the giant tech companies came in with a thirteen page list of their priorities thirteen pages and not a mention of climate. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, the tech barons never even mentioned climate. Everyone needs to understand the two faces of corporate America. Imagine how quickly Congress could act if powerful trade associations like the Chamber became actual advocates for serious climate policies. Or if other interests like Big Ag, or Big Tech, or Wall Street, or the insurance industry actually took an interest in something more than their own special-interest programs and tax benefits. It would be a game changer. A 16th century alchemist by the name of Paracelsus is credited with the phrase sola dosis facit venenumthe dose makes the poison. The idea is that everything, from a nerve agent to the water we need to survive, can be lethal if delivered in sufficient dosage. Right now in the American West, toxins in the climate wildfire smoke waft in such high concentrations that our typical measurement systems fail. The dosage is literally off the charts. And in our Earth's atmosphere, the dosage of carbon dioxide is way outside the entire range of human experience, putting all of mankind into uncharted territory, to face unprecedented dangers. And Citizens United unleashed toxic doses of money, and unprecedented doses of virulent dark money, into our political atmosphere. Our democracy is poisoned, stunned by secret fossil fuel money and threats, and failing to listen to plain warnings. We must act before the poisons overpower us, and we must get the dosages back to safe and normal levels. A good start would be to wake up to the reality of climate change. I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-announce-gao-investigation-of-trump-politicization-of-immigration-courts-as-covid-19-crisis-rages,Senators Announce GAO Investigation of Trump Politicization of Immigration Courts as COVID-19 Crisis Rages,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.14.20 Senators Announce GAO Investigation of Trump Politicization of Immigration Courts as COVID-19 Crisis Rages Whitehouse, Durbin, Hirono applaud GAO review of troubling Trump-Sessions-Barr mismanagement of immigration judicial process Washington, DC Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced today that the top congressional watchdog will investigate the practices of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) under President Donald Trump, including its management of immigration courts during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the senators led a request for review of the EOIR by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). They first voiced concerns to Attorney General William Barr in February concerns that went unanswered. The senators issued the following statement: We welcome review of President Trump and his Attorney Generals' mishandling of an important component of our immigration system. We've heard alarming accounts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review making procedural changes to tip the scales of justice against immigrants. COVID-19 rages in this country, and yet the Department plows ahead with a process that forces people into in-person proceedings without sufficient safeguards and keeps them in unsafe detention facilities with limited access to counsel. A thorough GAO investigation will help to shed light on the troubling politicization and mismanagement of our immigration system. The Trump administration's management of the immigration system has come under close scrutiny during the COVID-19 crisis. Reports suggest immigrants face a range of unsafe conditions and practices as a result of Trump administration management decisions, including the detention of children using unaccountable private contractors, and health and safety risks to immigrants, judges, and other court personnel. Over 5,600 cases of COVID-19 had been reported inside ICE facilities as of September 10, 2020, and six people have died. Joining Whitehouse, Durbin, and Hirono in the request to the GAO were Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA). Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-calls-on-barr-to-preserve-all-documents-related-to-doj-intervention-in-trump-defamation-case,Whitehouse Calls on Barr to Preserve all Documents Related to DOJ Intervention in Trump Defamation Case,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.14.20 Whitehouse Calls on Barr to Preserve all Documents Related to DOJ Intervention in Trump Defamation Case Federal law meant to defend federal employees shouldn't be used to shield Donald Trump from embarrassment, senator writes, DOJ's decision to intervene now creates the appearance that DOJ is participating in partisan politics' Washington, DC Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a former United States Attorney and current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Attorney General William Barr to preserve all documents related to the U.S. Department of Justice's intervention in a state defamation case brought against President Donald Trump. In a letter to Barr, Whitehouse pointed to the highly unusual request to replace President Trump's private legal team with government lawyers to defend him against a lawsuit related to rape allegations against Trump by journalist E. Jean Carroll. Numerous legal scholars have questioned whether the Justice Department is permitted to intervene in these circumstances, Whitehouse notes. Significantly, the Department's move came on the eve of discovery in the case, which may have required Trump to give depositions and DNA samples within weeks of the election. While federal law allows the Department to represent federal employees in defamation suits related to their official duties, the DOJ rarely exercises this power to defend elected officials like the President, Whitehouse writes. [T]he timing of DOJ's intervention raises significant questions. Federal law requires federal employees to notify their supervisors, who must then notify DOJ promptly' of any suits regarding acts or omissions taken within the scope of their employment. In this case, DOJ did not intervene until the parties had engaged in substantial motion practice and were poised to begin discovery. DOJ's pleadings do not explain why it did not intervene until this moment in the case, though the political benefits to the President are obvious. Whitehouse continues, DOJ's decision to intervene in the lawsuit within weeks of the election also seems at cross-purposes with its policies against election interference. . . . DOJ's decision to intervene now creates the appearance that DOJ is participating in partisan politics. Full text of the senator's letter is below. A PDF copy is available here. September 14, 2020 Attorney General William Barr U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Attorney General Barr, As a member of the United States Senate and a former U.S. Attorney, I have been disturbed to watch the Department of Justice (DOJ) stray from its mission of delivering fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Under the Trump administration, DOJ has repeatedly used its authority to help the President's friends and harm his enemies. DOJ's recent intervention in a state court defamation lawsuit by E. Jean Carroll against President Trump continues this pattern. On September 8, 2020, at the request of the White House, DOJ removed this state court lawsuit to federal court and moved substitute the United States for President Trump as the defendant. DOJ's request came ten months after the lawsuit was filed, and only after the judge presiding over the case agreed to let the parties proceed with discovery, including a DNA test and deposition of President Trump, which could shed light on the allegations of rape made against him. While the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) allows DOJ to represent federal employees in lawsuits alleging misdeeds committed in the scope of their employment, DOJ rarely exercises this power to defend elected officials like the President. DOJ claims that President Trump was a federal employee acting in his official capacity when he denied ever knowing Ms. Carroll and disparaged her appearance. Former DOJ attorneys and numerous legal scholars have questioned whether either claim will survive judicial scrutiny. DOJ's legal brief filed with its motion points to no comparable case involving the President of the United States, or statements made by a federal employee about conduct decades earlier unrelated to the employee's federal service. Putting aside the merits of DOJ's legal position, the timing of DOJ's intervention raises significant questions. Federal law requires federal employees to notify their supervisors, who must then notify DOJ, promptly of any suits regarding acts or omissions taken within the scope of their employment. In this case, DOJ did not intervene until the parties had engaged in substantial motion practice and were poised to begin discovery. DOJ's pleadings do not explain why it did not intervene until this moment in the case, though the political benefits to the President are obvious. DOJ's decision to intervene in the lawsuit within weeks of the election also seems at cross-purposes with its policies against election interference. DOJ has long recognized that the exercise of prosecutorial powers can influence elections, and has put in place rules to avoid such interference. Beginning in 2008, DOJ advised all employees that: [P]olitics must play no role in the decisions of federal investigators or prosecutors . . . . Law enforcement officers and prosecutors may never select the timing of investigative steps or criminal charges for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party. Such a purpose is inconsistent with the Department's mission . . . Similarly, in your Feb. 5, 2020, memorandum, you noted that the Department has long recognized that it must exercise particular care regarding sensitive investigations and prosecutions that relate to political candidates, campaigns, and other politically sensitive individuals and organizationsespecially in an election year. It does not appear that DOJ exercised similar care in deciding when and whether to intervene in this case. Even though this matter is not a criminal prosecution, it undoubtedly has the possibility of affecting an election. Had procedures for prompt notification of this suit been followed, any legal questions raised by the Department's actions could have been resolved long before the election. DOJ's decision to intervene now creates the appearance that DOJ is participating in partisan politics. The FTCA should not be used to shield the President from embarrassing revelations. As Congress conducts oversight and considers legislation related to political interference with DOJ and by DOJ, I request that you explain the timing of and circumstance behind DOJ's intervention in this case: specifically, how that decision is consistent with DOJ regulations governing the FTCA and actions taken by DOJ related to elected officials in the lead up to an election. Please also consider this letter formal notification of your obligation to identify, collect, and preserve any records identified in Appendix. These documents may be relevant to any further inquiries related to the issues raised in this letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/how-citizens-united-enables-dark-money-political-spending,How Citizens United Enables Dark Money Political Spending,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-sheldon-whitehouse-explains-how-citizens-united-knocked-out-campaign-finance-rules,Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Explains How Citizen's United Knocked Out Campaign Finance Rules,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"August 10, 2020 | Citizens United knocked out campaign finance rules & freed donors to spend unlimited money as long as they don't give directly to candidates. Thus emerged a new intermediary, the Super PAC.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/delegation-announces-additional-76-million-cdbg-funds-ri,Delegation Announces Additional $7.6 Million in CDBG Funds for RI,2020-09-14,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Septmber 12, 2020 PROVIDENCE, RI In an effort to help communities combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced a new infusion of $7,585,135 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This third tranche of awards brings the state's total CDBG funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to date to $22,145,569. The following communities will receive CDBG funding in this round: Cranston: $517,089 East Providence: $329,978 Pawtucket: $576,448 Providence: $1,639,004 Warwick: $586,269 Woonsocket: $349,813 Statewide (non-entitlement): $3,586,534 This additional CDBG funding announced today may be used to support a variety of infectious disease response programs and economic priorities that help combat the impacts of COVID-19, such as small-business grants and loans, job creation and retention, emergency rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and nutrition assistance. People and communities are struggling and CDBG funds help communities address areas of greatest need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This additional federal funding will help provide direct investment to combat COVID-19, provide essential services, and promote economic recovery. I will continue working to deliver federal funds to meet the needs of our communities, said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who served on a bipartisan working group that crafted the CARES Act and led efforts to include $5 billion for CDBG in the law. I'm pleased that Rhode Island has received a significant amount of flexible CDBG funding from the CARES Act, said Senator Whitehouse. These funds can do a lot of good very quickly by boosting economic development programs and essential services at the local level. Rhode Island communities are struggling because of the fallout of COVID-19, and I know that aid through the CDBG program will make a difference for those hit the hardest, said Langevin. Our focus remains on keeping people safe and healthy and on securing resources to help our state get through this uncertain time. We know families across the state are struggling with difficult decisions, and the federal government must continue to step up to provide more support. This pandemic has impacted countless families, non-profits, and small businesses, Cicilline said. These CDBG funds will help families put food on their table and a roof over their heads, they help keep the lights on and doors open to small businesses and non-profits across our state. Without them, too many doors would be shut and families be destitute. Our delegation will not stop fighting for more funds for Rhode Island's families, non-profits, and small businesses. Under the law, state and local governments may use CDBG funds to provide assistance to eligible citizens, small businesses, and nonprofits to help weather the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To allow for greater flexibility to provide essential services at the local level, Senator Reed also helped remove the traditional statutory cap that limits CDBG expenditures on public services to no more than 15 percent of a state or local government's allocation, as well as statutory barriers that would have made it impossible for the state to provide and coordinate assistance across all Rhode Island communities. CDBG is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/delegation-announces-additional-76-million-in-cdbg-funds-for-ri,Delegation Announces Additional $7.6 Million in CDBG Funds for RI,2020-09-12,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.12.20 Delegation Announces Additional $7.6 Million in CDBG Funds for RI Latest Round of Funding Raises RI's Allocation To $22.1 Million Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick & Woonsocket among communities getting additional CDBG pandemic relief funds to boost local health, safety, & economic assistance projects PROVIDENCE, RI In an effort to help communities combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced a new infusion of $7,585,135 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This third tranche of awards brings the state's total CDBG funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to date to $22,145,569. The following communities will receive CDBG funding in this round: Cranston: $517,089 East Providence: $329,978 Pawtucket: $576,448 Providence: $1,639,004 Warwick: $586,269 Woonsocket: $349,813 Statewide (non-entitlement): $3,586,534 This additional CDBG funding announced today may be used to support a variety of infectious disease response programs and economic priorities that help combat the impacts of COVID-19, such as small-business grants and loans, job creation and retention, emergency rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and nutrition assistance. People and communities are struggling and CDBG funds help communities address areas of greatest need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This additional federal funding will help provide direct investment to combat COVID-19, provide essential services, and promote economic recovery. I will continue working to deliver federal funds to meet the needs of our communities, said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who served on a bipartisan working group that crafted the CARES Act and led efforts to include $5 billion for CDBG in the law. I'm pleased that Rhode Island has received a significant amount of flexible CDBG funding from the CARES Act, said Senator Whitehouse. These funds can do a lot of good very quickly by boosting economic development programs and essential services at the local level. Rhode Island communities are struggling because of the fallout of COVID-19, and I know that aid through the CDBG program will make a difference for those hit the hardest, said Langevin. Our focus remains on keeping people safe and healthy and on securing resources to help our state get through this uncertain time. We know families across the state are struggling with difficult decisions, and the federal government must continue to step up to provide more support. This pandemic has impacted countless families, non-profits, and small businesses, Cicilline said. These CDBG funds will help families put food on their table and a roof over their heads, they help keep the lights on and doors open to small businesses and non-profits across our state. Without them, too many doors would be shut and families be destitute. Our delegation will not stop fighting for more funds for Rhode Island's families, non-profits, and small businesses. Under the law, state and local governments may use CDBG funds to provide assistance to eligible citizens, small businesses, and nonprofits to help weather the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To allow for greater flexibility to provide essential services at the local level, Senator Reed also helped remove the traditional statutory cap that limits CDBG expenditures on public services to no more than 15 percent of a state or local government's allocation, as well as statutory barriers that would have made it impossible for the state to provide and coordinate assistance across all Rhode Island communities. CDBG is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-request-information-on-outside-groups-involved-in-trump-scotus-list,Senators Request Information on Outside Groups Involved in Trump SCOTUS List,2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.11.20 Senators Request Information on Outside Groups Involved in Trump SCOTUS List To avoid serious conflicts of interest, federal law requires disclosure of outside interests advising the President; What role have anonymously funded right-wing groups played in building Trump's Court shortlist? Washington, DC Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) are asking White House Counsel Pat Cipollone for information on whether the Trump White House followed federal ethics and record retention rules in consulting the dark money groups involved in Trump's Supreme Court shortlist. Reporting indicates a large team of extraordinarily talented lawyers worked on a big vetting project to recommend to Trump the list of candidates released on Wednesday, including a right-wing dark money group, the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN). To guard against conflicts of interest, federal law requires those who serve in the White House or who formally advise the president to disclose their financial interests. The senators request details of who participated in the selection of potential nominees for the most powerful judicial posts in the country. Federal law requires those who serve in the Administration or who formally advise the President to disclose their financial interests so that conflicts of interest may be addressed. It also limits the use of voluntary services, requires federal records to be properly maintained, and restricts access to certain records by members of the public, the senators write. While the President is entitled to receive advice from members of the public, these laws provide for basic transparency and accountability in government decision-making, principles that are of utmost importance when a life-tenured seat on the nation's highest court is at stake. It has been widely reported that President Trump has turned over elements of his judicial selection to right-wing outside groups. A previous Trump White House Counsel quipped that the White House had in-sourced the conservative Federalist Society to guide judicial selection. Reporting also shows that a broad array of anonymously funded groups have run an intricate influence campaign to secure nomination and confirmation of Trump judges even when the nominees faced grave concerns about their fitness for the federal bench. The Federalist Society's Leonard Leo has helped drive the unprecedented rise in anonymous funding that now pervades the selection and nomination processes for federal judicial picks. Leo's advocacy work appears to have coincided with his service advising the Trump administration's judicial selection and nominations process. Now that Leo has moved on to a new project to suppress voter turnout in Republicans' favor in the 2020 election, one of Leo's protgs from JCN has stepped in. JCN has spent heavily on political-style campaigns to support the confirmations of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, supported by multi-million dollar contributions from anonymous sources. In March, the senators wrote to the Trump administration, Leo, and the Federalist Society requesting information on the outside groups' involvement in judicial selection. The senators have not received a response. Full text of the senators' letter is below. A PDF copy is available here. Pat A. Cipollone White House Counsel The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. Cipollone, We write to request information on the process President Trump used to develop a list of potential nominees to the United States Supreme Court. Recent reporting indicated that a large team of extraordinarily talented lawyers[1] worked on a big vetting project to recommend to him a list of possible nominees.[2] President Trump announced his list on September 9, 2020. We have previously raised concerns about whether those who have advised the President on his selection of judicial nominees have complied with applicable records retention, financial disclosure, and conflict-of-interest requirements.[3] It is well documented that Leonard Leo took two leaves of absence from his position at the Federalist Society to advise the Trump administration on judicial nominees.[4] The Washington Post reported last year that Mr. Leo was also at the center of a $250 million dark money operation designed to influence the federal judiciary.[5] We still do not know whether Mr. Leo complied with financial disclosure requirements intended to identify conflicts of interest by government advisors and other transparency laws. Reporting indicates that Mr. Leo has moved on to different endeavors that include channeling millions of dollars into efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote during an unprecedented public health crisis.[6] Now his protg, Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), is reported to have been involved in the list process.[7] JCN and Ms. Severino bring their own potential conflicts of interest to this role. JCN has spent millions of dollars on campaigns to support the confirmations of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, supported by multi-million dollar contributions from anonymous sources. One anonymous donor gave JCN $17.9 million in fiscal year 2016 for political campaigns against Merrick Garland and in favor of Neil Gorsuch;[8] In fiscal year 2017, a $17.1 million donation came in from an anonymous donorperhaps the same onefor the political campaign to prop up Brett Kavanaugh;[9] And in fiscal year 2018, which also covered the period of the Kavanaugh confirmation, JCN received a $15.9 million donation from a single donor, and five other donations from anonymous sources over a million dollars each.[10] Because JCN is incorporated as a 501(c)(4) organization, it is not required to disclose its donors, which heightens the risk of conflicts of interest. JCN is, however, required to disclose grants it makes to outside groups, and a review of these disclosures shows JCN has contributed millions of dollars over the last decade to groups that are actively in politics and with business before the courts. For example, JCN has given: At least $9.9 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association.[11] At least $4.7 million to the Tea Party Patriots.[12] At least $2.2 million to the National Rifle Association.[13] At least $1.9 million to the Rule of Law Defense Fund.[14] Severino is also president of the Judicial Education Project (JEP), from which she receives compensation of at least $170,000 a year from sources that are not disclosed.[15] JEP has participated as an amicus curiae or as counsel for an amicus curiae in at least 14 cases before the Supreme Court on issues ranging from abortion to the Affordable Care Act to affirmative action. It is a reasonable assumption that any person selected by Ms. Severino and her team as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court would be acceptable to those who donate millions of dollars to her work with JCN and JEP. Ms. Severino surely knows who these people are and what they want. The American people should know, too. Federal law requires those who serve in the Administration or who formally advise the President to disclose their financial interests so that conflicts of interest may be addressed. It also limits the use of voluntary services, requires federal records to be properly maintained, and restricts access to certain records by members of the public. While the President is entitled to receive advice from members of the public, these laws provide for basic transparency and accountability in government decision-making, principles that are of utmost importance when a life-tenured seat on the nation's highest court is at stake. So we may have a better understanding of what interests are influencing the President's selection of potential Supreme Court nominees, we request you answer the questions in the attached Appendix not later than September 24, 2020.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/time-to-wake-up-270-ocean-warnings,Time to Wake Up 270: Ocean Warnings,2020-09-11,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-calls-for-restarting-bipartisan-negotiations-on-new-relief-bill-after-skinny-republican-proposal-fails-in-senate,Whitehouse Calls for Restarting Bipartisan Negotiations on New Relief Bill After “Skinny” Republican Proposal Fails in Senate,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.10.20 Whitehouse Calls for Restarting Bipartisan Negotiations on New Relief Bill After Skinny Republican Proposal Fails in Senate Washington, DC U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to reject an inadequate COVID-19 relief proposal put forth by Senate Republicans: Senate Republicans have slapped together a woefully inadequate bill, which is one-sixth the size of the aid package House Democrats passed in May. Four months and millions of COVID-19 infections later, Republicans' main priority continues to be letting corporations off the hook for negligently putting their employees in harm's way. Rhode Islanders need relief now. They are counting on Republicans in Congress to stop playing politics with their health and financial security and to start negotiating a good-faith response to a national crisis. Whitehouse joined all members of the Democratic caucus in voting against the so-called skinny proposal, which did not provide any funding for cash-strapped state governments or adequate unemployment benefits. The bill failed in a 52-47 vote. In May, the Democrat-led House of Representatives passed the HEROES Acta robust $3-trillion aid package designed to lift the economy, keep state governments afloat, and fortify the health care system. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has for months refused to take up the legislation, and bipartisan negotiations between the Trump administration and congressional leaders broke down over the summer. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-condemns-pres-trumps-disrespectful-comments-about-veterans,Sen. Whitehouse Condemns Pres. Trump's Disrespectful Comments About Veterans,2020-09-10,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-trump-supreme-court-list-,Whitehouse Statement on Trump Supreme Court List,2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.09.20 Whitehouse Statement on Trump Supreme Court List Washington, DC Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Donald Trump's list of potential Supreme Court nominees: We know that big right-wing donors have spent hundreds of millions on a dark money campaign to capture our courts. The president's list is an effort to harness the political power of that operation to his own electoral benefit. It's a continuation of the list he made in his last campaign; in-sourcing' to the White House the court capture machine's central command organization, the Federalist Society. There's a plan behind the scores of extreme right-wing partisan judges Trump and Mitch McConnell have packed onto America's most powerful courts big donor interests want judges they can rely on to deliver win after win in their favor. The real issue isn't who's on the list, it's who's behind the list. The American people deserve to know which special interests handed the president these names and what business those special interests have before our courts. The wholesale right-wing capture of our courts won't end until we know the full truth. Follow the money. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/sen-whitehouse-condemns-pres-trumps-disrespectful-comments-about-veterans,Sen. Whitehouse Condemns Pres. Trump's Disrespectful Comments About Veterans,2020-09-09,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.09.20 Sen. Whitehouse Condemns Pres. Trump's Disrespectful Comments About Veterans As delivered Mr. President, I am honored to join Senator Duckworth in supporting this proposal. It gives me great pride to serve in the Senate with her. She is the living embodiment of the kind of sacrifice that our President does not understand. There are two things here, though, that are very wrong. One is a President who thinks that the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have laid down their lives for this country are ``suckers'' and ``losers'' and that it is OK to say that about them. It is beyond disrespectful. It is beneath contempt, and it is totally in character for this man. Those soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines can't answer; they can't speak for themselves any longer. So when something like that is said, it is very important that people in the highest offices of the country stand up and push back. In graves in France and Belgium and Manila and around the world lie the mortal remains of men, boys, women who gave their lives and who cannot speak for themselves. It is heartbreaking for me to see that we cannot come together to agree on that in this body. I can promise you that if President Obama or President Clinton had said anything like this, the other side of this Chamber would have been in pandemonium. It would have been a scene of hysteria. Senators would have been lining up through the doors to come and condemn this foul and hateful speech. We would have been hearing a lot about the last full measure of devotion. Instead, we are seeing the last measure of devolution of a great party into what now resembles, as much as anything, a cult. I will be interested to see what my colleagues have in mind as they go through next year's Veterans Day and Memorial Day having been unable to say one word against this calumny of our troops today. It is, frankly, heartbreaking. I traveled a lot with John McCain, and one of our trips took us to the Philippines. I got up very early in the morning to go and have basically a dawn visit to the Manila American Cemetery. The particular reason I went there is to see a name on the wall of the memorial: George Bruen Whitehouse. George was 21 when he was killed. He was flying fighter planes as a Navy pilot off an aircraft carrier called the USS Cowpens. His body was never recovered. His plane was shot down and crashed into the wilderness, and that was the end of it, but his name is still there, carved high up in the marble as a last memorial of his sacrifice. A President who doesn't get that is a disgrace. I yield the floor. Particularly, I yield the floor to a colleague who is an American combat veteran from the Vietnam war, to which my father dedicated 5 years of his life. It is a remarkable honor for me to be able to speak in between Senator Duckworth and Senator Carper. I am cognizant of that honor. I yield the floor. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/icymi-senators-whitehouse-and-hassan-op-ed-in-the-guardian-why-did-the-us-justice-department-let-purdue-off-the-hook-for-the-opioid-crisis,ICYMI: Senators Whitehouse & Hassan Op-Ed in The Guardian: Why Did the US Justice Department Let Purdue Off the Hook for the Opioid Crisis?,2020-09-08,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.08.20 ICYMI: Senators Whitehouse & Hassan Op-Ed in The Guardian: Why Did the US Justice Department Let Purdue Off the Hook for the Opioid Crisis? Washington, DC In case you missed it, The Guardian published an op-ed written by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) that highlights their continued efforts to pressure the Department of Justice to turn over a 2006 memo and related documents laying out federal prosecutors' strong criminal case against Purdue Pharma, including documents that detail the role that Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials played in the deliberation. The Senators' op-ed comes after The Guardian published additional details about the 2006 Department of Justice memo. The Guardian's reporting discusses crimes that Purdue Pharma allegedly committed, the evidence that the Department of Justice had against Purdue Pharma, and the Department of Justice's decision to settle instead of prosecuting Purdue Pharma. Read the Senators' op-ed in The Guardian here or below: The opioid epidemic is not over. Even as Covid-19 rages, opioid-related deaths continue to devastate communities across our states. In New Hampshire, overdose deaths rose in April and May over last year's levels. In the first four months of 2020, Rhode Island overdose deaths jumped 29% from the same period last year and 38% from the same period in 2018. Opioid addiction remains a persistent, lethal menace. We just learned a big reason why the opioid crisis was allowed to get so bad. The Guardian recently unearthed new details in the origin story of the opioid crisis. In 2006, career prosecutors at the US Department of Justice drafted a memo summarizing alleged criminal behavior by the major opioid maker Purdue Pharma. The memo, the culmination of a four-year investigation of Purdue's opioid marketing and other business practices, was based on a review of millions of internal documents. The memo concluded that Purdue and its executives participated in mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy in pushing opioids, and recommended indictment. But we still don't know the whole story, and we need to in order to avoid a repeat of the deceptive marketing practices and corporate greed that's cost the United States hundreds of thousands of lives. Action in 2006 could have made an enormous difference. Bringing felony charges could have brought real accountability to executives who ran the scheme. More importantly, it might have forced the company to end its deceptive marketing practices, which contributed to millions of people becoming addicted to opioids. It could have saved the lives of an untold number of Americans. The justice department could have made a stronger effort to stop a public health crisis in its tracks more than a decade ago. But it didn't. Instead, that memo got buried. The justice department did not charge Purdue or its executives with the serious felonies it identified; it let them go with a slap on the wrist. And for the ensuing decade and a half, Purdue continued to push its highly addictive and wildly overprescribed opioid painkiller, OxyContin. Based on what we know today, it appears the justice department could have made a stronger effort to stop a public health crisis in its tracks more than a decade ago. But it didn't, and we still don't fully know why. What we do know points to a troubling idea: that money and connections influence who gets prosecuted and who gets to break the law to enrich themselves. We live in a country founded on the principle of equal administration of justice. Corporate executives should face the same consequences as anyone else who commits the same crime. The Department of Justice the most highly regarded and powerful law enforcement agency in America ought to be immune to attempts by big, powerful interests to win special treatment. In this case, Purdue executives hired high-powered lawyers to influence the department's prosecution decision, including a former federal prosecutor, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani and Purdue's team negotiated for lesser penalties for the lesser crime of misbranding its product. We don't know whether the department broke rules or procedures, but we should. We've asked the department for its documents and we have been stonewalled. We shouldn't have to rely on the Guardian to get access to the facts. Likewise, Americans ought to know how Purdue got off with a slap on the wrist and the role that Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials played. Giuliani is the president's personal lawyer. Reports indicate he still has special access to top justice department officials. If he continues to influence the department's criminal investigations to advance his clients' interests, the public ought to know. We cannot repeat this sad chapter in the justice department's history. There will be other Purdue Pharmas. There will be other greedy executives willing to reach into our justice system and pull strings in their own favor. There will be other Rudy Giulianis. Next time, the justice department must take a different path. Now, the attorney general of the United States and this administration need to answer questions from Congress and the American people about political mischief in the administration of justice. Everyone ought to know if those with power and connections are influencing prosecutorial decisions when tens of thousands of American lives are on the line.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/cyberspace-solarium-commission-details-framework-grow-stronger-federal-cyber-workforce,Cyberspace Solarium Commission Details Framework to Grow a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce,2020-09-08,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON - The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) released a new white paper, Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce at a virtual event sponsored by Dakota State University (DSU). The U.S. Government currently suffers from a significant shortage in its cyber workforce with more than one in three jobs left open. Filling these roles has been a persistent and intractable problem over the past decade. To address this shortfall, the Commission white paper calls for a strategy to enable coordinated action and sustained investment in the federal cyber workforce. CSC co-chairs Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said in the executive summary of the report: Without talented cyber professionals working the keyboard, all the cutting-edge technology in the world cannot protect the United States in cyberspace. If we do not take action now to ensure that our talented and experienced workforce continues to grow, we are leaving our country vulnerable to future cyber attacks. We need to focus on growing cyber talent among those in the earliest stages of their K-12 schooling, but we also need mentors--diverse mentors--who allow our young people to envision a fulfilling career for themselves in the cyber workforce, said CSC Commissioner Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) during the event. In discussing federal cyber hiring, he went on to say, We can't post an entry-level cyber job and expect individuals applying to have three years of experience. ""The Federal cyber workforce is not independent of the national workforce; they share a common problem--it is literally the same problem, said CSC Commissioner John C. Chris Inglis as part of the panel discussion. He continued saying the Commission recognized that: [T]he federal workforce cannot just figure out how we get a bigger slice of a fixed-size pie of national cyber talent. We need to build a bigger pie. Across the federal government, dedicated professionals are working on a range of separate initiatives designed to build the federal cyber workforce. But to really gain traction as a whole, those individual efforts need a coherent federal strategy, leadership, and sustained investment, said CSC Senior Director Laura Bate. The Commission's report details five elements to guide development of a federal cyber workforce strategy, and recommendations that address each element: Organize - Federal departments and agencies must have flexible tools for organizing and managing their workforce that can adapt to each organization's individual mission while also providing coherence across the entirety of the federal government. To appropriately organize the federal cyber workforce, the CSC recommends properly identifying and utilizing cyber-specific occupational classifications to allow more tailored workforce policies, building a federal cyber service to provide clear and agile hiring authorities and other personnel management tools, and establishing coordination structures to provide clear leadership for federal workforce development efforts. Recruit - Federal leaders must focus on the programs that make public service an attractive prospect to talented individuals. In many ways, the federal government's greatest tool for recruitment is the mission and unique learning opportunities inherent in federal work. To capitalize on these advantages, the government should invest in existing programs such as CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service and the Centers of Academic Excellence while also working to mitigate recruitment barriers that stem from the personnel security clearance process. Develop - The federal government, like all cyber employers, cannot expect every new employee to have hands-on experience, a four-year degree, and a list of industry certifications. Rather, the federal government will be stronger if it draws from a broad array of educational backgrounds and creates opportunities for employees to gain knowledge and experience as they work. This effort will call for many innovative approaches, among which the Commission particularly recommends apprenticeship programs and upskilling opportunities to support cyber employee development. Retain - Federal leaders should take a nuanced view of retention, recognizing that enabling talent to move flexibly between the public and private sectors enables a stronger cyber workforce overall. However, federal employers can take steps to encourage their employees to increase the time they spend in public service. Improving pay flexibility is a major consideration, but continuing the development of career pathways and providing interesting career development opportunities like rotational and exchange programs also can be critical. Of particular note, federal employers can increase retention of underrepresented groups through the removal of inequities and barriers to advancement in the workplace. Stimulate Growth - The federal government cannot simply recruit a larger share of the existing national talent pool. Rather, leaders must take steps to grow the talent pool itself in order to increase the numbers of those available for federal jobs. To promote growth of the talent pool nationwide, the federal government must first coordinate government efforts working toward this goal. Executive branch and congressional leaders should also invest in measures to promote diversity across the national workforce and incentivize research to provide a greater empirical understanding of cyber workforce dynamics. Finally, federal leaders must work to increase the military cyber workforce, which has a significant impact on the national cyber workforce because it serves as both a source and an employer of cyber talent. The Commission's white paper highlights the critical importance of growing the cyber talent pool nationwide, while noting that one of the most effective ways the federal government can support this growth is to lead by example. With a cohesive strategy, effective leadership, and sustained investment, the federal government can be a leader in cyber workforce development while also driving toward a stronger cyber workforce nationwide. CSC Commissioners Congressman Jim Langevin and Chris Inglis appeared on the Dakota State University panel along with DSU's President Dr. Jos-Marie Griffiths, Dean of DSU's Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Dr. Pat Engebretson, and National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Commissioner Eric Schmidt. The Commission's white paper can be found here. Congress established the Cyberspace Solarium Commission in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, and it officially launched in April 2019. The Commissioners convened nearly every Monday that Congress was in session for a year, and its staff conducted more than 400 engagements, drawing upon the expertise of corporate leaders, federal, state and local officials, academics, and cybersecurity experts. The meetings and the ensuing report sought to understand America's posture in cyberspace and identify opportunities to improve our national preparedness to defend ourselves against cyberattacks. The CSC was established in the spirit of the original Project Solarium convened by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. The original Solarium was created to develop a consensus strategy to counter the Soviet Union as it was threatening the United States and its allies in the early days of the Cold War. This work contributed to the strategies that guided the United States through the Cold War ending with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The newest iteration of the Solarium seeks to create a path forward that will guide the United States as it defends itself in this new domain.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-statement-finalized-binding-operational-directive-requiring-agencies-have,Langevin Statement on Finalized Binding Operational Directive Requiring Agencies to Have Vulnerability Disclosure Policies,2020-09-02,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Warwick, R.I. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, issued the following statement regarding the finalization of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 20-01, Vulnerability Disclosure Policies. The BOD was published in conjunction with a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) entitled Improving Vulnerability Identification, Management, and Remediation. Langevin and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy submitted comments on the draft BOD and memorandum in January. The following may be attributed to Congressman Langevin: When cybersecurity researchers find a flaw in software, they need to have some mechanism for reporting it so it can be fixed. I have long advocated for vulnerability disclosure policies that provide clear guidelines for such reporting, and, today, the federal government is taking an important step in normalizing them. CISA's newly finalized Binding Operational Directive on vulnerability disclosure begins: Cybersecurity is a public good that is strongest when the public is given the ability to contribute.' I could not agree more. Assistant Director Bryan Ware and his team have done an absolutely terrific job with the vulnerability disclosure directive, which sets a new bar for cybersecurity leadership by the federal government. I fully expect state and local governments, private companies, and non-profits to use the directive and the corresponding OMB memorandum as models of how to effectively extend the hand of friendship to security researchers and protect their systems. When I first attended DEF CON in 2017, I promised to take what I learned from the security researchers there back to Washington. Time and again I have made the argument that we need to give well-meaning researchers trying to make the Internet safer a means of engaging with government. Thanks to the leadership of people like CISA Director Krebs and Republican Leader McCarthy, the federal government is starting a new chapter in its relationship with cybersecurity researchers. I look forward to continuing to strengthen that relationship, and I am ready to support agencies as they begin to implement this new directive.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/as-september-rent-comes-due-whitehouse-again-calls-for-senate-to-reconvene-to-help-ri-renters-and-homeowners-in-crisis,"As September Rent Comes Due, Whitehouse Again Calls for Senate to Reconvene to Help RI Renters and Homeowners in Crisis",2020-09-01,2020,2020-09,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"09.01.20 As September Rent Comes Due, Whitehouse Again Calls for Senate to Reconvene to Help RI Renters and Homeowners in Crisis Majority Leader McConnell still refuses to come to the table on new relief legislation after many months of inaction Providence, RI With September rent due today for millions of American families who can't afford to pay it, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is once again calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to pass a robust relief bill that includes help for Rhode Island renters and homeowners thrown into crisis by the COVID-19 pandemic. In early August, McConnell withdrew from bipartisan negotiations for a new relief package and sent the Senate into recess until September 8. Having a safe, stable place to call home takes on a new level of importance during a pandemic, said Whitehouse. Renters and homeowners have been pushed to the brink of crisis as unemployment benefits expired in July, and jobs remain scarce. While Governor Raimondo has done a lot to prevent an eviction epidemic, there is much more we need to do at the federal level to supplement that effort. We've lost three and a half months since the House passed a strong relief bill, and Senator McConnell is still just standing by. Tens of thousands of Rhode Island families cannot wait another week for Congress to start doing its job. Between 100,000 and 143,000 Rhode Islanders, representing between 28 and 42 percent of all households in the state, are at risk of eviction according to a report published by the Aspen Institute early last month. The report estimates that between 30 and 40 million households across the country could be displaced by the end of the year. The COVID pandemic has put many Rhode Islanders in a tight financial spot, making it hard for many to keep up with housing costs, said Carol Ventura, Executive Director of RIHousing. It's critically important that we provide responsive and meaningful programs and supports to help families weather the storm created by the COVID-19 health crisis. We thank Senator Whitehouse and the other members of our Congressional Delegation for their leadership in seeking assistance for Rhode Islanders and we stand ready to deploy those resources as needed. Even before COVID-19, far too many Rhode Islanders were just one financial shock a broken down car, a sick child, missed days at work from falling behind on their rent or mortgage payments, said Brenda Clement, Director of HousingWorks RI. In Rhode Island, for every 10 of our lowest-income renters, there are just 5 homes that they can afford. Data shows that Black and Latino Rhode Islanders are disproportionately bearing the brunt of COVID-19 infections and death and historic job losses. Rent and mortgage payments are due on the first of each month and too many Rhode Islanders cannot afford to pay. We've known for a long time that housing is healthcare. That's felt more true in recent months than ever before, said Karen Santilli, President & CEO of Crossroads RI. We applaud Senator Whitehouse's call for additional Federal housing support to ensure that Rhode Islanders can maintain safe, secure housing during this pandemic and through our economic recovery. Since March, Crossroads RI has taken measures to keep individuals and families housed and has ensured safe shelter for those in an emergency. Additional Federal support for housing is essential to these efforts. The House-passed HEROES Act provides $200 billion in emergency housing support, including $100 billion for rental assistance and $75 billion to help distressed homeowners. The legislation would also reinstate the additional $600 weekly employment benefit through January. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-joins-cicilline-mcgovern-call-mcconnell-pass-delivering-america-act-protect,"Langevin joins Cicilline, McGovern To Call On McConnell To Pass Delivering for America Act",2020-08-27,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"PAWTUCKET Representatives David Cicilline (RI-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Jim Langevin (RI-02) are calling on Senate Majority Leader McConnell to take up the Delivery for America Act, which passed through the House Saturday, to save the Postal Service from sabotage. This week, thanks to the activism of Democrats and the American people, Postmaster General DeJoy announced what may be a temporary pause in operational changes delaying the mail.This is a necessary but insufficient first step in ending the President's election sabotage campaign. This pause only halts a limited number of the Postmaster's changes, does not reverse damage already done and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the President this fall. The Postal Service is a pillar of our democracy, enshrined in the Constitution and essential for providing critical services: delivering prescriptions, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns and absentee ballots to millions of Americans, including in our most remote communities. Yet, the President enabled by his top mega-donor Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is waging a campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters.Across the nation, Postmaster General DeJoy continues to push forward sweeping new operational changes that degrade postal service, delay the mail and threaten to deny the ability of eligible Americans to cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming elections in a timely fashion. The Postal Service itself has warned that voters, even if they send in their ballots by state deadlines, may be disenfranchised in 46 states and in Washington, D.C. by the Postmaster General's manufactured delays. On Saturday, the House passed Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Maloney's Delivering for America Act, which prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any new changes to operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020. The Postal Service is one of the pillars of our democracy, said Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairman Cicilline. The operational changes' Postmaster DeJoy put in place are irresponsible. The House passed the Delivering for America Act last weekend to fully fund and restore those changes.' Senator McConnell needs to come back from his vacation and make this a priority. Our veterans' prescriptions, seniors' Social Security checks, and small businesses' livelihoods are at stake. This is a five alarm fire for our democracy. In the middle of a pandemic, right before America begins to vote, Donald Trump and his hand-picked, campaign mega-donor Postmaster General are still attempting to undermine the integrity of our election by sabotaging the USPS,said Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern.This timing is more than suspicious it's outrageous, it's wrong, and I believe it's unconstitutional. If this president can abuse the power of his office to cheat in an election, then any president after him will be able to get away with the same thing. We cannot and will not let that happen. Mitch McConnell should listen to the American people for once in his life and pass the Delivering For America Act to protect the integrity of our elections. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's unilateral changes to service standards reflect his commitment to the Trump Administration rather than the American people who rely on mail for essentials, said Congressman Langevin. I'm proud to have voted for the Delivering for America Act to protect the post office because Congress cannot be idle as the President undermines a critical service and a pillar our democracy for political gain. This cannot be another important bill that languishes in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's legislative graveyard the Senate must take it up!",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-announces-federal-backing-for-national-expansion-of-ri-marine-trades-associations-innovative-boat-recycling-program,RI Delegation Announces Federal Backing for National Expansion of RI Marine Trades Association’s Innovative Boat Recycling Program,2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.26.20 RI Delegation Announces Federal Backing for National Expansion of RI Marine Trades Association's Innovative Boat Recycling Program $105k grant comes from NOAA Marine Debris Program, which was reauthorized by Whitehouse's Save Our Seas Act in 2018 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program has awarded a $105,452 grant to the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) Foundation to expand Rhode Island's innovative fiberglass boat recycling program across New England and to the state of Washington. This federal funding will help clean the Bay, which has important health and economic benefits for all Rhode Islanders, said Senator Reed. This federal grant will help remove even more trash and refuse from our waters and prevent it from washing up along the coast. I'm very proud that the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and Rhode Island Sea Grant have pioneered an environmentally and financially sustainable model for recycling fiberglass boats, which long posed a vexing environmental challenge, said Whitehouse, who authored the Save Our Seas Act, which reauthorized NOAA's Marine Debris Program in 2018. Whitehouse is a longtime champion for the local composites industry and helped convene the Rhode Island Composites Alliance. This award from NOAA's Marine Debris Program is an investment in expanding the Rhode Island model for reducing the harmful, polluting marine debris in oceans and waterways across the country. Whitehouse's Save Our Seas 2.0 legislation, which builds on steps taken in the original Save Our Seas law to reduce marine debris worldwide, passed the Senate earlier this year and awaits action in the House of Representatives. I'm proud that through the work of the RIMTA Foundation, the Ocean State is leading the way in developing sustainable methods for recycling materials that pose a threat to our marine environment and sea-life, said Congressman Langevin. Boating is a part of Rhode Island's identity, but the remains of fiberglass boats are a source of contamination that must be addressed not only here but in other coastal states. I am encouraged that this federal funding will help promote a long-term model that will help prevent water pollution, and I am particularly grateful to Senator Whitehouse for leading the charge in Congress on marine debris reduction. This is an important federal grant that will protect Rhode Island's coastline from the dangers marine debris can pose, said Congressman David Cicilline. I'm especially grateful to Senator Whitehouse for his leadership in crafting the legislation that made this funding possible. The RIMTA Foundation, which is developing a sustainable financial model for fiberglass boat recycling, will use the federal funding to assist Washington and states in the New England region with replicating and improving upon the Rhode Island Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program. RIMTA will also engage regional and national marine industry organizations and businesses to further develop solutions for preventing pollution, habitat destruction, and navigation impediments related to abandoned, storm-wrecked, and end-of-life boats. In 2016, RIMTA and the Rhode Island Sea Grant Program pioneered a method of utilizing fiberglass boat material in the production of cement. Over the past two years, the Rhode Island Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program run by RIMTA has recycled more than sixty tons of fiberglass materials using the new process, successfully diverting old boats from being buried in landfills or scuttled. As stewards of the environment and its sustainability, the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and its member companies are proud to explore innovative ways to recycle end-of-life fiberglass boats and more, said Wendy J. Mackie, CEO of both the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island. NOAA's backing on this endeavor comes at a critical time in the project's progress. We are incredibly grateful for their trust and support. Marine debris threaten ocean wildlife, and can adversely affect navigation safety and economic activities that rely on the ocean. The NOAA Marine Debris Program is dedicated to identifying, preventing, and removing marine debris. NOAA's Marine Debris Program today awarded a total of $2.7 million in competitive grant awards for 23 marine debris removal and prevention projects. RIMTA represents all components of the recreational boating industry in Rhode Island. The organization is dedicated to growing the marine trades through advocacy, education, and promotion, and positioning the Ocean State as a worldwide leader in the marine industry. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-colleagues-unveil-key-climate-report-featuring-chapter-on-dark-money-obstruction-of-climate-action,"Whitehouse, Colleagues Unveil Key Climate Report Featuring Chapter on Dark Money Obstruction of Climate Action",2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.26.20 Whitehouse, Colleagues Unveil Key Climate Report Featuring Chapter on Dark Money Obstruction of Climate Action Report offers solutions to counter the fossil fuel industry's carefully-honed influence campaign Washington, DC Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and members of Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis to release a comprehensive report titled The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People. The report offers a path forward for climate action in Congress, including a chapter to address the fossil fuel industry's dark money influence campaign blocking action on climate change. [Read the full report here; read the dark money chapter here] This report charts a smart path forward for climate action in Congress. It includes the vital first step of exposing the fossil fuel industry's decades-old covert operation to scuttle meaningful climate legislation, said Senator Whitehouse. To move forward on major climate bills, we'll need to execute on that recommendation. It also lays out a bold plan to slash carbon pollution, create jobs and greater equity across our economy, and avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Thank you to Chairman Schatz for his leadership. I'm proud to have been a part of this effort. Our committee stitched together a political coalition across demographic, geographic, and ideological boundaries, said Senator Schatz. We don't have to keep losing on climate the work we've done shows that we can unite Americans and finally get this done. Over the course of decades, fossil fuel corporations have spent billions of dollars much of it anonymous funding channeled through secretive front groups in a carefully orchestrated effort to kill all comprehensive legislation to address climate change, the senators write in the report. Whitehouse and his colleagues lay out a strategy to neutralize the fossil fuel industry's dark money influence campaign: Expose the role of the fossil fuel billionaires, executives, and corporations in funding and organizing the groups trafficking in climate denial and obstruction. Reform federal laws and regulations to require greater transparency and reduce the influence of money, particularly dark money, in politics. Alert industries that support climate action to the depth, nature, and success of the covert fossil fuel political scheme. Giant corporations from Big Tobacco to lead paint manufacturers to Big Oil have used secret channels of influence to block action to protect the public from the harms caused by their products. Scientists, activists, and watchdog groups have tracked those corporate misinformation campaigns, including how anonymous funding of corporate front groups and trade associations can be exposed and neutralized. In a hearing last October led by Whitehouse, the Special Committee hosted leading economists, academic experts, and top watchdog groups to discuss the research on dark money climate obstruction and what lessons can be learned from past efforts to combat corporate deceit, including how amenable dark money is to congressional oversight. The Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, which is affiliated with the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, was established in March 2019 and was tasked with investigating, holding hearings, and issuing findings on the economic and national security consequences of climate change and how climate action presents significant opportunities for jobs, public health, and the economy. Since March 2019, the committee held 10 public hearings, convened 10 in-depth meetings with experts, and connected with a broad array of constituencies in person and through targeted outreach. The report released today draws on that body of work. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-federal-backing-national-expansion-ri-marine-trades,RI Delegation Announces Federal Backing for National Expansion of RI Marine Trades Associations Innovative Boat Recycling Program,2020-08-26,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program has awarded a $105,452 grant to the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) Foundation to expand Rhode Island's innovative fiberglass boat recycling program across New England and to the state of Washington. This federal funding will help clean the Bay, which has important health and economic benefits for all Rhode Islanders, said Senator Reed. This federal grant will help remove even more trash and refuse from our waters and prevent it from washing up along the coast. I'm very proud that the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and Rhode Island Sea Grant have pioneered an environmentally and financially sustainable model for recycling fiberglass boats, which long posed a vexing environmental challenge, said Whitehouse, who authored theSave Our Seas Act, which reauthorized NOAA's Marine Debris Program in 2018. Whitehouse is a longtime champion for the local composites industry and helped convene the Rhode Island Composites Alliance. This award from NOAA's Marine Debris Program is an investment in expanding the Rhode Island model for reducing the harmful, polluting marine debris in oceans and waterways across the country. Whitehouse'sSave Our Seas 2.0legislation, which builds on steps taken in the original Save Our Seas law to reduce marine debris worldwide, passed the Senate earlier this year and awaits action in the House of Representatives. I'm proud that through the work of the RIMTA Foundation, the Ocean State is leading the way in developing sustainable methods for recycling materials that pose a threat to our marine environment and sea-life, said Congressman Langevin. Boating is a part of Rhode Island's identity, but the remains of fiberglass boats are a source of contamination that must be addressed not only here but in other coastal states. I am encouraged that this federal funding will help promote a long-term model that will help prevent water pollution, and I am particularly grateful to Senator Whitehouse for leading the charge in Congress on marine debris reduction. This is an important federal grant that will protect Rhode Island's coastline from the dangers marine debris can pose, said Congressman David Cicilline. I'm especially grateful to Senator Whitehouse for his leadership in crafting the legislation that made this funding possible. The RIMTA Foundation, which is developing a sustainable financial model for fiberglass boat recycling, will use the federal funding to assist Washington and states in the New England region with replicating and improving upon the Rhode Island Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program. RIMTA will also engage regional and national marine industry organizations and businesses to further develop solutions for preventing pollution, habitat destruction, and navigation impediments related to abandoned, storm-wrecked, and end-of-life boats. In 2016, RIMTA and the Rhode Island Sea Grant Program pioneered a method of utilizing fiberglass boat material in the production of cement. Over the past two years, the Rhode Island Fiberglass Boat Recycling Program run by RIMTA has recycled more than sixty tons of fiberglass materials using the new process, successfully diverting old boats from being buried in landfills or scuttled. As stewards of the environment and its sustainability, the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and its member companies are proud to explore innovative ways to recycle end-of-life fiberglass boats and more, said Wendy J. Mackie, CEO of both the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and the Composites Allianceof Rhode Island. NOAA's backing on this endeavor comes at a critical time in the project's progress. We are incredibly grateful for their trust and support. Marine debris threaten ocean wildlife, and can adversely affect navigation safety and economic activities that rely on the ocean. The NOAA Marine Debris Program is dedicated to identifying, preventing, and removing marine debris. NOAA's Marine Debris Program today awarded a total of $2.7 million in competitive grant awards for 23 marine debris removal and prevention projects. RIMTA represents all components of the recreational boating industry in Rhode Island. The organization is dedicated to growing the marine trades through advocacy, education, and promotion, and positioning the Ocean State as a worldwide leader in the marine industry.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-votes-restore-full-funding-and-service-us-postal-service,Cicilline Votes to Restore Full Funding and Service of U.S. Postal Service,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee voted to fully restore the operational changes and fully fund the United States Postal Service. Earlier in the day, he spoke on the House floor about this important vote. Remarks are embedded at the end of this email. David N. Cicilline Protecting the USPS August 22, 2020 Madam speaker, thank you to the extraordinary men and women who serve us in the United States Postal Service. I rise today to highlight President Trump's shameless attempts to degrade the United States Postal Service, a revered American institution. These actions not only undermine our elections, they're gambling with people's lives. These past several weeks, I've received thousands of emails, calls, and letters from constituents pleading that these changes be reversed. Just this week I heard from a constituent with diabetes who feared her family was at risk of losing their insurance after learning her payment had arrived a month late after it was mailed. Her story is sadly one of many being heard across the nation. COVID-19 has already brought on significant financial trouble for so many families. To further hurt working families now facing late fees on rent or car payments through no fault of their own is unconscionable. House Democrats have promised to get government working for the people and today's bill is another example of that commitment. Everybody loves the post office. It has been with us since the founding of our country knitting together communities, and this attempt to undermine and degrade services is not only undermining services to our constituents is threatening our democracy, and with that Madam Speaker, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-speaks-house-floor-ahead-vote-protect-united-states-postal-service,Langevin Speaks on House Floor Ahead of Vote to Protect the United States Postal Service,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in advance of his vote to pass H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act. The House of Representatives is taking up this legislation in response to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's changes to Postal Service operations that have already resulted in significant mail delays across the country. The Delivering for America Act prohibits the Postal Service from implementing changes to operations or service levels in effect on January 1, 2020. The prohibition would remain in effect throughout the duration of the coronavirus pandemic or through January 1, 2021, whichever is later. Additionally, the bill requires all election mail to be treated as first-class mail and provides $25 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service, the level of funding recommended by the USPS Board of Governors, which is composed completely of appointees by President Trump. Madam Speaker, the Postmaster General's attempts to push forward operational changes that delay the mail are simply unacceptable. My constituents depend on the U.S. Postal Service. In the past week, I received over a thousand constituent letters expressing confusion and anger over these changes. A senior from Coventry wrote to me expressing her alarm over what might happen if her diabetic husband failed to receive his medications on time. A constituent from Wakefield, who has not missed an election since 1956, emailed me to ask if he should vote in person despite being 85 years old with health concerns. ""No one should have to wait for lifesaving medications or risk their health to cast a vote. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Millions of Americans are counting on us, and we cannot let them down.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-nearly-39-million-local-fire-departments,RI Delegation Announces Nearly $3.9 Million for Local Fire Departments,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"PROVIDENCE, RI U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced $3,884,710 in new federal funding for seventeen fire departments across the state. The delegation says the cities, towns, and fire districts are receiving federal funds to purchase vital equipment, including fire hoses, trucks, high-tech breathing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The federal funds are made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and will help local fire departments prioritize operations and safety during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These federal grants will help firefighters across the state enhance public safety and protect themselves as they can continue to serve and perform their essential work, said Senator Reed. Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe. This federal funding will help provide the tools they need to protect themselves and all Rhode Islanders. Congratulations to the departments for winning these grants, said Senator Whitehouse. Rhode Island firefighters on the front lines of the pandemic are facing daunting challenges and it is more important than ever that departments are equipped with the proper tools to save lives, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. These federal funds will go a long way to making sure our heroes have equipment that keeps them safe when responding to emergencies. Our firefighters and heroes on the frontlines are keeping Rhode Islanders safe during the pandemic, Cicilline said. These grants allow our firefighters to do their essential service, but we need to continue to push for more funding for these heroes. That's why the House passed the Heroes Act more than 3 months ago, which helps our heroes on the front lines. Senate Republicans need to act today and pass this vital legislation. The following cities and town fire departments will receive the federal fire grants: CENTRAL FALLS: $209,809.52 for firefighter breathing apparatus. CRANSTON: $97,272.73 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. CUMBERLAND: $205,617.00 for fire hose, nozzles, and firefighter training. EAST GREENWICH: $274,885.10 for operations and safety. EAST PROVIDENCE: $691,336.36 for mobile radios and firefighter breathing apparatus. FOSTER (MOOSUP VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT): $3,325.71 for operations and safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program (AFG-S) which may be used to purchase PPE. NARRAGANSETT: $106,666.67 for firefighter breathing apparatus. NORTH KINGSTOWN: $208,546.91 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. NORTH PROVIDENCE: $390,600.00 for mobile radios, portable radios and mobile repeaters. PROVIDENCE: $921,363.64 for vehicle acquisition and $202,566.36 for operations and safety through AFG-S. This brings Providence's total AFG awards for this round of funding to $1,123,930 total. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, UNION FIRE DISTRICT: $2,695.69 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. SMITHFIELD: $85,779.68 for cardiac monitors and a $45,454.55 regional grant award for 11 fire departments for a training simulator prop. WARWICK: $112,369.09 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. WESTERN COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT: $17,142.86 for firefighter training and fire hose. WEST GREENWICH (LAKE MISHNOCK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY): $11,214.29 for firefighter training WEST WARWICK: $71,141.82 for an air compressor air refill system. WOONSOCKET: $226,922.73 for chest compression devices and fire officer training. This federal funding will help ease capital improvement costs to cities and local taxpayers by replacing worn out and obsolete equipment with more modern, efficient gear.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-announces-nearly-39-million-for-local-fire-departments,RI Delegation Announces Nearly $3.9 Million for Local Fire Departments,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.21.20 RI Delegation Announces Nearly $3.9 Million for Local Fire Departments Federal fire grants will help 17 local fire departments enhance public safety PROVIDENCE, RI Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced $3,884,710 in new federal funding for seventeen fire departments across the state. The delegation says the cities, towns, and fire districts are receiving federal funds to purchase vital equipment, including fire hoses, trucks, high-tech breathing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The federal funds are made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and will help local fire departments prioritize operations and safety during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These federal grants will help firefighters across the state enhance public safety and protect themselves as they can continue to serve and perform their essential work, said Senator Reed. Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe. This federal funding will help provide the tools they need to protect themselves and all Rhode Islanders. Congratulations to the departments for winning these grants, said Senator Whitehouse. Rhode Island firefighters on the front lines of the pandemic are facing daunting challenges and it is more important than ever that departments are equipped with the proper tools to save lives, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. These federal funds will go a long way to making sure our heroes have equipment that keeps them safe when responding to emergencies. Our firefighters and heroes on the frontlines are keeping Rhode Islanders safe during the pandemic, Cicilline said. These grants allow our firefighters to do their essential service, but we need to continue to push for more funding for these heroes. That's why the House passed the Heroes Act more than 3 months ago, which helps our heroes on the front lines. Senate Republicans need to act today and pass this vital legislation. The following cities and town fire departments will receive the federal fire grants: CENTRAL FALLS: $209,809.52 for firefighter breathing apparatus. CRANSTON: $97,272.73 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. CUMBERLAND: $205,617.00 for fire hose, nozzles, and firefighter training. EAST GREENWICH: $274,885.10 for operations and safety. EAST PROVIDENCE: $691,336.36 for mobile radios and firefighter breathing apparatus. FOSTER (MOOSUP VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT): $3,325.71 for operations and safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program (AFG-S) which may be used to purchase PPE. NARRAGANSETT: $106,666.67 for firefighter breathing apparatus. NORTH KINGSTOWN: $208,546.91 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. NORTH PROVIDENCE: $390,600.00 for mobile radios, portable radios and mobile repeaters. PROVIDENCE: $921,363.64 for vehicle acquisition and $202,566.36 for operations and safety through AFG-S. This brings Providence's total AFG awards for this round of funding to $1,123,930 total. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, UNION FIRE DISTRICT: $2,695.69 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. SMITHFIELD: $85,779.68 for cardiac monitors and a $45,454.55 regional grant award for 11 fire departments for a training simulator prop. WARWICK: $112,369.09 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. WESTERN COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT: $17,142.86 for firefighter training and fire hose. WEST GREENWICH (LAKE MISHNOCK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY): $11,214.29 for firefighter training. WEST WARWICK: $71,141.82 for an air compressor air refill system. WOONSOCKET: $226,922.73 for chest compression devices and fire officer training. This federal funding will help ease capital improvement costs to cities and local taxpayers by replacing worn out and obsolete equipment with more modern, efficient gear. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-call-for-gao-investigation-of-trump-politicization-of-immigration-courts-as-covid-19-crisis-rages,Senators Call for GAO Investigation of Trump Politicization of Immigration Courts as COVID-19 Crisis Rages,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.21.20 Senators Call for GAO Investigation of Trump Politicization of Immigration Courts as COVID-19 Crisis Rages Trump attacks on immigration system raise serious concerns about safety during pandemic - More than 1,000 people in immigration detention have tested positive for COVID-19, and five have died Washington, DC Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) led a Senate request to the top congressional watchdog to investigate the practices of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) under President Trump, including its management of immigration courts during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the senators raise concerns first voiced to the Justice Department in February about mismanagement of the EOIR under Attorney General William Barr, as well as the Trump administration's regulatory and procedural changes at the Justice Department that have curtailed the independence of immigration courts. The administration's mismanagement of and meddling with the immigration courts done in the name of efficiency are particularly troubling during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an overburdened system can lead to unsafe practices that place individuals at grave risk and jeopardize due process, the senators write to the GAO. While the Trump administration has justified its incursions into the independence of immigration courts as efficiency measures, legal service providers have explained that EOIR's response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how the agency can use seemingly neutral measures to tip the scales of justice against noncitizens, the senators write. In order to defend themselves in immigration court, noncitizens must file motions and other papers in person at physical court locations; obtain counsel; meet with their attorneys; present testimony from family members, employers, and/or expert witnesses; and provide medical records, tax records, and other supporting documents. Yet COVID-19 makes these actions potentially dangerous. Joining Whitehouse, Durbin, and Hirono in the request to the GAO are Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA). The senators continue in their letter to GAO, Immigration courts are now reopening around the country, including in areas that are seeing increases in the number of COVID-19 cases. Because EOIR does not have consistent policies for when attorneys, let alone translators or witnesses, may appear telephonically or by video, participants often must appear in person or not at all. Immigration courts have continued to issue in absentia orders of removal for noncitizens who do not appear, even when the likely cause is COVID-19. Nor has EOIR uniformly extended deadlines or continued cases, despite the difficulty noncitizens face in finding and consulting with counsel, obtaining and filing necessary documents and evidence, or securing the appearance of witnesses. These difficulties are particularly acute for detained clients, who have limited access to phone calls and attorney visits. As a result, noncitizens cannot obtain counsel or litigate their cases, and attorneys cannot effectively represent their clients. The Trump administration's management of the immigration system has come under close scrutiny during the COVID-19 crisis. Reports suggest immigrants face a range of unsafe conditions and practices as a result of Trump administration management decisions, including the detention of children using unaccountable private contractors. More than 1,000 people in immigration detention have tested positive for COVID-19, and five people have died. Full text of the senators' request is below. A PDF copy is available here. August 21, 2020 The Honorable Gene Dodaro Comptroller General of the United States United States Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20548 Dear Mr. Dodaro: We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyze and audit the Executive Office of Immigration Review's (EOIR) practices with respect to the hiring, training, and evaluation of immigration judges and staffing of immigration courts, as well as their management of these courts during the current COVID-19 pandemic. GAO's insight will help Congress determine if additional legislation is necessary to address these issues, as well as inform appropriations decisions. In February, we wrote to Attorney General William Barr to express our concern that the Trump administration is undermining the independence of immigration courts. As outlined in that letter, attached, we are concerned about the mismanagement of EOIR and troubled by regulatory and procedural changes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) that have curtailed the independence of immigration courts. Although more than six months have passed, we have not received a response from DOJ or EOIR. Instead, in that time, EOIR has continued to use its administrative powers to put its thumb on the scale of justice. Most recently, EOIR attempted to buy out all nine career Board of Immigration Appeals judges who had been hired in prior administrations.[1] When the judges refused, they were reassigned to new roles.[2] While the Trump administration has justified its incursions into the independence of immigration courts as efficiency measures,[3] legal service providers have explained that EOIR's response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how the agency can use seemingly neutral measures to tip the scales of justice against noncitizens. In order to defend themselves in immigration court, noncitizens must file motions and other papers in person at physical court locations; obtain counsel; meet with their attorneys; present testimony from family members, employers, and/or expert witnesses; and provide medical records, tax records, and other supporting documents. Yet COVID-19 makes these actions potentially dangerous. While EOIR initially postponed all hearings for non-detained individuals, proceedings for detained noncitizens continued to move forward unabated.[4] Immigration courts are now reopening around the country,[5] including in areas that are seeing increases in the number of COVID-19 cases. Because EOIR does not have consistent policies for when attorneys, let alone translators or witnesses, may appear telephonically or by video,[6] participants often must appear in person or not at all.[7] Immigration courts have continued to issue in absentia orders of removal for noncitizens who do not appear, even when the likely cause is COVID-19.[8] Nor has EOIR uniformly extended deadlines or continued cases, despite the difficulty noncitizens face in finding and consulting with counsel, obtaining and filing necessary documents and evidence, or securing the appearance of witnesses. These difficulties are particularly acute for detained clients, who have limited access to phone calls and attorney visits.[9] As a result, noncitizens cannot obtain counsel or litigate their cases, and attorneys cannot effectively represent their clients.[10] EOIR's facially-neutral policies during the COVID-19 pandemic have raised systemic due process concerns.[11] Immigration judges, staff, and litigators have also expressed concerns about the health risks to them and the litigants who appear in immigration courts.[12] Given GAO's prior work on immigration courts,[13] it is uniquely suited to conduct an audit and analysis of EOIR. We ask GAO to look into the following questions: 1. What criteria does EOIR use to hire immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals judges? What criteria does EOIR use to determine the number of deputy chief and other management positions for judges, and what criteria does EOIR use to hire for these positions? To what extent does EOIR assess its immigration judge and Board of Immigration Appeals judge hiring efforts? What, if any, challenges has EOIR encountered in recruiting and retaining immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals judges? How, if at all, has it addressed them? 2. How does EOIR determine targets for immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals case completion time frames and caseloads? 3. To what extent has EOIR assessed its immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals staffing needs? What have any such assessments shown? How do current immigration court staffing levels compare to staffing needs EOIR has identified? 4. How does EOIR assess immigration and Board of Immigration Appeals judge performance? 5. To what extent has EOIR assessed immigration judge and Board of Immigration Appeals judge training needs? What have any such assessments shown? 6. How has EOIR's use of video teleconferencing changed since GAO last reported on it in 2017? What, if any, data is EOIR collecting on hearings using video teleconferencing and the effects of that technology on hearing outcomes? 7. How do EOIR's practices compare to other administrative courts? 8. How, if at all, is EOIR addressing the backlog of cases that were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? 9. How, if at all, has EOIR's response to COVID-19 affected noncitizens' ability to locate and meet with counsel, obtain and present evidence in their cases, and appear in court? To what extent have the challenges of COVID-19 impacted the number of in absentia orders issued by immigration courts? Please keep our offices apprised of your review. Thank you for your attention to this matter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-trump-and-pompeo%E2%80%99s-re-imposing-sanctions-iran,Cicilline On Trump and Pompeos Re-Imposing Sanctions on Iran,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cicilline On Trump and Pompeo's Re-Imposing Sanctions on Iran Aug 21, 2020 WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today: The actions of the Trump Administration have brought Iran closer to having a nuclear weapon. Their abrupt departure from the Iran Deal, and their failure to stop the expiration of the arms embargo with Iran have imperiled us all. We knew that the expiration of the arms embargo was coming. The Trump Administration re-imposing sanctions, known as snapback, is a failure of foresight, ability to negotiate, and will further diminish the United States' credibility on the world stage. Containing Iran's nuclear ambitions, which should be a shared and serious priority, may now be even more difficult. The original Iran Deal was not perfect, but by leaving it, it made it harder than ever to improve it. Today's announcement makes it near impossible.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-nearly-39-million-local-fire-departments,RI Delegation Announces Nearly $3.9 Million for Local Fire Departments,2020-08-21,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PROVIDENCE, RI Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced $3,884,710 in new federal funding for seventeen fire departments across the state. The delegation says the cities, towns, and fire districts are receiving federal funds to purchase vital equipment, including fire hoses, trucks, high-tech breathing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The federal funds are made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and will help local fire departments prioritize operations and safety during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These federal grants will help firefighters across the state enhance public safety and protect themselves as they can continue to serve and perform their essential work, said Senator Reed. Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe. This federal funding will help provide the tools they need to protect themselves and all Rhode Islanders. Congratulations to the departments for winning these grants, said Senator Whitehouse. Rhode Island firefighters on the front lines of the pandemic are facing daunting challenges and it is more important than ever that departments are equipped with the proper tools to save lives, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. These federal funds will go a long way to making sure our heroes have equipment that keeps them safe when responding to emergencies. Our firefighters and heroes on the frontlines are keeping Rhode Islanders safe during the pandemic, Cicilline said. These grants allow our firefighters to do their essential service, but we need to continue to push for more funding for these heroes. That's why the House passed the Heroes Act more than 3 months ago, which helps our heroes on the front lines. Senate Republicans need to act today and pass this vital legislation. The following cities and town fire departments will receive the federal fire grants: CENTRAL FALLS: $209,809.52 for firefighter breathing apparatus. CRANSTON: $97,272.73 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. CUMBERLAND: $205,617.00 for fire hose, nozzles, and firefighter training. EAST GREENWICH: $274,885.10 for operations and safety. EAST PROVIDENCE: $691,336.36 for mobile radios and firefighter breathing apparatus. FOSTER (MOOSUP VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT): $3,325.71 for operations and safety through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program (AFG-S) which may be used to purchase PPE. NARRAGANSETT: $106,666.67 for firefighter breathing apparatus. NORTH KINGSTOWN: $208,546.91 for protective gear washers and protective gear dryers. NORTH PROVIDENCE: $390,600.00 for mobile radios, portable radios and mobile repeaters. PROVIDENCE: $921,363.64 for vehicle acquisition and $202,566.36 for operations and safety through AFG-S. This brings Providence's total AFG awards for this round of funding to $1,123,930 total. SOUTH KINGSTOWN, UNION FIRE DISTRICT: $2,695.69 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. SMITHFIELD: $85,779.68 for cardiac monitors and a $45,454.55 regional grant award for 11 fire departments for a training simulator prop. WARWICK: $112,369.09 for operations and safety through AFG-S which may be used to purchase PPE. WESTERN COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT: $17,142.86 for firefighter training and fire hose. WEST GREENWICH (LAKE MISHNOCK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY): $11,214.29 for firefighter training WEST WARWICK: $71,141.82 for an air compressor air refill system. WOONSOCKET: $226,922.73 for chest compression devices and fire officer training. This federal funding will help ease capital improvement costs to cities and local taxpayers by replacing worn out and obsolete equipment with more modern, efficient gear.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-hassan-whitehouse-continue-to-press-for-2006-purdue-pharma-prosecution-memo-following-new-guardian-reporting,"Senators Hassan, Whitehouse Continue to Press for 2006 Purdue Pharma Prosecution Memo Following New Guardian Reporting",2020-08-19,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.19.20 Senators Hassan, Whitehouse Continue to Press for 2006 Purdue Pharma Prosecution Memo Following New Guardian Reporting WASHINGTON Today, The Guardian published additional details about a 2006 Department of Justice memo laying out federal prosecutors' strong criminal case against Purdue Pharma. The Guardian's reporting discusses crimes that Purdue Pharma allegedly committed, the evidence that the Department of Justice had against Purdue Pharma, and the Department of Justice's decision to settle instead of prosecuting Purdue Pharma. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have repeatedly called for the release of the memo and related documents, including ones that detail the role that Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials played in the deliberations. The Senators are reiterating their call today. Purdue Pharma's actions helped fuel the opioid epidemic that has devastated countless American families and the Department of Justice could have helped to stop Purdue Pharma in its tracks more than a decade ago. The Guardian's reporting underscores the importance of understanding the Department of Justice's decision-making in 2006 and beyond, and the Department must comply with Congressional oversight by turning this memo and related documents over to Congress. The public ought to know if Rudy Giuliani and other former Department of Justice officials convinced the Department to let their client off the hook with a slap on the wrist. We must get to the bottom of Purdue Pharma's actions, why the Department of Justice failed to take stronger action, and how Purdue Pharma contributed to the opioid epidemic that we have today, said Senators Hassan and Whitehouse. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-demands-trump-administration-end-sabotage-postal-service,RI Delegation Demands Trump Administration End Sabotage of Postal Service,2020-08-18,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are demanding that the Trump administration end its sabotage of the United States Postal Service (USPS). In a letter sent today to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation call any action to undermine the operations of the USPS unacceptable, including efforts reported in Rhode Island that affect hardworking postal workers and the effectiveness of the postal system. The Rhode Island delegation cite concerns raised by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers about changes implemented in the Ocean State that severely curtail the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis. We urge you to suspend these harmful operational changes and turn your attention to supporting the mission of the USPS and its workers in providing an invaluable service to the American people and businesses, wrote Reed, Whitehouse, Langevin and Cicilline. Millions of Americans are expected to exercise their right to vote in November's general election using the mail system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, President Trump said he is opposed to additional funding for the Postal Service because of mail-in voting. All four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation say they are committed to saving the Post Office so that it can once again properly function and promptly and reliably serve the American people. Full text of the letter is available here and below. August 17, 2020 VIA ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION The Honorable Louis DeJoy Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer U.S. Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 10804 Washington, DC 20260-3500 Dear Mr. Postmaster General: We write to express our concerns about recent changes to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operations and the harmful consequences on mail delivery and services for residents and businesses in the State of Rhode Island. The dedicated men and women of the USPS provide essential services established by the U.S. Constitution. The agency guarantees timely and reliable delivery to all addresses in the country. The current pandemic has further highlighted the importance of this service as people and businesses are relying on USPS services to stay connected with friends and family, and for deliveries of medicine, food, and other necessities. Additionally, due to the current health crisis, USPS will be utilized by millions of Americans to exercise their right to vote in November's election. As such, it was particularly troubling when it was brought to our attention by the RI Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that the USPS, without prior consultation, informed the NALC of a new delivery initiative test Expedited Street/Afternoon Sortation (ESAS). The pilot program is underway in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and reportedly has severely curtailed the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis. We have also been told that other postal branches in the state have decided to implement this program, or a hybrid of the ESAS, resulting in limitations of mail delivery. Normally, mail is sorted in the morning and then letter carriers take all the mail for the day out to their route for delivery. At times carriers have to wait for mail to arrive from dispatch, meaning they start their route later than anticipated. The route is completed when all the day's mail has been delivered. This guarantees timely delivery and good customer service for homes and businesses. Under this new initiative, letter carriers are instructed to leave without all the day's mail, do their route, and then return to the branch to sort and file that morning's remaining mail for the next day. Therefore, mail is delayed on a recurring basis with an increasing backlog. It would appear that the ESAS is designed to restrict overtime for letter carriers by not allowing them to deliver all of the day's mail, regardless of the number of shift hours required to accomplish that goal. Any attempt to undermine the USPS is unacceptable. Unilateral changes to services could harm all Americans who rely on the services provided by the USPS. Additionally, the hardworking men and women of the USPS have been on the front line providing critical services to keep postal operations functioning during this pandemic. Undermining workplace conditions and rules without input or oversight is an affront to these essential workers, many of whom are veterans. We urge you to suspend these harmful operational changes and turn your attention to supporting the mission of the USPS and its workers in providing an invaluable service to the American people and businesses. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/-ri-delegation-demands-trump-administration-end-sabotage-of-postal-service,RI Delegation Demands Trump Administration End Sabotage of Postal Service,2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.17.20 RI Delegation Demands Trump Administration End Sabotage of Postal Service Rhode Islanders and small businesses rely on USPS for basic needs during pandemic Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are demanding that the Trump administration end its sabotage of the United States Postal Service (USPS). In a letter sent today to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation call any action to undermine the operations of the USPS unacceptable, including efforts reported in Rhode Island that affect hardworking postal workers and the effectiveness of the postal system. The Rhode Island delegation cite concerns raised by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers about changes implemented in the Ocean State that severely curtail the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis. We urge you to suspend these harmful operational changes and turn your attention to supporting the mission of the USPS and its workers in providing an invaluable service to the American people and businesses, write Reed, Whitehouse, Langevin and Cicilline. Millions of Americans are expected to exercise their right to vote in November's general election using the mail system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, President Trump said he is opposed to additional funding for the Postal Service because of mail-in voting. All four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation say they are committed to saving the Post Office so that it can once again properly function and promptly and reliably serve the American people. Full text of the letter is available here. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-demands-trump-administration-end-sabotage-postal-service,RI Delegation Demands Trump Administration End Sabotage of Postal Service,2020-08-17,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are demanding that the Trump administration end its sabotage of the United States Postal Service (USPS). In a letter sent today to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation call any action to undermine the operations of the USPS unacceptable, including efforts reported in Rhode Island that affect hardworking postal workers and the effectiveness of the postal system. The Rhode Island delegation cite concerns raised by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers about changes implemented in the Ocean State that severely curtail the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis. We urge you to suspend these harmful operational changes and turn your attention to supporting the mission of the USPS and its workers in providing an invaluable service to the American people and businesses, write Reed, Whitehouse, Langevin and Cicilline. Millions of Americans are expected to exercise their right to vote in November's general election using the mail system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, President Trump said he is opposed to additional funding for the Postal Service because of mail-in voting. All four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation say they are committed to saving the Post Office so that it can once again properly function and promptly and reliably serve the American people. Full text of the letter is available here and below. August 17, 2020 VIA ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION The Honorable Louis DeJoy Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer U.S. Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 10804 Washington, DC 20260-3500 Dear Mr. Postmaster General: We write to express our concerns about recent changes to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operations and the harmful consequences on mail delivery and services for residents and businesses in the State of Rhode Island. The dedicated men and women of the USPS provide essential services established by the U.S. Constitution. The agency guarantees timely and reliable delivery to all addresses in the country. The current pandemic has further highlighted the importance of this service as people and businesses are relying on USPS services to stay connected with friends and family, and for deliveries of medicine, food, and other necessities. Additionally, due to the current health crisis, USPS will be utilized by millions of Americans to exercise their right to vote in November's election. As such, it was particularly troubling when it was brought to our attention by the RI Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that the USPS, without prior consultation, informed the NALC of a new delivery initiative test Expedited Street/Afternoon Sortation (ESAS). The pilot program is underway in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and reportedly has severely curtailed the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis. We have also been told that other postal branches in the state have decided to implement this program, or a hybrid of the ESAS, resulting in limitations of mail delivery. Normally, mail is sorted in the morning and then letter carriers take all the mail for the day out to their route for delivery. At times carriers have to wait for mail to arrive from dispatch, meaning they start their route later than anticipated. The route is completed when all the day's mail has been delivered. This guarantees timely delivery and good customer service for homes and businesses. Under this new initiative, letter carriers are instructed to leave without all the day's mail, do their route, and then return to the branch to sort and file that morning's remaining mail for the next day. Therefore, mail is delayed on a recurring basis with an increasing backlog. It would appear that the ESAS is designed to restrict overtime for letter carriers by not allowing them to deliver all of the day's mail, regardless of the number of shift hours required to accomplish that goal. Any attempt to undermine the USPS is unacceptable. Unilateral changes to services could harm all Americans who rely on the services provided by the USPS. Additionally, the hardworking men and women of the USPS have been on the front line providing critical services to keep postal operations functioning during this pandemic. Undermining workplace conditions and rules without input or oversight is an affront to these essential workers, many of whom are veterans. We urge you to suspend these harmful operational changes and turn your attention to supporting the mission of the USPS and its workers in providing an invaluable service to the American people and businesses. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Jack Reed Sheldon Whitehouse United States Senator United States Senator James Langevin David Cicilline United States Congressman United States Congressman",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-announces-23-million-grant-for-401-tech-bridge-facility-to-propel-textiles-composites-undersea-technology-industries,"RI Delegation Announces $2.3 Million Grant for ‘401 Tech Bridge’ Facility to Propel Textiles, Composites, Undersea Technology Industries",2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.14.20 RI Delegation Announces $2.3 Million Grant for 401 Tech Bridge' Facility to Propel Textiles, Composites, Undersea Technology Industries New Advanced Materials and Technology Center will facilitate industry connections, research, and workforce development Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) a $2.3 million grant to open a new facility in Rhode Island that will support the growth of the local textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries. The grant from the EDA's Public Works Program will fund the construction of a new Advanced Materials and Technology Center for 401 Tech Bridge, a partnership between Polaris MEP, the University of Rhode Island, the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and the Office of Naval Research. The 17,000-square-foot facility will be located in Portsmouth. This is another positive step toward developing a strong, sustainable technological ecosystem here in Rhode Island. This federal funding will help 401 Tech Bridge and its partners build on their success and attract more opportunities for entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation, said Senator Reed. Composites and textiles connect our past and future in Rhode Island's economy, said Whitehouse, who worked with industry and academic partners to convene both the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and advocated for this 401 Tech Bridge grant. This award is a milestone in our years-long collaboration within and between the two industries. The funding comes in time to boost our economy with local job growth in industries with a storied history, now uniquely positioned for innovation, growth and success. Industry and innovation are at the core of Rhode Island's strength and by supporting projects like the 401 Tech Bridge we are bolstering our states economic competitiveness, said Congressman Langevin. I'm pleased that this EDA grant invests in Rhode Island's long-term productivity, promotes stronger industry partnerships, and will create jobs during this challenging economic time. To continue to advance, we must capitalize on our strengths and empower our workforce. The East Bay is a leader in the American composites industry, Congressman Cicilline said. This new funding will help this emerging sector of our economy continue grow and put more Rhode Islanders to work. I applaud the Economic Development Administration for recognizing the potential of the composites industry in our state. The Advanced Materials and Technology Center will include a lab for research and development as well as co-working space for the center's staff, Polaris MEP, and tenant partners. The facility is expected to open in the first half of 2021. The EDA's investment will be matched with $790,000 in local funds and is expected to help create 400 jobs. 401 Tech Bridge is an important economic development program designed to increase technology commercialization through physical space and partnerships, said Christian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, who conceived of the 401 Tech Bridge and brought the team and funders together. Rhode Island was identified as the first Tech Bridge location supporting dual use collaboration with the Navy because of our rich history with manufacturing and technology. We are thrilled to be awarded this EDA grant which will further activate this collaborative technology commercialization, increase jobs and aide the regional economic recovery. 401 Tech Bridge, a nonprofit economic development organization, launched late last year to support Rhode Island's promising textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries by facilitating industry connections, research, and workforce development. The approximately 150 Rhode Island companies in the textiles and composites sectors employ 4,000 people and have a combined annual revenue of nearly $2 billion. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-23-million-grant-%E2%80%98401-tech-bridge%E2%80%99-facility-propel-textiles,"RI Delegation Announces $2.3 Million Grant FOR 401 Tech Bridge Facility to Propel Textiles, Composites, Undersea Technology Industries",2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) a $2.3 million grant to open a new facility in Rhode Island that will support the growth of the local textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries. The grant from the EDA's Public Works Program will fund the construction of a new Advanced Materials and Technology Center for 401 Tech Bridge, a partnership between Polaris MEP, the University of Rhode Island, the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and the Office of Naval Research. The 17,000-square-foot facility will be located in Portsmouth. This is another positive step toward developing a strong, sustainable technological ecosystem here in Rhode Island. This federal funding will help 401 Tech Bridge and its partners build on their success and attract more opportunities for entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation, said Senator Reed. Composites and textiles connect our past and future in Rhode Island's economy, said Whitehouse, who worked with industry and academic partners to convene both the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and advocated for this 401 Tech Bridge grant. This award is a milestone in our years-long collaboration within and between the two industries. The funding comes in time to boost our economy with local job growth in industries with a storied history, now uniquely positioned for innovation, growth and success. Industry and innovation are at the core of Rhode Island's strength and by supporting projects like the 401 Tech Bridge we are bolstering our states economic competitiveness, said Congressman Langevin. I'm pleased that this EDA grant invests in Rhode Island's long-term productivity, promotes stronger industry partnerships, and will create jobs during this challenging economic time. To continue to advance, we must capitalize on our strengths and empower our workforce. The East Bay is a leader in the American composites industry, Congressman Cicilline said. This new funding will help this emerging sector of our economy continue grow and put more Rhode Islanders to work. I applaud the Economic Development Administration for recognizing the potential of the composites industry in our state. The Advanced Materials and Technology Center will include a lab for research and development as well as co-working space for the center's staff, Polaris MEP, and tenant partners. The facility is expected to open in the first half of 2021. The EDA's investment will be matched with $790,000 in local funds and is expected to help create 400 jobs. 401 Tech Bridge is an important economic development program designed to increase technology commercialization through physical space and partnerships, said Christian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, who conceived of the 401 Tech Bridge and brought the team and funders together. Rhode Island was identified as the first Tech Bridge location supporting dual use collaboration with the Navy because of our rich history with manufacturing and technology. We are thrilled to be awarded this EDA grant which will further activate this collaborative technology commercialization, increase jobs and aide the regional economic recovery. 401 Tech Bridge, a nonprofit economic development organization, launched late last year to support Rhode Island's promising textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries by facilitating industry connections, research, and workforce development. The approximately 150 Rhode Island companies in the textiles and composites sectors employ 4,000 people and have a combined annual revenue of nearly $2 billion.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-23-million-grant-%E2%80%98401-tech-bridge%E2%80%99-facility-propel-textiles,"RI Delegation Announces $2.3 Million Grant for 401 Tech Bridge Facility to Propel Textiles, Composites, Undersea Technology Industries",2020-08-14,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) a $2.3 million grant to open a new facility in Rhode Island that will support the growth of the local textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries. The grant from the EDA's Public Works Program will fund the construction of a new Advanced Materials and Technology Center for 401 Tech Bridge, a partnership between Polaris MEP, the University of Rhode Island, the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and the Office of Naval Research. The 17,000-square-foot facility will be located in Portsmouth. This is another positive step toward developing a strong, sustainable technological ecosystem here in Rhode Island. This federal funding will help 401 Tech Bridge and its partners build on their success and attract more opportunities for entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation, said Senator Reed. Composites and textiles connect our past and future in Rhode Island's economy, said Whitehouse, who worked with industry and academic partners to convene both the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island and theRhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and advocated for this 401 Tech Bridge grant. This award is a milestone in our years-long collaboration within and between the two industries. The funding comes in time to boost our economy with local job growth in industries with a storied history, now uniquely positioned for innovation, growth and success. Industry and innovation are at the core of Rhode Island's strength and by supporting projects like the 401 Tech Bridge we are bolstering our state's economic competitiveness, said Congressman Langevin. I'm pleased that this EDA grant invests in Rhode Island's long-term productivity, promotes stronger industry partnerships, and will create jobs during this challenging economic time. To continue to advance, we must capitalize on our strengths and empower our workforce. The East Bay is a leader in the American composites industry, Congressman Cicilline said. This new funding will help this emerging sector of our economy continue grow and put more Rhode Islanders to work. I applaud the Economic Development Administration for recognizing the potential of the composites industry in our state. The Advanced Materials and Technology Center will include a lab for research and development as well as co-working space for the center's staff, Polaris MEP, and tenant partners. The facility is expected to open in the first half of 2021. The EDA's investment will be matched with $790,000 in local funds and is expected to help create 400 jobs. 401 Tech Bridge is an important economic development program designed to increase technology commercialization through physical space and partnerships, said Christian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, who conceived of the 401 Tech Bridge and brought the team and funders together. Rhode Island was identified as the first Tech Bridge location supporting dual use collaboration with the Navy because of our rich history with manufacturing and technology. We are thrilled to be awarded this EDA grant which will further activate this collaborative technology commercialization, increase jobs and aide the regional economic recovery. 401 Tech Bridge, a nonprofit economic development organization, launched late last year to support Rhode Island's promising textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries by facilitating industry connections, research, and workforce development. The approximately 150 Rhode Island companies in the textiles and composites sectors employ 4,000 people and have a combined annual revenue of nearly $2 billion.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-whitehouse-call-for-extension-of-census-deadlines-to-ensure-full-accurate-count,"Reed, Whitehouse Call for Extension of Census Deadlines to Ensure Full, Accurate Count",2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.13.20 Reed, Whitehouse Call for Extension of Census Deadlines to Ensure Full, Accurate Count Bipartisan group of 48 Senators urge extension be included in next COVID-19 relief package WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined a bipartisan group of 46 U.S. Senators in calling for the extension of the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. The 48 Senators urged Congress to include the extension in a COVID-19 relief package. The U.S. Constitution requires a population census every ten years and the census count to be reported to the President by December 31 of that year. A change to that date would require Congressional action. The Trump Administration previously requested an extension in April of this year, but reversed course on August 3, 2020 and announced that Census self-response and field operations would end on September 30, 2020. Extending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting, the 48 Senators wrote in their letter to House and Senate leaders. Citing a request first made by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham to extend the deadlines for reporting apportionment counts to the President from December 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021 and redistricting data to the states from March 31, 2021 to July 31, 2021 the senators underscored the need to give the Census Bureau adequate time to collect and report an accurate count following delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, the Census Bureau also said they would continue counting efforts until October 31, 2020. Recently, the Trump Administration reversed course by shortening the enumeration period from October 31 to September 30, 2020, limiting the time for the Census Bureau to try to complete an accurate count. Last week, Reed and Whitehouse led a letter to the Commerce Secretary opposing the curtailment of data collection activities. In addition to Reed and Whitehouse the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Doug Jones (D-AL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). The full text of the letter follows: Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy: As you work on the next legislative package to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we strongly urge you to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. On April 13, 2020, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be adjusting 2020 Census operations. At the same time, they had requested that the Congress extend the statutory deadlines for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021. This would have given the Census Bureau adequate time to compile the data sets in light of the delayed enumeration window. However, the administration has reversed course and shortened the enumeration period from October 31 to September 30, 2020, citing these statutory constraints. Career Census Bureau staff have indicated that they cannot meet the existing statutory deadlines. In May 2020, the census official leading field operations, Tim Olson, stated, We have passed the point where we could even meet the current legislative requirement of December 31. We can't do that anymore. And in July, the associate director of the census, Albert Fontenot, said, We are past the window of being able to get those counts by year's end. Extending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting. We thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/cyberspace-solarium-commissioners-introduce-legislation-securely-modernize-state,Cyberspace Solarium Commissioners Introduce Legislation to Securely Modernize State Information Technology,2020-08-13,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington Cyberspace Solarium Commissioner Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Solarium co-chairs Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) are introducing legislation to support modernizing and securing state and local government information technology. The State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act, which will be introduced in both the House and the Senate, addresses a recommendation from the Solarium's pandemic white paper that calls for helping state and local governments migrate legacy IT infrastructure to modern, secure platforms, including cloud-based services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states and localities have struggled to deliver essential services, from unemployment benefits to public health tracking data, due to outdated infrastructure. Congressmen Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Will Hurd (R-TX), C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Max Rose (D-NY), and Don Bacon (R-NE), joined Langevin and Gallagher in introducing the House bill, which includes $28 billion in federal aid. In our initial report, the Solarium Commission recognized that outdated state and local government systems were attractive targets for our adversaries and that we needed to help them migrate to secure, cloud-based infrastructure, said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee and the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus. COVID-19 has made it apparent how much legacy IT is affecting state and local governments operationally. We need immediate investments to ensure state and local employees can safely work remotely, and we need IT modernization strategies to ensure that essential services, like unemployment insurance, can be provided to Americans in need. The State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act will dramatically improve e-government services, protect workers, and significantly enhance security. I am indebted to the Solarium Commissioners, especially our co-chairs, for working to develop this proposal and for my House colleagues like Congressmen Richmond and Hurd, whose thought leadership is reflected in the final bill. The Solarium Commission released the pandemic white paper to call attention to immediate cybersecurity needs in light of COVID-19, and we need to act now. America's cybersecurity strategy cannot occur at only the federal level if we are to take the necessary steps to protect our people and our data, each layer of our government must be prepared for cyber threats, said Senator King. This legislation will help our states and localities update their systems, which will improve their security and provide the added benefit of helping state and local governments operate more efficiently in the digital age. It's necessary for our security, and it will strengthen online services for the American people a win-win, and one I'm proud to introduce with Representatives Langevin and Gallagher. ""Outdated legacy systems not only threaten state and local governments' ability to deliver critical services, but can also expose sensitive data to cyber threats,"" said Congressman Gallagher. ""An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and modernizing IT infrastructure is an important step towards ensuring our country is well-defended in cyberspace across all levels of government. I'm proud to join Representative Langevin in introducing this bipartisan bill."" In alignment with recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's paper Cybersecurity Lessons from the Pandemic, the State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act would establish a Public Health Emergency Information Technology Grant Program and a Modernizing Information Technology Program. The former would address immediate needs of governments as they deal with unprecedented demand on their IT infrastructure. The latter would allow for the migration of legacy systems to new, secure platforms in line with and state IT modernization strategies reviewed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The aid made available through this bill is critical as states continue to adapt to working remotely and providing services online while facing significant technical challenges with antiquated systems. The State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act also includes a sustained investment in cybersecurity for states based on Congressman Richmond's State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act (H.R. 5823). Many state platforms are decades old, making defending them from nation-state adversaries like China or Russia next to impossible. However, even when upgraded, states on the front lines of gray zone conflict in cyberspace need federal support to defend their networks against these high-tier threat actors. Since I came to Congress, I have worked to ensure the federal government is modernizing its IT to save taxpayer dollars and make government services more efficient. We created the Technology Modernization Fund to update federal agencies' dated, weak IT systems, but that's not enough, said Congressman Hurd, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness. Today, I'm proud to bring that model to state and local governments. We need to ensure states can also update their systems because we rely on them today, as we work through the virus, and every day. All online infrastructure should be strong regardless of whether it's for the state, local or federal government. With the State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act, we can bring this infrastructure into the 21st century. As a former County Executive, I understand the challenges facing state and local governments as they work to confront cybersecurity threats, especially from global actors like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the economic pressures facing our state and local government, said Congressman Ruppersberger, former Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Federal assistance is needed now more than ever to modernize information technology and security. This bipartisan bill will help ensure the day-to-day operations and services our constituents rely on are available. As more Americans rely on services provided by state and local governments, we are witnessing these entities struggle with fulfilling an influx of requests due to a dependence on an out-of-date IT infrastructure, said Congressman McCaul, former Chair of the Homeland Security Committee and currently the Republican Leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Simply put, this increase in demand has strained our networks and technology making them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. By increasing our federal support for IT modernization, our state and local governments will be able to build up their services and capabilities while also simultaneously strengthening their cybersecurity. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that will provide our governments at the state and local level the support they need to modernize their IT infrastructure and security. States and local governments have expressed justifiable fear of cyber-attacks for years, said Congressman Rose, Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism. Now is the time to act and with this bill we will get them the help they need to stay secure. As more and more of us are now using online platforms to work, go to school, see a doctor, and receive critical services from state and local governments like unemployment during the pandemic, it's more important than ever to ensure that our systems are safe. With the over 600 percent rise of phishing attacks that are related to COVID-19 since March, we need to make sure that state and tribal governments are able to deliver their services in a secure manner, said Congressman Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. This bill will help state and tribal governments modernize their IT infrastructure in accordance with the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendation. In May, Congressmen Langevin, McCaul, Richmond, and Gallagher led a bipartisan letter to Congressional leadership requesting that they consider funds for state and local IT modernization in a future COVID aid package, and laying out four principles for such aid. The State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act delivers on these principles, which are: Maximum flexibility for systems eligible to receive funding Flexibility ensures that federal support can be used to maximum effect by allowing states to prioritize systems that they judge are at highest risk based on the specific threats to, vulnerabilities in, and consequences of a breach of those systems. Certification baselines and security planning requirements Modernization should prioritize a cloud-first approach using vendors that achieve certification against industry-developed standards. Local needs considered Any modernization plan should ensure that local governments are able to access a portion of the funding for their needs and that a state will offer shared services to local governments that reflect their needs. Investments for today and for the future Some portion of funding should be available to meet immediate equipment and license needs while the bulk is available for more substantive projects that will ensure we can withstand this public health crisis and the resultant economic downturn. On behalf of the nation's state chief information officers (CIOs), NASCIO sincerely appreciates the introduction of the bipartisan, State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act, said National Association of State Chief Information Officers Executive Director Doug Robinson. As states are charged with administering critically important federal programs and benefits, this legislation aims to make significant investments in modernizing state and local IT infrastructure. We also appreciate the sponsors recognition of the vital role of state CIOs and IT agencies, who throughout the ongoing pandemic have continued to experience unprecedented demands to ensure the delivery of timely and critical services to citizens while maintaining and protecting the continuity of government. We look forward to working together with the House and Senate to ensure the passage of the State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act."" ""It is paramount we ensure the security, reliability and resiliency of our state and municipal IT infrastructure and connected systems,"" said Rhode Island State Senator Loius DiPalma. ""Especially during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to see an ever-increasing migration to 'cloud-based services,' which have enabled a continuity of operations. I applaud Congressman Langevin, and his team for their leadership and bold initiative asIt is needed now more than ever."" The Public Health Emergency Information Technology Modernization Grant Program makes $1,000,000,000 in funding available for states to receive grants based on population, with a small state minimum of $5,000,000. Funds can be used to assist with emergency COVID-19 expenses for information technology services and equipment to help improve the delivery of services and the ability of employees to work from home. Recipients would need to meet federal security standards and requirements and would need to reserve at least 40 percent for subgrants for local government. The Modernizing Information Technology Program authorizes $25,000,000,000 for grants to enhance state and local government systems to better provide the digital delivery of government emergency, benefit and entitlement, and administrative services with recipients eligible for a minimum of $100,000,000 over an award period of five years. Recipients would be required to submit a State Information Technology Modernization Plan, match five percent of funds received, and allocate at least 40 percent of funding for subgrants in support of local governments. Additionally, grantees would be required to maintain funding levels for information technology support and modernization of the lesser Fiscal Year 19, or the average of Fiscal Years 17,18, and 19. Further, the legislation establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program to provide assistance for the implementation of a State Cybersecurity Plan or related cybersecurity activities to address risks and threats with approval from the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the CISA. $2,000,000,000 in federal funds would be authorized for Fiscal Years 21-25. To apply, states need to establish a Cybersecurity Planning Committee to assist with the development, implementation, and revision of a cybersecurity plan. The CISA Director would also be tasked with establishing a 15-member State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee to assist the federal government with local stakeholder expertise, situational awareness, and recommendations to improve the ability of local government to address cybersecurity threats. Full text of bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-delivers-89m-upgrade-ripta-bus-fleet,RI Delegation Delivers $8.9M to Upgrade RIPTA Bus Fleet,2020-08-12,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"August 11, 2020 PROVIDENCE, RI The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will be able to upgrade its bus fleet thanks to a new federal grant that was secured with the help of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline. The four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation today joined with RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian in announcing the federal grant, which will help RIPTA replace 17 high-mileage, outdated buses with newer, more fuel-efficient buses and make site improvements to bus facilities. The funding comes through the Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which assists state and local transit agencies with financing for buses and bus facilities capital projects. The federal funding will be augmented with state matching funds. RIPTA will begin the procurement process almost immediately, and the production of the new buses would begin in the fall of 2021, with delivery expected in the spring of 2023. This is great news for RIPTA riders. This federal funding will help RIPTA increase the overall efficiency and reliability of the bus fleet and better serve the public, said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who worked to add $170 million to the Bus and Bus Facility program in fiscal year 2020. This federal grant is a major investment in the modernization of RIPTA's fleet, said Senator Whitehouse. The addition of seventeen new fuel-efficient buses will provide a more reliable and pleasant experience for riders, and reduce harmful air pollution for everyone. RIPTA provides essential services to Rhode Islanders, and I'm pleased they will use this grant funding to make considerable upgrades to their bus fleet to better serve the needs of riders, said Congressman Langevin. Whether it's going to work, visiting the doctor, or shopping for groceries, public transportation helps families access important services and participate in the local economy. I'm proud to have collaborated with my Congressional colleagues to secure this funding to make sure our state's transit system is in good shape so more people can access safe and reliable transportation options. Investing in public transit is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and improve the quality of life in our state. This grant will ensure that Rhode Islanders using RIPTA enjoy safe, quality public transportation at an affordable price, Congressman Cicilline said. There's more that needs to be done. The House passed $1.5 trillion in transportation funding earlier this summer. Mitch McConnell has blocked our bill from coming to the Senate floor. I will continue fighting until we make the infrastructure investments we need right now. Currently, RIPTA serves 36 municipalities with 53 fixed routes, zone-based Flex service, and paratransit services. In 2019 alone, it provided 16.2 million trips. Scott Avedisian, RIPTA's Chief Executive Officer, said that keeping the bus fleet up to date is critical to service while also helping to keep maintenance costs down. Maintaining our fleet of 220-plus buses is essential in our being able to deliver safe and reliable service to the public, Avedisian said. Also, the ongoing replacement of RIPTA's fleet supports the economy, both locally and nationally, by promoting U.S. manufacturing, and making sure that RIPTA passengers have access to employment centers throughout Rhode Island. The federal grant is administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The program supports the replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing of buses or related equipment and the rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing of bus-related facilities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-delivers-89m-to-upgrade-ripta-bus-fleet,RI Delegation Delivers $8.9M to Upgrade RIPTA Bus Fleet,2020-08-11,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.11.20 RI Delegation Delivers $8.9M to Upgrade RIPTA Bus Fleet PROVIDENCE, RI The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will be able to upgrade its bus fleet thanks to a new federal grant that was secured with the help of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline. The four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation today joined with RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian in announcing the federal grant, which will help RIPTA replace 17 high-mileage, outdated buses with newer, more fuel-efficient buses and make site improvements to bus facilities. The funding comes through the Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which assists state and local transit agencies with financing for buses and bus facilities capital projects. The federal funding will be augmented with state matching funds. RIPTA will begin the procurement process almost immediately, and the production of the new buses would begin in the fall of 2021, with delivery expected in the spring of 2023. This is great news for RIPTA riders. This federal funding will help RIPTA increase the overall efficiency and reliability of the bus fleet and better serve the public, said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who worked to add $170 million to the Bus and Bus Facility program in fiscal year 2020. This federal grant is a major investment in the modernization of RIPTA's fleet, said Senator Whitehouse. The addition of seventeen new fuel-efficient buses will provide a more reliable and pleasant experience for riders, and reduce harmful air pollution for everyone. RIPTA provides essential services to Rhode Islanders, and I'm pleased they will use this grant funding to make considerable upgrades to their bus fleet to better serve the needs of riders, said Congressman Langevin. Whether it's going to work, visiting the doctor, or shopping for groceries, public transportation helps families access important services and participate in the local economy. I'm proud to have collaborated with my Congressional colleagues to secure this funding to make sure our state's transit system is in good shape so more people can access safe and reliable transportation options. Investing in public transit is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and improve the quality of life in our state. This grant will ensure that Rhode Islanders using RIPTA enjoy safe, quality public transportation at an affordable price, Congressman Cicilline said. There's more that needs to be done. The House passed $1.5 trillion in transportation funding earlier this summer. Mitch McConnell has blocked our bill from coming to the Senate floor. I will continue fighting until we make the infrastructure investments we need right now. Currently, RIPTA serves 36 municipalities with 53 fixed routes, zone-based Flex service, and paratransit services. In 2019 alone, it provided 16.2 million trips. Scott Avedisian, RIPTA's Chief Executive Officer, said that keeping the bus fleet up to date is critical to service while also helping to keep maintenance costs down. Maintaining our fleet of 220-plus buses is essential in our being able to deliver safe and reliable service to the public, Avedisian said. Also, the ongoing replacement of RIPTA's fleet supports the economy, both locally and nationally, by promoting U.S. manufacturing, and making sure that RIPTA passengers have access to employment centers throughout Rhode Island. The federal grant is administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The program supports the replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing of buses or related equipment and the rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing of bus-related facilities. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-delivers-89m-upgrade-ripta-bus-fleet,RI Delegation Delivers $8.9M to Upgrade RIPTA Bus Fleet,2020-08-11,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"PROVIDENCE, RI The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will be able to upgrade its bus fleet thanks to a new federal grant that was secured with the help of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline. The four members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation today joined with RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian in announcing the federal grant, which will help RIPTA replace 17 high-mileage, outdated buses with newer, more fuel-efficient buses and make site improvements to bus facilities. The funding comes through the Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which assists state and local transit agencies with financing for buses and bus facilities capital projects. The federal funding will be augmented with state matching funds. RIPTA will begin the procurement process almost immediately, and the production of the new buses would begin in the fall of 2021, with delivery expected in the spring of 2023. This is great news for RIPTA riders. This federal funding will help RIPTA increase the overall efficiency and reliability of the bus fleet and better serve the public, said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who worked to add $170 million to the Bus and Bus Facility program in fiscal year 2020. This federal grant is a major investment in the modernization of RIPTA's fleet, said Senator Whitehouse. The addition of seventeen new fuel-efficient buses will provide a more reliable and pleasant experience for riders, and reduce harmful air pollution for everyone. RIPTA provides essential services to Rhode Islanders, and I'm pleased they will use this grant funding to make considerable upgrades to their bus fleet to better serve the needs of riders, said Congressman Langevin. Whether it's going to work, visiting the doctor, or shopping for groceries, public transportation helps families access important services and participate in the local economy. I'm proud to have collaborated with my Congressional colleagues to secure this funding to make sure our state's transit system is in good shape so more people can access safe and reliable transportation options. Investing in public transit is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and improve the quality of life in our state. This grant will ensure that Rhode Islanders using RIPTA enjoy safe, quality public transportation at an affordable price, Congressman Cicilline said. There's more that needs to be done. The House passed $1.5 trillion in transportation funding earlier this summer. Mitch McConnell has blocked our bill from coming to the Senate floor. I will continue fighting until we make the infrastructure investments we need right now. Currently, RIPTA serves 36 municipalities with 53 fixed routes, zone-based Flex service, and paratransit services. In 2019 alone, it provided 16.2 million trips. Scott Avedisian, RIPTA's Chief Executive Officer, said that keeping the bus fleet up to date is critical to service while also helping to keep maintenance costs down. Maintaining our fleet of 220-plus buses is essential in our being able to deliver safe and reliable service to the public, Avedisian said. Also, the ongoing replacement of RIPTA's fleet supports the economy, both locally and nationally, by promoting U.S. manufacturing, and making sure that RIPTA passengers have access to employment centers throughout Rhode Island. The federal grant is administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The program supports the replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing of buses or related equipment and the rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing, or leasing of bus-related facilities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-over-25m-help-riers-access-housing-during-covid-19-crisis,RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis,2020-08-11,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC In an effort to help low-income families shelter in place safely and connect to essential health and educational services amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $2,552,658 in federal funding for 24 Rhode Island public housing agencies (PHAs) and two behavioral health centers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program. The $2.5 million in funding is being awarded as part of the second round of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Fees included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will enable the PHAs to address the health and safety needs of thousands of individuals and families statewide. The federal funding will help the PHAs and health centers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, fund COVID testing, transport families to emergency care or other housing units to limit exposure to COVID, fund security costs to enforce stay-at-home or shelter in place restrictions, and more. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by PHAs, which receive federal funds from HUD to administer the voucher program. Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who led efforts to include the funding to help families with vouchers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stated: With the pandemic continuing to impact our lives and economy and with plenty of Rhode Islanders struggling financially, this federal funding will help many of the hardest hit Rhode Islanders access food and medical supplies and help to connect their children to remote learning. Our state's PHAs have done great work in the past putting federal funding from this program to effective use assisting residents and strengthening our communities, and I am glad this funding will help them in their efforts to provide our most vulnerable populations with housing stability during this uncertain and difficult time. ""Safe, stable housing takes on a new level of importance in a pandemic,"" said Senator Whitehouse. ""I'm pleased to join Senator Reed, a national champion for affordable housing, to announce this federal funding, which will help ensure low-income families in Rhode Island have a safe place to live during this challenging time."" The coronavirus pandemic is causing hardship for Rhode Island families, and it is crucial that the federal government continues to support the community agencies on the front lines, said Congressman Langevin. PHAs and local health providers are playing an essential role in keeping vulnerable community members safe and healthy. Millions of Americans are still at risk of coronavirus and are facing impossible decisions daily as they do their best to stay afloat. From affordable, quality health care to housing assistance, we must continue to deliver resources to defeat this virus and leave no one behind. No Rhode Islander should lose their home because of the pandemic, said Congressman Cicilline. These new federal resources will help keep working men and women in their homes during this public health crisis. There is more that Congress will have to do. The House has already passed nearly $200 billion in housing and rental assistance. I will continue fighting until Republicans in the Senate stop blocking this urgently-needed relief. PHAs and other entities receiving funding include: Providence Housing Authority: $609,461 Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket: $191,959 Woonsocket Housing Authority: $166,412 Central Falls Housing Authority: $159,455 The Housing Authority of the City of Newport: $119,891 Cranston Housing Authority: $65,397 East Providence Housing Authority: $88,216 Town of Westerly Housing Authority: $39,202 Johnston Housing Authority: $49,257 Cumberland Housing Authority: $87,381 Warwick Housing Authority: $57,327 South Kingstown Housing Authority: $24,210 Burrillville Housing Authority: $16,420 West Warwick Housing Authority: $24,490 Coventry Housing Authority: $76,250 North Providence Housing Authority: $61,223 Lincoln Housing Authority: $30,889 Bristol Housing Authority: $47,587 Smithfield Housing Authority: $8,070 Warren Housing Authority: $53,151 East Greenwich Housing Authority: $32,002 Narragansett Housing Authority: $48,700 Tiverton Housing Authority: $15,862 Rhode Island Housing: $442,557 Kent County Mental Health Center: $18,366 Gateway Healthcare, Inc.: $18,923 Total: $2,552,658 HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-announces-over-25m-to-help-riers-access-housing-during-covid-19-crisis,RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis,2020-08-10,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.10.20 RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis Public Housing Authorities & health centers across state receive federal assistance to help low-income residents get through the pandemic RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis Public Housing Authorities & health centers across state receive federal assistance to help low-income residents get through the pandemic WASHINGTON, DC In an effort to help low-income families shelter in place safely and connect to essential health and educational services amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $2,552,658 in federal funding for 24 Rhode Island public housing agencies (PHAs) and two behavioral health centers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program. The $2.5 million in funding is being awarded as part of the second round of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Fees included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will enable the PHAs to address the health and safety needs of thousands of individuals and families statewide. The federal funding will help the PHAs and health centers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, fund COVID testing, transport families to emergency care or other housing units to limit exposure to COVID, fund security costs to enforce stay-at-home or shelter in place restrictions, and more. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by PHAs, which receive federal funds from HUD to administer the voucher program. Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who led efforts to include the funding to help families with vouchers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stated: With the pandemic continuing to impact our lives and economy and with plenty of Rhode Islanders struggling financially, this federal funding will help many of the hardest hit Rhode Islanders access food and medical supplies and help to connect their children to remote learning. Our state's PHAs have done great work in the past putting federal funding from this program to effective use assisting residents and strengthening our communities, and I am glad this funding will help them in their efforts to provide our most vulnerable populations with housing stability during this uncertain and difficult time. ""Safe, stable housing takes on a new level of importance in a pandemic,"" said Senator Whitehouse. ""I'm pleased to join Senator Reed, a national champion for affordable housing, to announce this federal funding, which will help ensure low-income families in Rhode Island have a safe place to live during this challenging time."" The coronavirus pandemic is causing hardship for Rhode Island families, and it is crucial that the federal government continues to support the community agencies on the front lines, said Congressman Langevin. PHAs and local health providers are playing an essential role in keeping vulnerable community members safe and healthy. Millions of Americans are still at risk of coronavirus and are facing impossible decisions daily as they do their best to stay afloat. From affordable, quality health care to housing assistance, we must continue to deliver resources to defeat this virus and leave no one behind. No Rhode Islander should lose their home because of the pandemic, said Congressman Cicilline. These new federal resources will help keep working men and women in their homes during this public health crisis. There is more that Congress will have to do. The House has already passed nearly $200 billion in housing and rental assistance. I will continue fighting until Republicans in the Senate stop blocking this urgently-needed relief. PHAs and other entities receiving funding include: Providence Housing Authority: $609,461 Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket: $191,959 Woonsocket Housing Authority: $166,412 Central Falls Housing Authority: $159,455 The Housing Authority of the City of Newport: $119,891 Cranston Housing Authority: $65,397 East Providence Housing Authority: $88,216 Town of Westerly Housing Authority: $39,202 Johnston Housing Authority: $49,257 Cumberland Housing Authority: $87,381 Warwick Housing Authority: $57,327 South Kingstown Housing Authority: $24,210 Burrillville Housing Authority: $16,420 West Warwick Housing Authority: $24,490 Coventry Housing Authority: $76,250 North Providence Housing Authority: $61,223 Lincoln Housing Authority: $30,889 Bristol Housing Authority: $47,587 Smithfield Housing Authority: $8,070 Warren Housing Authority: $53,151 East Greenwich Housing Authority: $32,002 Narragansett Housing Authority: $48,700 Tiverton Housing Authority: $15,862 Rhode Island Housing: $442,557 Kent County Mental Health Center: $18,366 Gateway Healthcare, Inc.: $18,923 Total: $2,552,658 HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-over-25m-help-riers-access-housing-during-covid-19-crisis,RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis,2020-08-10,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC In an effort to help low-income families shelter in place safely and connect to essential health and educational services amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $2,552,658 in federal funding for 24 Rhode Island public housing agencies (PHAs) and two behavioral health centers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program. The $2.5 million in funding is being awarded as part of the second round of the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Fees included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will enable the PHAs to address the health and safety needs of thousands of individuals and families statewide. The federal funding will help the PHAs and health centers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, fund COVID testing, transport families to emergency care or other housing units to limit exposure to COVID, fund security costs to enforce stay-at-home or shelter in place restrictions, and more. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by PHAs, which receive federal funds from HUD to administer the voucher program. Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who led efforts to include the funding to help families with vouchers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stated: With the pandemic continuing to impact our lives and economy and with plenty of Rhode Islanders struggling financially, this federal funding will help many of the hardest hit Rhode Islanders access food and medical supplies and help to connect their children to remote learning. Our state's PHAs have done great work in the past putting federal funding from this program to effective use assisting residents and strengthening our communities, and I am glad this funding will help them in their efforts to provide our most vulnerable populations with housing stability during this uncertain and difficult time. ""Safe, stable housing takes on a new level of importance in a pandemic,"" said Senator Whitehouse. ""I'm pleased to join Senator Reed, a national champion for affordable housing, to announce this federal funding, which will help ensure low-income families in Rhode Island have a safe place to live during this challenging time."" The coronavirus pandemic is causing hardship for Rhode Island families, and it is crucial that the federal government continues to support the community agencies on the front lines, said Congressman Langevin . PHAs and local health providers are playing an essential role in keeping vulnerable community members safe and healthy. Millions of Americans are still at risk of coronavirus and are facing impossible decisions daily as they do their best to stay afloat. From affordable, quality health care to housing assistance, we must continue to deliver resources to defeat this virus and leave no one behind. No Rhode Islander should lose their home because of the pandemic, said Congressman Cicilline. These new federal resources will help keep working men and women in their homes during this public health crisis. There is more that Congress will have to do. The House has already passed nearly $200 billion in housing and rental assistance. I will continue fighting until Republicans in the Senate stop blocking this urgently-needed relief. PHAs and other entities receiving funding include: Providence Housing Authority: $609,461 Housing Authority of the City of Pawtucket: $191,959 Woonsocket Housing Authority: $166,412 Central Falls Housing Authority: $159,455 The Housing Authority of the City of Newport: $119,891 Cranston Housing Authority: $65,397 East Providence Housing Authority: $88,216 Town of Westerly Housing Authority: $39,202 Johnston Housing Authority: $49,257 Cumberland Housing Authority: $87,381 Warwick Housing Authority: $57,327 South Kingstown Housing Authority: $24,210 Burrillville Housing Authority: $16,420 West Warwick Housing Authority: $24,490 Coventry Housing Authority: $76,250 North Providence Housing Authority: $61,223 Lincoln Housing Authority: $30,889 Bristol Housing Authority: $47,587 Smithfield Housing Authority: $8,070 Warren Housing Authority: $53,151 East Greenwich Housing Authority: $32,002 Narragansett Housing Authority: $48,700 Tiverton Housing Authority: $15,862 Rhode Island Housing: $442,557 Kent County Mental Health Center: $18,366 Gateway Healthcare, Inc.: $18,923 Total: $2,552,658 HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-president-trumps-covid-19-announcements,Whitehouse Statement on President Trump’s COVID-19 Announcements,2020-08-09,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.09.20 Whitehouse Statement on President Trump's COVID-19 Announcements Providence, RI U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has issued the following statement regarding President Trump's announcements yesterday evening: Some art of the deal.' Almost three months after House Democrats passed a good relief bill with a $600 unemployment benefit, President Trump reverts to toothless executive orders to cover up his own party's failure. Millions of American families teetering on the brink what's the Republican answer? A unilateral cut to unemployment benefits; forcing states to slash budgets more in a crisis; a payroll tax suspension' that hits Medicare and Social Security funds it's a weak failure to meet the moment. Congress alone has the power for meaningful action, and Republicans should stop blocking the House-passed relief measures Rhode Islanders urgently need. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-smith-and-murphy-introduce-bill-to-address-effects-of-social-inequities-on-health-in-communities-of-color,"Whitehouse, Smith, & Murphy Introduce Bill to Address Effects of Social Inequities on Health in Communities of Color",2020-08-06,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.06.20 Whitehouse, Smith, & Murphy Introduce Bill to Address Effects of Social Inequities on Health in Communities of Color Factors like lack of housing, hunger, unemployment, and education contribute to health outcomes Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has teamed up with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to introduce legislation to study the role of social determinants in exacerbating health inequities and to make investments in reducing those disparities. The Senators note that unemployment, hunger, lack of affordable housing, and education have a significant effect on Americans' health, especially in communities of color. Medical treatment accounts for only 10 to 20 percent of an individual's overall health, while other social determinants of health account for the other 80 to 90 percent, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The Senators' Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020 would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to begin work on improving health outcomes and reducing inequities by investing the efforts of the federal government, and of public health agencies and community organizations, to address the adverse effects of social determinants of health. This pandemic has placed a spotlight on the inequities that for too long have resulted in poorer health outcomes in communities of color, said Whitehouse. We need to get to the bottom of why this is happening and eliminate the root causes, whether that means improving schools, building affordable homes, making food assistance more readily available, or investing in economic development. According to Rhode Island Department of Health data, Black and Hispanic individuals make up about 58 percent of all diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island, despite accounting for approximately 25 percent of the state's overall population. The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act would authorize the CDC to create a program to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequities, and improve capacity of public health agencies and community organizations to address social determinants of health. The legislation would: Coordinate across the CDC to ensure programs consider and incorporate social determinants of health in grants and activities. Award grants to state, local, territorial, and Tribal health agencies to address social determinants of health in target communities. Award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to conduct research on best practices for addressing the social determinants of health. Collect and analyze data related to social determinant of health activities. Authorize $50 million annually for program activities. Also co-sponsoring the bill are Senators Angus King, (I-Maine), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/sen-whitehouse-on-the-nursing-home-covid-19-protection-and-prevention-act,Sen. Whitehouse on the Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act,2020-08-05,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.05.20 Sen. Whitehouse on the Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act Mr. President, I am grateful to have the chance to follow my friend from Pennsylvania, who has shown such great leadership with respect to healthcare and particularly with respect to the nursing home population. I am delighted to join him to discuss what COVID is doing to the elder Americans who are in our nursing homes and long-term care facilities, because this illness has swept like a savage scythe through those facilities. In my small State of Rhode Island, 750 residents of long-term care facilities have died of COVID. We just crossed 1,000 deaths statewide, and 750 are at these facilities. If that doesn't attract the concern of this Senate, something is very wrong with this Senate. Across the country, the death toll in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, just as Senator Casey said, is 62,000 Americans. My dad served for 5 years in the Vietnam conflict. In the decades of the Vietnam conflict, we sustained over 58,000 American military casualties. That means the death toll in our nursing homes and long-term care facilities--just in COVID, just in these months--is greater than the death toll of our soldiers in Vietnam. And if that is not enough to attract the attention of the Senate, something is wrong with the Senate. In Rhode Island, there is a little nursing home--just by way of example--called Hallworth House. Hallworth House is a great little place. It has been operating for half a century. It opened in 1968. It has a five-star rating from CMS. They do a great job. It was announced that it will permanently close at the end of August due to COVID. It had 51 residents, and by June, 29 had been infected; 12 had died. Of its staff, 20 were infected and had to be quarantined. It couldn't survive that. It is closing. And the stories behind the institutions like Hallworth House are the stories of people like Therese in Lincoln. The Senator from Pennsylvania is amicably disposed to women named Therese. Therese's mom Germaine is 88 years old. She has Alzheimer's. She is a resident of a nursing home in nearby Manville, RI. That facility has not allowed visitation since March 11. Therese hasn't seen her mom since March 11. This is a woman with Alzheimer's, living in a facility. As a result, her mom's cognition has declined. The presence of her daughter was part of what kept her active, kept her moving. She used to take her for walks every day. Now, the best they can do is Skype, and her mom barely recognizes the little image on Skype. So behind 750 deaths, behind collapsing institutions that have served elderly people for 50 years are these personal stories of broken relationships. Barry in Narragansett has been married to his wife Dorothy for 46 years. Now he can only see her through Plexiglas and only twice. That is a real cost. Germaine, 88 years old, not being able to see her daughter; Barry and Dorothy, after 46 years of marriage, separated by Plexiglas, unable to see each other. Those are small concerns, but you can multiply them across the population of our nursing homes and of our long-term care facilities. And if that isn't something that the Senate will care about, then there is something wrong with the Senate. We have tried to give the Senate something to do, something we can be for. So we have the Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act. It has $20 billion for staffing support, for testing--because there is not enough testing--for personal protective equipment, for the staff who serve, really heroically and tragically underpaid in these circumstances, in these facilities. It encourages successful practices like cohorting. It provides responses like surge teams. When a place becomes so hit with COVID that the staff are quarantined out, who is going to come in? We were talking about deploying the National Guard in nursing homes. No, we need trained surge teams that provide for those things and data so people learn fast and know what to do to take care of this. We have a solution, and I hope very much the Senate will care enough to consider our solution in whatever bill we end up beginning to negotiate on. I will close by talking about what has been called liability protection but is, in fact, corporate negligence amnesty. I have been around here a little while, and I have been through the immigration debate. And in this building, we heard people talk about children--children who were brought to this country who were innocent of any misconduct. In fact, they were minors. They were, by law, innocent, and they had done no one any harm. Children guilty of no misconduct, innocent who had done no one any harm. And what was the word we heard? ``Amnesty.'' We can't have amnesty. There are laws around here that have to be followed--for children who were innocent and had done no one any harm. What does the corporate negligence amnesty bill do? It gives corporations that are not innocent, that are negligent, that have caused harm, and that have even caused death, amnesty. If that is the standard, when you are small and innocent and a child and have done no harm, then we are going to be outraged at any amnesty for you, at any kindness, but if you are a big corporation and you actually are negligent and as a result of your negligence someone dies of this disease, what is the solution? Amnesty. That is what we will do. We will help our corporate friends. If that is where this Senate is going to stand, then there is something wrong with this Senate. Oh, and by the way, this is no small thing. The right to a jury began, really, at about the time of Henry II, in the 12th century, and followed through English common law, through Blackstone's legendary commentaries, the book that informed the early creation of American law, through to the Declaration of Independence, where the jury was part of the casus belli of our country, and then into our Constitution. This is an important part of our Anglo-American rule of law tradition, and the fact that we are willing to throw it over the side because big corporations come and say: We can't bear the indignity of having to be treated equally and fairly in court with these people we are so used to pushing around in legislatures where we have lobbyists and money--that is why we are going to throw out eight centuries of tradition and learning? Do you want to know how long ago that was? There is a great movie called ""Lion in Winter"", a wonderful movie about Henry II. That is when this tradition started, and we are going to throw it out here for corporations that have been so negligent as to cause death and injury? I yield the floor, and I thank the Senator from Connecticut, my friend, Senator Blumenthal, for his indulgence for that historical exercise.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-questions-hon-sally-yates-during-a-judiciary-committee-hearing,Sen. Whitehouse Questions Hon. Sally Yates during a Judiciary Committee Hearing,2020-08-05,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"August 6, 2020 | Senator Whitehouse Questions Sally Yates on the Oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation Witness: The Honorable Sally Q. Yates, Former Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Atlanta, GA",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-questions-sally-yates-in-a-judiciary-committee-hearing,Sen. Whitehouse Questions Sally Yates in a Judiciary Committee Hearing,2020-08-05,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"August 5 | Sen. Whitehouse questions Sally Yates in a Judiciary Committee hearing on the Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Witness: The Honorable Sally Q. Yates, Former Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Atlanta, GA",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-remarks-on-corporate-negligence-amnesty-in-nursing-homes,Sen. Whitehouse Remarks on Corporate Negligence Amnesty in Nursing Homes,2020-08-05,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-remarks-on-the-american-nuclear-infrastructure-act-of-2020,Sen. Whitehouse remarks on the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020,2020-08-05,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/speeches/time-to-wake-up-,Time to Wake Up: Same Crew,2020-08-04,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.04.20 Time to Wake Up: Same Crew As delivered Mr. President, I am here today for a different topic. I am here for the 269th time with my increasingly battered ``Time to Wake Up'' poster to try to alert this Chamber to the threat of climate change--something, obviously, Louisiana knows very well--and to the forces that are blocking action on climate. In these climate speeches, I have talked often about the insidious encroachment on American Government of special interest power, which is what is behind all this climate denial and obstruction. It didn't happen on its own. The fossil fuel industry's political forces used the cover of anonymous funding--what we call dark money-- and they used phony front groups and clever propaganda to accomplish their aims. In effect, these fossil fuel political forces have run a covert operation against our own government. We observe the disturbances; we hear the rustling in the leaves; we see strange sites, but many of us haven't connected the dots. Those who are familiar with some of the elements may not put the whole story together. Some are so accustomed to this sinister behavior that they think it is normal. Some folks are like a city dweller in the jungle, needing a field biologist to i dentify the behaviors going on around them. Let me give you this field biologist's overview. We understand pretty well the crew of bad actors lurking behind climate denial. Democrats in the Senate have repeatedly called out and reported on this web of denial funded by the fossil fuel industry. Investigative journalists like Jane Mayer and scholars like Naomi Oreskes have dug into this scheme. There is actually a robust academic subspecialty that analyzes this web of denial as a novel socioeconomic and political phenomenon. The covert special interest machinery behind that effort is not just dedicated to opposing climate legislation. Another covert operation it runs is chronicled in our recent Senate Democrats' report here that examines the bad actors behind the special interest Court capture operation. This operation has crept forward over years, even decades. The Republican Party is more the tool of this effort than its principal. Big donors are behind it. The goal here is to fashion for the donors a Supreme Court that will not just rule for but reset society's ground rules to favor the big donors behind the scheme. On yet another front, there has been recent public reporting revealing the bad actors rushing to stand up a new and improved Republican voter suppression apparatus as they start to panic about the November election. Earlier this year, longtime partisan court fixer Leonard Leo stepped down from his formal role as executive vice president of the Court capture command center at the Federalist Society. At the same time, a mysterious new project called the Honest Elections Project began voter suppression work in swing States like Florida, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It ran ads accusing Democrats of cheating with mail-in ballots; it sent threatening letters to election officials challenging voter rolls; and it filed legal proceedings--lots of legal proceedings--arguing for more voting restrictions ahead of November. But in their hurry, they did a weak job of covering their tracks. Reporters quickly uncovered that the Honest Elections Project is a rebrand of the Judicial Education Project--a key cog in that same Leonard Leo's machine. As the Guardian reporters who broke the story observed, ``By having a hand in both voting litigation and the judges on the Federal bench, [Leo's] network could create a system where conservative donors have an avenue to both oppose voting rights and appoint judges who would back at that effort.'' Last, we pretty well know who funds the massive and often anonymous political operation that props up the Republican Party. Take 2016, for instance, when the fossil fuel billionaire Koch brothers' political operation spent $2 million on ads targeting viable Democratic candidates in just two Senate races--Ohio and Wisconsin Over a year before the election, they were already at work bombing those candidates. They didn't use their names. They hid behind phony front groups. It took years to dig this out, but that is what happened. The anonymously funded U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent nearly $40 million in 2016 and 2018 supporting Republican House and Senate candidates. Dark waves of untraceable dark money pour everywhere into Republican elections. From slips and leaks and investigative reporting, we can see enough overlap across these four efforts to state the general proposition: It is the same crew. If you look at it as a covert operation run by special interests against their own country, it has at least these four programs, but it has one set of interests behind it: They run the climate denial covert op. They run the Court capture covert op. They rushed out the voter suppression op. And, with their money, they captured the Republican Party to use as their front. If this operation were not covert, if it were obvious, if the press and the public could readily connect the dots, it wouldn't work. People would know it was fossil fuel polluter money. They would get the joke. That is why it has to be a covert operation, and that means it needs dark money--anonymous, untraceable funds. A virulent little galaxy of 501(c)(4) groups, shell corporations, donor trusts, and other screening tools has been crafted to anonymize the donors and hide the connections. Why? Because the blood pumping through this beast that gives it life is dark money. If we expose that secret blood flow, the whole beast shrivels up: no dark money, no covert operations. That is why efforts to expose the dark money donors provoke such hysterical reactions from the front groups and from their operatives and from their mouthpieces like the Wall Street Journal editorial page. I have experienced these hysterical reactions over and over. Indeed, there was one in the news today. This speech might provoke even another. But at the end of the day, as Americans, I believe we share the proposition that nothing could be more corrupting than large flows of anonymous money in politics. That sort of money doesn't even have to be spent to be corrupting. The mere threat of a political attack can do the job, and the donor saves the money. Or it could be a private promise of unlimited support. Once a political weapon is permissible, private threats and promises to use or withhold that weapon are inevitable, and they are inevitably corrupting. But don't think the prospect of corruption daunts the schemers. A political regime that allows their corruption and helps cover up their covert operations is precisely what the dark money donors want. Why else would we do nothing about climate change when it is so obvious? Why else would we ignore every respectable scientist in the field? Why else ignore warnings of financial meltdown looming from bankers and economists across the country, even across the world? Why else ignore the fires that are burning up Siberia, for Pete's sake, and, closer to home, the flood warnings along our coasts and the droughts and the floods and the storms across our States? When astronomers see celestial bodies behave inexplicably, they look for the dark star, the black hole that influences the behavior of the visible bodies. Dark money is the dark star, the evil star influencing Congress's behavior--or I should say misbehavior--on climate change. So a preview of coming attractions here: The dark-money-funded race to capture the Court is also a race by the schemers to establish a new constitutional doctrine protecting their dark money schemes. Such a doctrine is already being grown in the dark-money-funded ideological hothouses, a theory that dark money anonymity is protected by the First Amendment rights of association and petition--a theory giving powerful interests the constitutional right to run covert operations against their own government, leaving regular citizens beguiled or bewildered. That theory may seem ludicrous, and, indeed, this notion got only the one vote from Justice Thomas in Citizens United, but remember that Thomas is the dark money crowd's leading indicator on the Court. Don't scoff. This argument is now popping up all over the corporate rightwing. Twice so far I have had corporate entities from whom I requested information about their dark money dealings ``plead the First'' in response to my questions. The game is on, whether we realize it or not, and one of the stakes in the game is climate action. We cannot be idle about this. Groups that run covert operations against our own country are not to be trusted with that country's welfare. What a foul convergence it would be if the dark money schemers used dark money to fund a Court capture operation that delivered a Court- created doctrine hatched in dark money hothouses, protecting that dark money from disclosure for eternity, permanently etching into our Constitution this pathway of corruption. As I have said over and over, take away the corrupting dark money weaponry from the fossil fuel industry, and we solve climate change. We have lost a decade to Citizens United, the decision that gave this industry the weaponry to kill climate bipartisanship. It is a decade we and our children will rue having lost. Let's lose no more time. Let's, once and for all, root out the corrupting dark money machinery, expose its nefarious and crooked covert operations, shut it down, and start running a real democracy around here again. If we can't do this now, then let's pray for an election that lets us do it soon. I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-on-appropriate-use-of-force-in-law-enforcement,Sen. Whitehouse on Appropriate Use of Force in Law Enforcement,2020-08-04,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"August 4, 2020 | Senator Whitehouse speaks in a hearing for the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution: The Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble: Protecting Speech by Stopping Anarchist Violence Panel II: - The Honorable Erin Neely Cox, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas, Dallas, TX - Mr. Ken Cuccinelli, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/time-to-wake-up-269-dark-money-and-captured-courts,Time to Wake Up 269: Dark Money and Captured Courts,2020-08-04,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-langevin-introduce-bipartisan-bill-streamline-sharing-threats-imminent-violence,"McCaul, Langevin introduce bipartisan bill to streamline the sharing of threats of imminent violence to stop them before they happen",2020-08-03,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-2) announced the introduction oftheProtecting America through Information Sharing Acton the anniversary of the El Paso shooting. This bipartisan legislation empowers the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate a clearinghouse responsible for receiving online threats of imminent violence from social media companies and disseminating them to appropriate law enforcement to halt violent attacks before they happen. By fostering the relationship between social media companies and law enforcement, this bill will streamline the transfer of information on threats of violence to save lives whether the intent is harm oneself or others. As we reflect on the one-year anniversary of the tragic EL Paso shooting, we must not forget those who lost their lives. Directly after theEl Paso shooting, I started to work with stakeholders on a solution to prevent such violence,said Congressman McCaul.Many incidents of violence over the past several years including the El Paso shooting could have been prevented if there was an efficient way to flag social media postings with the appropriate law enforcement agency be it federal, state, or local. With this enhanced capability, our nation will be better equipped to not only thwart cowardice acts of terror but also save lives. By solidifying a stronger partnership between social media companies and law enforcement, we can expedite the sharing of information to intercept at risk individuals before an attempt on one's own life or another devastating act of domestic terrorism or like El Paso occurs again. I am proud to join Representative McCaul in pushing for voluntary collaboration between law enforcement and social media to protect our citizens,said Congressman Langevin, a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security.Relationships between government and social media companies have been strained, but we need to bring them together to actually lessen the threat of violent crime. In a time of such divisiveness, I hope that bipartisan and constructive endeavors such as this one will form part of the solutions, we need to take care of each other. The Protecting America through Information Sharing Act: Directs DHS to design and establish a pilot program for the facilitation of sharing information on threats of imminent violence between social media companies and law enforcement Accelerates the sharing of threats of imminent violence by designating one centralized clearinghouse charged with receiving, analyzing, and disseminating threat information to the appropriate law enforcement Protects civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy by requiring DHS to consult with social media companies, civil rights and civil liberties groups to create a guiding framework that ensures the protection of people's inherent rights prior to the establishment of the program Click herefor the full bill text.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-and-whitehouse-reject-conditioning-federal-education-funds-to-schools-reopening-in-person,Reed & Whitehouse Reject Conditioning Federal Education Funds to Schools Reopening In-Person,2020-08-01,2020,2020-08,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"08.01.20 Reed & Whitehouse Reject Conditioning Federal Education Funds to Schools Reopening In-Person WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 27 Senate colleagues, today urged U.S. Senate leadership to reject the Trump Administration's desire to condition education funds in the next novel coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package on the reopening of elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Senators wrote that the Senate should not be complicit in President Trump's demands that would risk the health and lives of students and school personnel, and that Congress should instead provide federal assistance to schools in need and support for local officials to base reopening decisions on facts and science. Instead, Congress should provide federal assistance to elementary and secondary schools that gives state and local officials the tools and resources they need to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for students, including students from low-income families and students of color, and a safe and effective working environment for educators and staffwhether it be in-person, remote, or a hybrid model, the Senators wrote. Every one of us wants schools to reopen when it is safe to do so. But, facts and science must drive those decisions, not Presidential pipedreams or impatience. The Senate Republican proposal, unveiled this week by McConnell, would provide only $70 billion to elementary and secondary education with an estimated two-thirds of that federal funding held hostage unless schools reopen to in-person learning. Durbin and other Senate Democrats, led by Senator Patty Murray of Washington, have proposed the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act, which would provide $175 billion to elementary and secondary education without regard to the operating status of schools. In addition to Durbin, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D_MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Gary Peters (D-MI). The full text of the letter is below and here: July 31, 2020 Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Chairman Shelby, and Vice Chairman Leahy: We write to oppose conditioning education funds in the next coronavirus relief package on the reopening of elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction. Over the course of the summer, a national debate has raged over the operating status of elementary and secondary schools this fall. During this time, state and local school leaders have been desperately seeking additional federal financial assistance and clear, scientifically-based federal guidance to support reopening schools safely in-person this fall. Instead, the Republican-controlled Senate has failed to act on any major new coronavirus relief legislation since March. For his part, President Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from schools that don't reopen in person while trying to politically influence the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) school reopening guidance. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are surging throughout the countrywith records for new infections being broken almost daily , deaths rising , and no end in sight. With months wasted and without taking responsibility for his own failure of leadership that contributed to the recent surge in casesPresident Trump continues to demand that schools reopen for in-person instruction at any cost in just a few short weeks. Congress should not be complicit in the President's dangerous game that would risk the health and lives of students and school personnel for an empty talking point. America's schoolchildren and educators are not the President's sacrificial lambsto be used to claim a false victory over the, still, out of control virus months before an election. Congress must reject any effort to condition federal assistance on schools reopening in person. Instead, Congress should provide federal assistance to elementary and secondary schools that gives state and local officials the tools and resources they need to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for students, including students from low-income families and students of color, and a safe and effective working environment for educators and staffwhether it be in-person, remote, or a hybrid model. The Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (S. 4112) would do that by providing an additional $175 billion in assistance to elementary and secondary schools without regard to the operating status of schools and school districts. It also includes an additional $30 billion to help communities disproportionately impacted by this crisis, students with disabilities, and students struggling without access to internet and technology. Every one of us wants schools to reopen when it is safe to do so. But, facts and science must drive those decisions, not Presidential pipedreams or impatience. Thank you. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-and-whitehouse-call-for-extension-of-school-meal-flexibilities-for-upcoming-,Reed & Whitehouse Call for Extension of School Meal Flexibilities for Upcoming School Year,2020-07-31,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.31.20 Reed & Whitehouse Call for Extension of School Meal Flexibilities for Upcoming School Year Waivers have allowed RIDE and partners to serve over one million meals and snacks to students since March Providence, RI U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and 32 of their colleagues in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue flexibilities that have allowed students to keep receiving daily meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, even as schools transitioned to distance learning. If extended through the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access to nutritious meals regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief. These waivers and flexibilities have allowed the Rhode Island Department of Education and their partners to serve over a million meals and snacks to students since March. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools around the country to close their buildings and shift instruction to online and distance-learning models, the Senators wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. For many children, school breakfast and lunch may be the only healthy and regular meals they receive. The Senators continued, The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in millions of parents losing their jobs, and millions more students will be dependent on school-provided meals. School meal program directors must begin procuring food, equipment, and supplies and placing orders now in preparation for the upcoming school year. To help ensure school meal program directors and staff have the certainty that they need to begin preparing for the upcoming school year, the Senators are urging the USDA to extend a variety of waivers that will help ensure low-income students can access school-provided meals throughout the upcoming school year. Additionally, the Senators are calling on the USDA to reimburse schools for the transportation costs for delivering meals to low-income students: While many school meal programs are managing these costs for the time-being, they cannot continue absorbing them for the foreseeable future. We ask that the USDA make additional funds available to schools to assist with the cost of delivering meals to low-income students until regular school operations are restored. The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free daily lunches to over 72,000 Rhode Island children. Click here for the Senators' full letter. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-tabling-of-key-judicial-ethics-guidance,Whitehouse Statement on Tabling of Key Judicial Ethics Guidance,2020-07-31,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.31.20 Whitehouse Statement on Tabling of Key Judicial Ethics Guidance Washington, DC Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today on the decision by the federal courts' Committee on the Codes of Conduct not to move forward with draft guidance that would bar judges from membership in the Federalist Society and American Constitution Society: The Committee bowing to pressure from Mitch McConnell and a horde of Federalist Society members on the bench demonstrates the power of the partisan donor interests packing our courts. The Federalist Society is at the core of an operation devoted to controlling judicial outcomes in right-wing special interests' favor an operation fueled by a quarter billion dollars of dark money. The Committee's decision allows judges to be active agents of that secretive operation, and allows the donor interests who put those judges on the bench to continue to rack up wins at the rest of America's expense. The capture of our courts continues. In May, Whitehouse led a group of senators in urging the Committee to finalize the important guidance. The group detailed in a comment letter the outsized role the right-wing Federalist Society has come to play in cultivating, confirming, and lobbying judges nominated by President Donald Trump. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/chairman-langevin%E2%80%99s-opening-remarks-ietc-hearing-us-cyberspace-solarium-commission,Chairman Langevins Opening Remarks at IETC Hearing on U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report,2020-07-31,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities and a member of the United States Cyberspace Solarium Commission, offered the following opening remarks at the subcommittee hearing he is chairing entitled: Review of the Recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Video of Langevin's statement and a live feed of the proceedings: https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings?ID=45F28E37-4151-4269-BE9C-8DD907EEDAD2 I want to welcome everyone to today's hearing on the findings of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a Congressionally mandated commission charged with developing a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequence. Inspired by Project Solarium, a task force assembled by President Eisenhower in the early 1950s, the Solarium Commission brought together representatives from academia and the private sector with representatives of the Executive and Legislative Branches. In the spirit of transparency, I want to make clear that I had the privilege of being selected by Speaker Pelosi to serve as one of four elected commissioners, and one of two from the House of Representatives, along with our distinguished Subcommittee colleague Mike Gallagher, who is appearing as a witness before us today. Mr. Gallagher along with Senator King, also with us today, serve as Co-chairs of the Commission, and I am proud to call them both colleagues and friends. This Subcommittee, more than most, has heard from numerous individuals on the centrality of cyberspace to our modern lives. The novelty of the Solarium's work and its findings is in examining how to secure cyberspace with an emphasis on a whole-of-government approach. Congress is methodical in its views of jurisdiction, and we are often too focused on viewing our oversight responsibilities exclusively through the lens of committee jurisdictions. What the Solarium has presented in its final report, completed on March 11th of this year, is a blueprint for legislative and executive actions that force the country to break apart the institutional stovepipes. In this respect, I see the findings of the Solarium Commission as being similar to those of the 9/11 Commission, in that both bodies recognized government siloes that had been artificially constructed and harmed the national approach to addressing cross-cutting issues. Whereas the 9/11 Commission applied this to the problem of terrorism, Solarium applies it to cyberspace. The Commission's recommendations have resulted in more than twenty provisions in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, passed just last week by the House of Representatives. In that one bill, this Chamber was able to address matters as diverse as Reserve support for military cyber operations, to the cyber insurance marketplace, to the establishment of a Senate-confirmed National Cyber Director. While we obviously have more work to do, I am proud that the NDAA reflects the whole-of-government action called for by the Commission. I applaud the example set by our European partners in approaching cyber in novel and holistic ways as recently as today with the announcement of the first-ever cyber sanctions issued through the European Union against six individuals and three entities responsible for the WannaCry,' NotPetya,' and Operation Cloud Hopper' attacks. As I noted earlier, we have four witnesses appearing in front of the Subcommittee today. In addition to the distinguished gentlemen from Wisconsin and Maine, we are joined by two additional commissioners. The Honorable Patrick Murphy, a former member of the House Representatives from Pennsylvania, is here today. Commissioner Murphy has served with distinction as Acting Secretary and Under Secretary of the Army, and today continues his service as the Distinguished Chair of Innovation at the United States Military Academy. Commissioner Murphy was the first veteran of the war in Iraq to be elected to Congress. Finally, we have Commissioner Frank Cilluffo, who in addition to his service with the Solarium, serves as the Director of Auburn University's McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. From 2001 to 2003, Commissioner Cilluffo served as Special Assistant to President Bush on Homeland Security and then led the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-statement-first-european-union-cyber-sanctions,Langevin Statement on First European Union Cyber Sanctions,2020-07-31,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"Warwick, R.I. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a member of the United States Cyberspace Solarium Commission and a senior member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, released the following statement regarding the Council of the European Union's announcement that it will be sanctioning three entities and six individuals in connection with malicious cyber activity, including the targeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and WannaCry, NotPetya, and Operation Cloud Hopper: Global stability in cyberspace is contingent upon responsible state actors following appropriate norms of behavior and taking action against countries that flout those norms. The EU Council's first-ever use of its cyber diplomacy toolbox is an historic step in ensuring a norms-based international order applies in cyberspace, and I commend the Council for its action. China, Russia, and North Korea have all consistently shown a blatant disregard for principles of restraint in cyberspace endorsed by the United Nations. The cyber intrusions cited by the Council today resulted in billions of dollars in damages to corporate and government networks. NotPetya, the most damaging cyber incident in history, cost European companies like Maersk and Mondelez hundreds of millions of dollars each, and Operation Cloud Hopper resulted in the loss of untold quantities of intellectual property. Rogue actors in cyberspace must be held to account, and the Council's decision represents Europe's unified commitment to doing so. However, I must also register my disappointment in the delay it took for the Council to use the restrictive measures authorized under the cyber toolbox's legal framework. The WannaCry and NotPetya malware, for instance, were both released in the first half of 2017, and we have known the culprits were the North Koreans and the Russians, respectively, for almost as long. Like-minded nations that believe that cyberspace is not the Wild West must work together to take swift and decisive action in the face of continued belligerence from countries seeking to benefit from gray zone conflict in cyberspace. I urge the Council to publicly commit to working to reduce the time between incident and response. The Cyberspace Solarium Commission report highlights that international diplomacy is key to deterrence. The United States and the European Union must continue to work together to use all instruments of national power to enforce cyber norms and shape our adversaries' behavior in this new domain. Today's sanctions are an important milestone, but much work remains to be done.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-statement-passage-government-funding-package-prioritizes-national-defense,"Langevin Statement on Passage of Government Funding Package That Prioritizes National Defense, Uplifts Families and Communities",2020-07-31,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 7617, a $1.3 trillion minibus appropriations package that comprises the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development bills. The funding package passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-197. Constitutionally, Congress has the power of the purse, and one of my principle responsibilities is to ensure we are making investments that will uplift and empower Rhode Islanders and the American people and keep our nation safe and on course for continued prosperity. As the country continues to battle the pandemic, this bill makes needed investments, including more than $24 billion in emergency funding to shore up our public health infrastructure. It also defunds Republicans' outrageous attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act in the court system. It is unconscionable that, at a time when economic growth is at a record low and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take more than a thousand lives a day, President Trump is attempting to undermine Americans' health care. The bill also builds upon the House's work in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act by funding important police reform measures to begin to address the severe racial inequities in our justice system. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I'm also encouraged this package provides service members strong support to bolster their capabilities against current and future threats. In addition to a well-deserved 3 percent raise for our troops, this package invests in health care support and critical equipment so that our warfighters never enter a fair fight. Defense manufacturing is critical to Rhode Island's economy, and this funding bill delivers for our state. Specifically, it rejects the President's budget cuts and provides for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines. It also fully funds the Navy's number one ship building priority, the Columbia-class program that will replace the nation's aging Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Rhode Islanders will continue to provide for the common defense through their exceptional work at Quonset Point and help ensure our heroes have the latest technology to keep America and our interests secure. I'm proud of the significant investments we make in education to help prepare the leaders of tomorrow. This legislation promotes learning experiences that will equip students of all ages to compete in a 21st Century economy. I'm pleased to have led the effort to increase funding for career and technical education programs under the Perkins Act by $25 million. I also fought to restore funding for English Language Acquisition grants after the President attempted to eliminate the program entirely. Every child should grow up in a supportive environment that inspires them to succeed. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I pressed to include $42 million for the Adoption Opportunities Program to help states connect foster youth with loving families and forever homes, as well as important post-adoption services. Our commitment to provide at-risk youth with the proper supports to succeed is also reflected in a $100 million allocation for the Youth Mentoring Program. Moreover, as an American with a disability, I fight to ensure everyone has the support they need to live with freedom and dignity. Through my advocacy, this package includes $40 million for the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program to aid research and development that will change lives. I also fought to secure $10 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which supports our invaluable family caregivers by providing respite services regardless of age or condition. Climate change is one of the most urgent issues humanity faces, and each day the threat grows. I worked diligently to help secure billions to fight global warming through support for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and related advanced research. Further, I led the effort to fund critical non-proliferation work on the potential use of low-enriched uranium reactors in nuclear submarines. I also championed a provision to provide states with additional aid to make energy efficiency and weatherization assistance available to communities. We have now passed ten of the twelve appropriations bills to fund the government ahead of the September 30th deadline. The Senate has passed none. We passed the Heroes Act, a major pandemic relief bill in May. The Senate did not unveil its bill until Monday. It's past time for Senator McConnell to take up bills to address the urgent needs of the American people. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Funding within H.R. 7617 important to Rhode Island includes: INFRASTRUCTURE $7.6 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including studies, construction, and operation and maintenance $1.64 billion for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water resources projects $75 billion in emergency funding to rebuild transportation and housing infrastructure $61 billion in emergency funding to expand the availability of broadband to unserved and underserved communities $43.5 billion in emergency spending to modernize water and energy infrastructure $24.425 billion in emergency spending to support state and local public health agencies and global health activities MEDICAL RESEARCH $47 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $5.5 billion above FY20 $50 million, an increase of $25 million above FY20, for firearm injury and mortality prevention research at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING $73.5 billion for the Department of Education, $6.9 billion above the President's request $10.2 billion for the Employment and Training Administration, $1.5 billion above the President's request HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), rejecting the President's proposal to eliminate the program $356 million for the Economic Development Administration, helping to boost struggling communities $273.5 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), rejecting the President's proposal to eliminate the program SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY FAMILIES Provides full funding necessary to support the three percent military pay raise More than $33.3 billion for Defense Health Programs, including $512.5 million for cancer research CLIMATE CHANGE $12 billion across Department of Energy programs to support clean, affordable, and secure energy $5.45 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in support of critical climate research and response",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-trump-floating-delay-of-2020-election,Whitehouse Statement on Trump Floating Delay of 2020 Election,2020-07-30,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.30.20 Whitehouse Statement on Trump Floating Delay of 2020 Election Washington, DC U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Donald Trump's tweet today on delaying the 2020 presidential election: A president cannot legally move the election without approval from Congress, and the end of the president's term is spelled out in the Constitution. President Trump is sowing confusion about bedrock principles of our democracy to distract from an accelerating pandemic, a massive economic contraction, and his campaign's sinking poll numbers."" This election will be unlike any other in our nation's history because of the ongoing pandemic. President Trump and Republicans in Congress are refusing to provide adequate funding for voting by mail and for the postal service. Mega-wealthy special interests are funneling millions into an enormous voter suppression effort. Bill Barr has authorized federal agents to act totally out of control in Portland, a thinly veiled threat to other Democratic cities in the fall. All of this needs to be of utmost importance to every American right now. Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-backs-bills-address-covid-child-care-crisis,Langevin Backs Bills to Address COVID Child Care Crisis,2020-07-30,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 7027, the Child Care Is Essential Act, and H.R. 7327, the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, two bills that prioritize public health, support child care providers reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and their employees, and provide relief for working families struggling to find child care. H.R. 7027 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 249-163 and H.R. 7327 by a vote of 250-161. As we take measured steps to reopen, families need access to safe and affordable child care so parents and guardians can return to work, said Langevin. The COVID-19 pandemic created massive disruptions in the child care sector and has made it even tougher for hardworking parents to access quality services. Passage of the Child Care Is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act comes at a critical time and will make help available for parents, providers on the brink of closure, and childcare workers whose jobs are on the line. The Childcare Is Essential Act creates a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to provide grants to child care providers, including child care centers and home-based child care providers, to help them safely reopen and operate. Rhode Island would receive an estimated $117,362,706 in federal assistance from this bill, which would help preserve more than 6,000 licensed child care slots in danger of disappearing. Aid from the fund may be used to cover personnel, sanitation and cleaning, health and safety training, and other costs related to the pandemic. Further, this bill prioritizes support for child care facilities that provide services to underserved communities and helps child care workers by requiring providers to continue to employ and pay their employees at pre-pandemic levels. It also seeks to keep child care affordable for families by requiring all providers receiving grant funds to provide assistance to families for tuition costs. The legislation will ensure safety of facilities by requiring that all providers meet health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities. The Child Care for Economic Recovery Act builds on the Child Care Is Essential Act by providing ongoing federal investments and tax relief to help improve access to quality child care and support working parents. The legislation invests $10 billion in infrastructure over the next five years to improve child care safety at public and private facilities, provides $850 million in state aid to support family care for essential workers, and increases funding for federal child care programs. The bill also includes increased tax benefits for families with children. It enhances the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) by making it refundable and allowing it to cover up to half of a taxpayer's childcare expenses. Under this proposal, families with one child would be eligible for a credit of up to $3,000 while those with more than one child would be eligible for a credit of up to $6,000. The legislation also doubles the amount that can be contributed to dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and provides employers a new 30 percent refundable payroll tax credit for employee dependent care benefits that they provide. It also creates a 50 percent refundable payroll tax credit for mortgage and rent obligations and utility payments incurred by struggling child care facilities that have seen reductions in revenue or are facing closure because of the pandemic.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-whitehouse-and-cicilline-announce-230k-grant-to-support-joint-economic-development-plan-for-pawtucket-and-central-falls,"Reed, Whitehouse, & Cicilline Announce $230K Grant to Support Joint Economic Development Plan for Pawtucket and Central Falls",2020-07-29,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.29.20 Reed, Whitehouse, & Cicilline Announce $230K Grant to Support Joint Economic Development Plan for Pawtucket and Central Falls Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman David Cicilline today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls a $230,000 grant to create a joint economic development action plan. Under the leadership of Mayors Diossa and Grebien, Central Falls and Pawtucket have worked together for years to advance the economies of both of their cities. This federal funding, which I was pleased to work with Senator Whitehouse and Congressman Cicilline to secure, will help them enhance that partnership as they plot out future economic development to help their communities and local businesses recover and thrive, said Senator Reed. Congratulations to Mayors Grebien and Diossatwo great champions for their respective citieson winning this federal grant to encourage job growth in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, said Senator Whitehouse. The funding comes in time to help map a path out of the economic fallout caused by the pandemic, which has hit Pawtucket and Central Falls particularly hard. I'm proud of Mayors Grebien and Diossa for being awarded this competitive grant, Congressman Cicilline said. This grant couldn't have come at a better time and will help develop a plan to support future economic and business development initiatives and help create jobs. Both Pawtucket and Central Falls are former industrial powerhouses that welcomed waves of immigrants over the past two centuries. The funding from the EDA's Economic Adjustment Assistance Program will be used to develop a detailed economic development plan to guide future growth in the two cities and examine existing workforce strengths and needs. The plan will include a feasibility study for the creation of a new workforce training and innovation center. The grant will also allow the cities to explore options for redeveloping a vacant 12-acre lot that was formerly the site of the Osram Sylvania lightbulb factory in Central Falls. The City of Pawtucket thanks Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, and Congressman Cicilline for once again stepping up for Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley. The grant to support the Joint Economic Development Plan will allow both cities to chart a course forward for the economic future of both cities, said Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien. With the ongoing pandemic, this project has also taken on a new significance, particularly the workforce development and training center study component, which could be very helpful in identifying the job training and retraining needs of our workforce currently and post-pandemic. The EDA's investment in Central Falls and Pawtucket for joint economic development is greatly appreciated along with the hard work and dedication of the federal delegation to help our cities receive these funds, said Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa. Thank you to Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Cicilline for providing us with opportunities to boost the economic development in our cities post pandemic."" Pawtucket and Central Falls already share a joint planning commission tasked with supporting the development of the Conant Thread District that straddles the two cities. In recent months, Pawtucket and Central Falls also created a joint BEAT COVID-19 initiative to help residents of both hard-hit cities weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the continued economic fallout from the pandemic, Rhode Island's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 12.4 percent in June. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-reed-and-feinstein-seek-to-undo-trump-administration-move-to-cut-cdc-out-of-covid-19-data-collection,"Whitehouse, Reed, & Feinstein Seek to Undo Trump Administration Move to Cut CDC Out of COVID-19 Data Collection",2020-07-29,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.29.20 Whitehouse, Reed, & Feinstein Seek to Undo Trump Administration Move to Cut CDC Out of COVID-19 Data Collection TRUST CDC Act would restore CDC's natural role as trusted conduit of public health data Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) are taking action to reverse the Trump administration's new directive forcing hospitals to withhold data about the COVID-19 pandemic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Senators today introduced the Transparent Reporting and Use of Statistics in the Transmission of Coronavirus Data Collection, or the TRUST CDC Act. The TRUST CDC Act would require hospitals to report statistics about COVID-19 cases, supply shortages, and personnel directly to the CDC, which is uniquely qualified to handle such data. I can think of no good motivation for why the Trump administration would upend the CDC's trusted system for reporting COVID-19 data in the middle of an accelerating pandemic that has already claimed the lives of more than 148,000 Americans, said Whitehouse. President Trump's dystopian hostility toward facts and science has already wrought so much needless suffering. While this administration has tried to obscure its bungling of the pandemic, we need to make sure the American people have at their fingertips the most accurate and up-to-date numbers on which to base decisions about their own health and safety. I'm very concerned by the administration's move to change how coronavirus data is reported to the public, said Feinstein. The CDC's system for publicly reporting COVID-19 data has been vital to our understanding of how this virus spreads, how our hospitals are coping with patients and which regions of the country are struggling. Science and data must always dictate our response to this pandemic, and making it harder to access information that hospitals report only hurts our recovery. The TRUST CDC Act requires the CDC to reinstate its website containing the COVID-19 data within a week of the bill's passage and to keep the data portal updated moving forward. On July 13, the White House Coronavirus Task Force ordered hospitals to cease sending data to the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network within 48 hours. Hospitals were instructed to instead report data to a new system set up by the Department of Health and Human Services through a private contractor and were informed that vital supplies would be withheld from institutions not in compliance. The CARES Act included $500 million for the CDC Data Modernization Initiative, to help the CDC update and scale up data collection. Rather than focus on that effort, the Trump Administration instead upended the flow of data altogether. The Administration has not provided an explanation for the shift. The CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network had been the primary repository for public health data for fifteen years. Many states had built their own virus-tracking dashboards on the CDC's data feed. Combined with testing delays and shortages, the sudden change in reporting mechanism exacerbates challenges in providing an accurate national picture of the pandemic. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-closing-remarks,Cicilline Closing Remarks,2020-07-29,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) delivered closing remarks at the end of today's hearing with the CEOs of Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google. Click the image below to watch a video of Cicilline's remarks. A transcript is embedded at the end of this email. David N. Cicilline Closing Remarks July 29, 2020 I want to thank the witnesses for their testimony today. And my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Today we've had the opportunity to hear from the decisionmakers at four of the most powerful companies in the world. This hearing has made one fact clear to methese companies as they exist today have monopoly power. Some need to be broken up; all need to be properly regulated and held accountable. We need to ensure the antitrust laws first written more than a century ago work in the digital age. When these laws were written, the monopolists were men named Rockefeller and Carnegie. Their control of the marketplace allowed them to do whatever it took to crush independent businesses and expand their own power. Well, the names have changed, but the story is the same. Today, the men are named Zuckerberg, Cook, Pichai, and Bezos. Once again, their control of the marketplace allows them to do whatever it takes to crush independent businesses and expand their own power. This must end. This Subcommittee will next publish a report on the findings of our investigation. We will propose solutions to the problems before us. As a great American, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, once said, We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both. This concludes today's hearing. Thank you to our witnesses for attending. Without objection, all Members will have five legislative days to submit additional written questions for the witnesses or additional materials for the record. Without objection, the hearing is adjourned.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-opening-statement-big-tech-antitrust-hearing,Cicilline Opening Statement At Big Tech Antitrust Hearing,2020-07-29,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. House Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) gave the following opening statement at the Hearing on Online Platforms and Market Power, Part 6: Examining the Dominance of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. More than a year ago, this Subcommittee launched an investigation into digital markets. Our two objectives have been to document competition problems in the digital economy, and to evaluate whether the current antitrust framework is able to properly address them. In September 2019, the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Full Committee and the Subcommittee issued sweeping, bipartisan requests for information to the four firms that will testify at today's hearing. Since then, we have received millions of pages of evidence from these firms, as well as documents and submissions from more than 100 market participants. We also conducted hundreds of hours of interviews. As part of this investigation, we have held five hearings to examine the effects of online market power on innovation and entrepreneurship; data privacy; a free and diverse press; and independent businesses in the online marketplace. We have held 17 briefings and roundtables with over 35 experts and stakeholders in support of our work. This investigation has been bipartisan from the start. It has been an honor to work alongside my colleague, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, the Subcommittee's Ranking Member, as well as the former Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Congressman Doug Collins. We worked closely with all the Members of the Subcommittee, who have taken this work seriously and studied these issues closely. As my colleague Congressman Ken Buck recently commented, This is the most bipartisan effort that I have been involved with in five and a half years of Congress. The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the dominance of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Amazon runs the largest online marketplace in America, capturing 70% of all online marketplace sales. It operates across a vast array of businessesfrom cloud computing and movie production to transportation logistics and small business lending. Amazon's market valuation recently hit $1.5 trillion, more than that of Walmart, Target, SalesForce, IBM, eBay, and Etsy combined. Apple is a dominant provider of smartphones, with more than 100 million iPhone users in the United States alone. In addition to hardware, Apple sells services and apps, including financial services, media, and games. Facebook is the world's largest provider of social networking services, with a business model that sells digital ads. Despite a litany of privacy scandals and record-breaking fines, Facebook continues to enjoy booming profits$18 billion last year alone. Lastly, Google is the world's largest online search engine, capturing more than 90% of searches online. It controls key technologies in digital ad markets and enjoys more than a billion users across six productsincluding browsers, smartphones, and digital maps. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these corporations already stood out as titans in our economy. In the wake of COVID-19, however, , they are likely to emerge stronger and more powerful than ever before. As American families shift more of their work, shopping, and communication online, these giants stand to profit. Locally-owned businesses, meanwhilemom and pop stores on Main Streetface an economic crisis unlike any in recent history. As hard as it is to believe, it is possible that our economy will emerge from this crisis even more concentrated and consolidated than before. These companies serve as critical arteries of commerce and communications. Because these companies are so central to our modern life, their business practices and decisions have an outsized effect on our economy and our democracy. Any single action by any one of these companies can affect hundreds of millions of us in profound and lasting ways. Although these four corporations differ in important and meaningful ways, we have observed common patterns and competition problems over the course of our investigation. First, each platform is a bottleneck for a key channel of distribution. Whether they control access to information or to a marketplace, these platforms have the incentive and ability to exploit this power. They can charge exorbitant fees, impose oppressive contracts, and extract valuable data from the people and businesses that rely on them. Second, each platform uses its control over digital infrastructure to surveil other companiestheir growth, business activity, and whether they might pose a competitive threat. Each platform has used this data to protect its power, by either buying, copying, or by cutting off access for any actual or potential rival. Third, these platforms abuse their control over current technologies to extend their power. Whether it's through self-preferencing, predatory pricing, or requiring users to buy additional products, the dominant platforms have wielded their power in destructive, harmful ways in order to expand. At today's hearing we will examine how each of these companies has used this playbook to achieve and maintain dominanceand how their power shapes and affects our daily lives. Why does this matter? Many of the practices used by these companies have harmful economic effects. They discourage entrepreneurship, destroy jobs, hike costs, and degrade quality. Simply put: They have too much power. This power staves off new forms of competition, creativity, and innovation. And while these dominant firms may still produce some new innovative products, their dominance is killing the small businesses, manufacturing, and overall dynamism that are the engines of the American economy. Several of these firms also harvest and abuse people's data to sell ads for everything from new books to dangerous miracle cures. When everyday Americans learn how much of their data is being mined, they can't run away fast enough. But in many cases, there is no escape from this surveillance because there is no alternative. People are stuck with bad options. Open markets are predicated on the idea that if a company harms people, consumers, workers, and business partners will choose another option. We are here today because that choice is no longer possible. In closing, I am confident that addressing the problems we see in these markets will lead to a stronger, more vibrant economy. Because concentrated economic power also leads to concentrated political power, this investigation also goes to the heart of whether we, as a people, govern ourselves, or whether we let ourselves be governed by private monopolies. American democracy has always been at war against monopoly power. Throughout our history, we have recognized that concentrated markets and concentrated political control are incompatible with democratic ideals. When the American people confronted monopolists in the pastbe it the railroads and oil tycoons or AT&T and Microsoftwe took action to ensure no private corporation controls our economy or our democracy. We face similar challenges today. As gatekeepers to the digital economy, these platforms enjoy the power to pick winners and losers, shake down small businesses, and enrich themselves while choking off competitors. Their ability to dictate terms, call the shots, upend entire sectors, and inspire fear represent the powers of a private government. Our founders would not bow before a king. Nor should we bow before the emperors of the online economy.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-scores-big-wins-rhode-island-infrastructure-projects,Langevin Scores Big Wins for Rhode Island Infrastructure Projects,2020-07-29,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, legislation that supports water infrastructure improvements at ports, harbors and inland waterways, as well as flood control and ecosystem restoration efforts. The legislation passed the House by a voice vote. The House has once again come together to pass a Water Resources Development Act that will support water resource infrastructure across the nation, said Langevin. I'm pleased that key water projects in Rhode Island's Second District have been taken into account. Important provisions within this legislation will help preserve natural resources, protect families and businesses, and promote prosperity and economic growth within our state by investing directly in our waterways. For Rhode Island, the legislation authorizes $37,848,000 in federal funding in support of hurricane and storm risk reduction as part of the Pawcatuck River Coastal Storm Risk Management Project. The focus area covers approximately 28 miles of coastline in Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown, and Narragansett, which is near residential and commercial properties vulnerable to flooding. With climate change causing extreme weather, inland and coastal flooding, and sea level rise, Rhode Islanders already have seen places we love eroded, flooded, degraded, and lost, said Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Janet Coit. DEM is grateful for Congressman Langevin's tenacity in fighting for funding to make our state and coastal communities more resilient. Following a request from the Town of Westerly, the legislation also deauthorizes the anchorage portion of the Federal Navigation Project in Watch Hill Cove. The change will allow Westerly residents to have preference when mooring in Watch Hill and supports the Town's Harbor Management Plan. Across the nation, the bill clears way for 34 construction projects with final Chief's Reports and 35 feasibility studies within the Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works mission areas which include navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-gop-pandemic-aid-proposal-buoys-corporations-at-the-expense-of-workers,Whitehouse: GOP Pandemic Aid Proposal Buoys Corporations at the Expense of Workers,2020-07-28,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.28.20 Whitehouse: GOP Pandemic Aid Proposal Buoys Corporations at the Expense of Workers Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement regarding the pandemic aid proposal Senate Republicans unveiled yesterday evening: Leader McConnell squandered two and a half months while families across the country grappled with twin health and economic crises. Now, with urgent deadlines approaching for millions of Americans pushed to the financial brink, Senate Republicans have hastily slapped together another corporate welfare proposal that falls far short of what Rhode Islanders need. The Republican proposal inexplicably fails to provide funding for state and local budgets, voting by mail, hazard pay, or emergency food benefits, and would leave hard-hit nursing homes to mostly fend for themselves. It would sharply cut benefits for the more than one hundred thousand Rhode Islanders unemployed and looking for work. The Republican proposal also fails to make the kind of flexible investments needed for kids to return to school safely. Senate Republicans' top priority is letting corporations off the hook for negligence in protecting employees and customers during the pandemic. They've also managed to prioritize relaxing controls on big banks, providing bailouts for big agriculture, and frittering away funds on keeping FBI headquarters, and not a competing hotel, next to Trump's D.C. hotel. The House-passed HEROES Act looks a whole lot more like what Rhode Islanders need right now, as we face a time crunch caused by Leader McConnell wasting all this time. Senate Republicans' proposal comes more than two months after the Democrat-led U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, which would direct $3 trillion to stem the pandemic and associated economic fallout. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/a-senate-floor-farewell-to-my-friend-steve-sussman,A Senate Floor Farewell to My Friend Steve Sussman,2020-07-28,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"About Services Agency Assistance Success Stories Grants Flag Requests Visiting D.C. Student Resources Email Sheldon Events Community Dinners Community Outreach Issues Issue List Legislation News Press Releases In the News Speeches Op-Eds Press Kit Videos x x MENU",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-grills-attorney-general-barr,Cicilline Grills Attorney General Barr,2020-07-28,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"Cicilline Grills Attorney General Barr Jul 28, 2020 WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) questioned Attorney General Barr at today's House Judiciary Committee hearing.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-and-reed-introduce-legislation-to-support-state-paid-leave-programs-during-covid-19-crisis,Whitehouse & Reed Introduce Legislation to Support State Paid Leave Programs During COVID-19 Crisis,2020-07-27,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.27.20 Whitehouse & Reed Introduce Legislation to Support State Paid Leave Programs During COVID-19 Crisis Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today announced that they have introduced the State Paid Leave for America Now (PLAN) Act to reimburse state paid family and medical leave programs for the cost of benefits for circumstances related to COVID-19. Five states, including Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia have sustainable, long-term paid family and medical leave programs in place. This pandemic has demonstrated more clearly than ever that paid family leave is an important element of a humane and healthy society, said Senator Whitehouse. In the absence of a commonsense national paid leave policy, states like Rhode Island that have led the way with their own leave systems should be provided federal support to keep those programs afloat during a national health crisis. Workers shouldn't have to choose between paying their rent or infecting others by showing up to work when they are ill or caring for a sick child. And states like Rhode Island that have stepped up and enacted cost-effective policies to ensure workers have paid sick and family leave should not be disadvantaged when it comes to federal assistance to combat COVID-19, said Senator Reed. I commend Senator Whitehouse for his national leadership on paid leave to support families, businesses, and communities. With so many teetering on the financial edge during this pandemic, this legislation will help ensure states receive the resources they deserve to help communities and provide pandemic-related paid leave. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) included historic provisions requiring some employers to provide limited paid sick days and paid leave for certain purposes during the current COVID-19 crisis. However, these provisions were extremely limited in scope. In contrast, workers in states with existing paid leave programs were able to access their state programs. While the Families First Coronavirus Response Act established a limited, temporary federal paid leave law for the first time in our nation's history, it left out tens of millions of employees, said Rhode Island State Senator Gayle Goldin, who led the successful effort to create a statewide paid family leave program in 2013. Thankfully, Rhode Islanders have access to paid leave through Temporary Disability and Caregiver Insurance, our state-run social insurance. It's helped thousands of Rhode Islanders when they need to quarantine or care for a loved one. I applaud Senators Whitehouse and Reed for acknowledging what an important resource our state-run social insurance is for Rhode Islanders. This additional federal funding would be a boost to workers and their families when they need it most. The State PLAN Act would level the playing field between states, helping states keep workers safe and healthy. Under the legislation, states would receive federal reimbursement for the cost of benefits for individuals taking paid leave under their state program because of a COVID-19 diagnosis or quarantine, or caregiving for someone diagnosed or quarantined because of COVID-19. Eligibility for reimbursement for benefits and associated administrative costs would span from January 27, 2020, when COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency, through the end of 2021. The State PLAN Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34). Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-statement-proposed-senate-republican-coronavirus-relief-package,Langevin Statement on Proposed Senate Republican Coronavirus Relief Package,2020-07-27,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WARWICK, R.I. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today issued the following statement regarding the HEALS Act, the proposed Senate Republican coronavirus relief package unveiled today: More than two months after the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act to help frontline workers, small businesses, hardworking families, and states, Senate Republicans have finally unveiled a woefully inadequate coronavirus relief package that fails to meet the needs of American families during this unprecedented crisis. It is deeply discouraging that Senator McConnell's proposal slashes unemployment benefits for 30 million Americans struggling to make ends meet. Under this proposal, roughly 100,000 Rhode Islanders would see their weekly incomes drop significantly just as bills come due. The decision by Republicans to propose reductions in this critical aid is a disservice to those who are frantically wondering how they will put food on the table and a roof over their heads. The American people need bold action from Congress to overcome this challenge. This is not a time to delay or play politics Americans desperately need help, and it is our duty to deliver for them.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-whitehouse-on-illegal-wildlife-trafficking-in-senate-epw,Sen. Whitehouse on Illegal Wildlife Trafficking in Senate EPW,2020-07-24,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"July 22, 2020 | Senate EPW Committee: Stopping the Spread: Examining the Increased Risk of Zoonotic Disease from Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Panel I: - Ms. Catherine Semcer, Research Fellow, Property and Environment Research Center, Bozeman - Dr. Jonathan H. Epstein, Vice President for Science and Outreach, EcoHealth Alliance - Mr. Dan Ashe, President CEO, Association of Zoos and Aquariums",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/hoyer-langevin-introduce-resolution-marking-30th-anniversary-americans-disabilities,"Hoyer, Langevin Introduce Resolution Marking 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act",2020-07-24,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Rep. Jim Langevin (RI-02) introduced a resolution today celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA, which had passed the House and Senate with overwhelmingly bipartisan votes, was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. This landmark law required reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities and banned discrimination against them in housing, employment, education, and other areas. Hoyer was the lead sponsor of the ADA in the House when it was enacted in 1990, and Congressman Langevin is the co-founder and co-chair of the House Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus. The resolution recognizes the importance of independent living for individuals with disabilities and encourages Americans to celebrate the advancement of inclusion and equitable opportunities made possible by the ADA. It also acknowledges barriers must be addressed to ensure independent living, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation for individuals with disabilities, and calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information, resources, and technical assistance regarding home- and community-based services and supports that enable individuals with disabilities to live independently. Before the ADA was enacted, those who were born with or developed a disability faced discrimination and exclusion, Leader Hoyer said. Over the past thirty years, thanks to the ADA, we've built a more inclusive and more equal America where people with disabilities can access the opportunities that enable one to make it in America. The ADA was as much about recognizing the dignity of every person as it was about ensuring access. While we've made much progress over the past thirty years, there is still work to be done to address the remaining barriers people with disabilities face on a regular basis. I was proud to play a leading role in enacting that crucial civil rights law, and I will continue to defend it in the House as we work to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to the resources they need to live independently, and with equal access to employment and health care. 30 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act ushered in a new era of equality and justice for people with disabilities, said Congressman Langevin, co-founder and co-chair of the House Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus. As someone who's lived with a disability since the age of sixteen, I've witnessed the transformation we've made into a more accessible and inclusive society. Without the ADA and the leadership of people like Majority Leader Hoyer who paved the way for its enactment, I probably would not have the privilege of representing Rhode Island's Second District in Congress today. As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, let us also acknowledge there is still work to be done to change cultural perceptions of disabilities and continue fighting for a world where accessibility is the default, not an afterthought. To read the full text of the resolution, click here and see below. RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of independent living for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling for further action to strengthen home and community living for individuals with disabilities.Whereas, in enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), Congress recognized that historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and, despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities continue to be a serious and pervasive social problem;Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 recognized the rights of individuals with disabilities to fully participate in their communities through independent living, equitable opportunities, and economic self-sufficiency;Whereas Congress intended that the integration mandate under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 would ensure that individuals who are eligible for institutional placement are able to exercise their rights to community-based long-term services and supports and be free of discrimination in the form of institutionalization;Whereas, 30 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and 21 years after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), many individuals with disabilities continue to live in segregated institutional settings because of a lack of support services, which violates their right to community living;Whereas the continued prevalence of segregated institutional settings has hindered the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in communities, schools, and workplaces, undermining the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;Whereas people of color with disabilities experience disproportionately greater barriers to service and access;Whereas, 30 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, telecommunication, electronic, and information technologies continue to be developed without the goal of full accessibility and inclusion for all people of the United States; andWhereas, 30 years after the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, many businesses, public and private organizations, transportation systems and services are still not accessible to individuals with disabilities: Now, therefore, be itResolved, That the [House] (1) recognizes the importance of independent living for individuals with disabilities made possible by the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); (2) encourages all people of the United States to celebrate the advancement of inclusion and equitable opportunities made possible by the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (3) pledges to continue to work on a bipartisan basis to identify and address the remaining barriers that undermine the national goals of equality of opportunity, independent living, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation for individuals with disabilities, including by focusing on individuals with disabilities that remain segregated in institutions; (4) pledges to work with States to increase access to home and community based services for individuals with disabilities; and (5) calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information, resources, and technical assistance regarding home- and community-based services and supports that enable individuals with disabilities to live independently.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-statement-passage-government-funding-package-supports-veterans-and,Langevin Statement on Passage of Government Funding Package that Supports Veterans and the Environment,2020-07-24,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 7608, a $259.5 billion appropriations package that comprises the Fiscal Year 2021 State-Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Interior-Environment, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bills. The funding package passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 224-189. With an eye towards the future and with a focus on making a difference in lives during this challenging time, the spending bill the House passed today will enhance food security for families, boost public health and safety, prioritize environmental protections, support veterans, and promote human rights abroad. It includes key investments that lay the groundwork to create more opportunities for Americans and help build a stronger nation. Virtually all aspects of daily life have been impacted by the global pandemic, and as uncertainty looms, the security and wellbeing of Americans must remain our central focus. I'm particularly pleased this bill prioritizes SNAP and other vital family and child nutrition assistance programs to help our most vulnerable families put food on the table. It also funds considerable infrastructure upgrades to ensure more people can access clean and safe drinking water and to improve access to broadband, so students can remain engaged and continue learning whether at home or at school. To uphold the leading position of the United States on the world stage, this legislation sets aside funding for critical humanitarian assistance and global health aid. These investments will strengthen relationships with our allies, promote stability, and bolster cooperation during a time where the Administration has chosen to repeatedly undermine collaboration and partnership. Among this critical aid, I'm proud to have helped pass an amendment that will make $1.4 million available to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Armenia for de-mining operations. This bill also restores important funding for the World Health Organization, pushing back on the President's shortsighted decision to sever ties with a body that is key in identifying and responding to public health emergencies. From higher temperatures to rising sea levels and extreme weather events, climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. This package provides strong support for the Environmental Protection Agency, funding clean air programs, conservation activities, and global greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. Locally, I'm proud to have secured $6 million for the Southern New England Estuaries Geographic Program, which supports the protection and restoration of Rhode Island coasts and estuaries. This allocation includes a $600,000 increase over current funding. To adequately fulfill our commitments to our veterans, the government funding bill contains substantial emergency funds for medical and mental health care, homeless assistance, and military housing construction. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans and their families who selflessly put their lives on the lines to preserve the very values and principles that make our country unlike any other in the world. Provisions in H.R. 7608 important to Rhode Island include: $68.277 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), $25.131 billion for child nutrition programs, and $5.75 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) $15.17 billion in water infrastructure and other infrastructure programs, including $12.97 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and $546 million for lead mitigation $1.45 billion for rural water and waste program loans, and more than $610 million in water and waste grants for clean and reliable drinking water systems and sanitary waste disposal systems $990 million for the Rural Broadband ReConnect Program, $435 million above fiscal year 2020 $13.83 billion for the Department of the Interior, $304 million above fiscal year 2020 $9.38 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, $318 million above fiscal year 2020 $12.5 billion in emergency appropriations for Veterans Affairs to address rising health care costs $90 billion for VA medical services, $9.8 billion above fiscal year 2020",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-and-colleagues-introduce-medical-bankruptcy-bill-after-millions-lose-health-insurance-during-pandemic,Whitehouse & Colleagues Introduce Medical Bankruptcy Bill After Millions Lose Health Insurance During Pandemic,2020-07-23,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.23.20 Whitehouse & Colleagues Introduce Medical Bankruptcy Bill After Millions Lose Health Insurance During Pandemic Updated legislation covers bankruptcies triggered by medical debt or financial hardship caused by public health-related shutdowns Washington, D.C. With millions of Americans newly kicked off their health insurance in the middle of a raging pandemic, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today introduced legislation designed to ease the burden on those forced into bankruptcy because of unforeseen medical expenses or public health-related shutdowns. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2020, based on legislation Whitehouse last introduced in 2016, has been updated to address the potential for an influx of bankruptcies stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our employment-based health insurance system is simply not cut out for a pandemic, said Whitehouse. Even while millions of people lose their incomes and get kicked off health insurance, they're at increased risk of racking up huge medical bills if they contract the virus. We need to soften the landing for families pushed off a financial cliff by COVID-19. Ohioans are already struggling amidst a once-in-a-generation pandemic. The last thing people should have to worry about is losing their home or having to file for bankruptcy because of an unforeseen medical expense, said Brown. The burden of medical debt, which is often a driver of foreclosure, falls disproportionately on Black Americans. It's shameful that President Trump and the GOP are still actively working to kick families off of their health insurance and roll back pre-existing condition protections, as we're seeing record numbers of Ohioans losing their jobs and their health insurance at the same time. We should be making it easier, not harder, for Ohioans to make ends meet during this crisis and access the health coverage they need. During this public health crisis, millions of Americans lost their jobs and health insurance and have been forced to choose between their physical health and their financial health. No one should be left drowning in medical debt, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Durbin. This commonsense legislation will offer families some relief from the financial hardships this virus has brought on. Unlike other debts, medical debt is involuntary, unexpected, and can grow at a rapid rate. The current bankruptcy system does not distinguish between those bankrupted through no fault of their own by medical crises and those who made unwise business or personal decisions. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act would create a more accommodating bankruptcy process for Americans forced into bankruptcy because of medical debt or because they lost their job due to a public health-related shutdown. Specifically, the bill would: Permit the discharge of student loans, which currently cannot be erased in bankruptcy for most debtors; Waive procedural hurdles like credit counseling that make little sense for those pushed into bankruptcy through no fault of their own; and Provide families a greater chance of keeping their homes in states that have weak debtor protections by allowing the retention of at least $250,000 of home equity. According to bankruptcy experts, medical debt has been a leading cause of personal bankruptcy filings in the United States. The number of personal bankruptcies was reduced by half within six years of the passage of the Affordable Care Act. However, over five million Americans have lost their health insurance during the coronavirus recession, and experts are bracing for a flood of personal bankruptcies in the coming months and years as medical bills begin to pile up. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-maritime-security-amendment-on-its-way-to-becoming-law-in-ndaa,Whitehouse Maritime Security Amendment On Its Way to Becoming Law in NDAA,2020-07-23,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.23.20 Whitehouse Maritime Security Amendment On Its Way to Becoming Law in NDAA Amendment would crack down on illegal fishing and other illicit activity at sea Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that his maritime security proposal has been incorporated as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act making its way through Congress. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing on the high seas is a persistent, elusive threat to marine life and to ocean economies like Rhode Island's, said Whitehouse. This amendment will help the U.S. get a handle on illicit activities at sea that threaten our national security, including pirate fishing. I'm grateful to Congressman Langevin for his partnership in shepherding this amendment through the House. Whitehouse's amendment includes provisions related to maritime security and illegal activity at sea. It would: Require the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the Navy's implementation of measures to combat illegal fishing that were included in the FY 2020 NDAA. Direct the Navy to work with the Coast Guard to assess commercial solutions for tracking vessels engaged in illegal fishing and other unlawful activity at sea, and sharing that information among U.S. maritime services and partner nations. Require the Office of Naval Intelligence to report to Congress on the way bad actors like China use their distant-water fishing fleets to challenge the sovereignty of their neighbors, supplement the aggressive activities of their naval and coast guard vessels, and undermine the interests of the U.S. and its allies. Each year, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing produces between 11 and 26 million tons of seafood, resulting in global economic losses valued between $10 billion and $23 billion. According to a 2014 report by the Marine Conservation Institute, Rhode Island may have lost as much as $24 million in revenue and as many as 400 jobs due to IUU fishing. The House version of the NDAA also includes the amendment, which was incorporated thanks to the efforts of Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). The Senate passed its version of the FY 2021 NDAA by an 86-14 vote this afternoon. The legislation now heads to conference with the House version of the bill. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-murkowski-bill-to-further-understanding-of-oceans-great-lakes-and-coasts-advances-out-of-committee,"Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts Advances Out of Committee",2020-07-23,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.23.20 Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts Advances Out of Committee BLUE GLOBE Act would support innovation, accelerate development of marine technologies, and improve monitoring of important bodies of water Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have announced that their legislation to advance data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee by voice vote yesterday. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate technology innovation, plan for a stronger maritime workforce, and develop a better understanding of the Blue Economy. I'm pleased that our BLUE GLOBE Act passed out of committee with bipartisan support, said Senator Whitehouse. There's still so much we don't know about our oceans. We need more high-quality research and data to guide investments in the Blue Economy and our marine workforce. I'm proud that my bill, the BLUE GLOBE Act, prioritizes innovation and development of technology. New and improved data sources will allow us to strategically link economic growth and stewardship of our oceans, bays, Great Lakes, and estuaries. For Alaskans, investing in ocean science will help provide greater opportunities in national security, tourism, fishing, shipping, and other marine activities, said Senator Murkowski. Improvements to ocean monitoring, exploration, and innovation will pave the way for increasing Alaska's sustainable seafood production, support our coastal communities and residents, and develop stronger transportation, recreation, and energy productionall part of Alaska's vibrant blue economy. The BLUE GLOBE Act would accelerate ocean data and monitoring innovation by giving NOAA Cooperative Institutes a stronger focus on technology advancement. It creates a new ocean innovation prize, and tasks the National Academy of Sciences with assessing the potential for an Advanced Research Project AgencyOceans (ARPA-O). The legislation would also add innovative technology components to the 2020 NDAA's Maritime SAFE Act to better address Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This measure follows on successful work of the Oceans Caucus to support the passage of four international agreements aimed at combatting IUU fishing and the related enabling legislation. The BLUE GLOBE Act reauthorizes a number of NOAA's hydrographic activities, including nautical mapping and charting, hydrographic surveys, and the operation of hydrographic survey vessels, and directs heads of relevant federal agencies to more accurately measure the value of the Blue Economy. The bill also calls for the National Academies of Science to conduct a study on the oceanic scientific workforce and steps the Federal government can take to improve workforce diversity, remove barriers to transitioning scientists into federal careers, and develop a workforce program and plan. The bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus works to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts, which support millions of jobs in America. The Oceans Caucus has focused on ending illegal fishing, reducing marine debris, and improving ocean data and monitoring. Whitehouse and Murkowski founded the Caucus in 2011. It currently has 41 members. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-statement-on-the-1001-rhode-islanders-lost-to-covid-19,"Whitehouse Statement on the 1,001 Rhode Islanders Lost to COVID-19",2020-07-23,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.23.20 Whitehouse Statement on the 1,001 Rhode Islanders Lost to COVID-19 Providence, RI U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today issued the following statement as the COVID-19 pandemic reached a grim milestone in Rhode Island: Today we mourn 1,001 fellow Rhode Islanders lost to COVID-19. Each victim of this pandemic had a story. Each was a part of our community. As we pass this sad milestone, our hearts are with each family grieving a lost loved one. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-merkley-introduce-legislation-ban-sale-middle-seats-during-pandemic,"Cicilline, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Ban the Sale of Middle Seats During Pandemic",2020-07-23,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) introduced the Maintaining Important Distance During Lengthy Epidemics (MIDDLE) Act along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to prohibit airlines from filling adjacent seats in passenger aircraft for the duration of the pandemic and would require that passengers and crewmembers wear masks when boarding. As air travel begins to recover in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that airlines take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of travelers, Cicilline said. However, there is currently no federal mandate that requires airlines to put space between passengers on flights, making it difficult to social distance. Airlines are required to have seatbelts and flotation devices in the event of an emergency. We are currently in the middle of a national health emergency, and certain steps need to be taken. By halting the sale of middle seats during this public health crisis, airlines can do their part in preventing the spread of this disease. Filling planes to capacity, forcing passengers to sit shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time, is incredibly irresponsible during a pandemic, said Merkley. I've seen with my own eyes that airlines are willing to put their profit margins ahead of the health of their customers. If taxpayers are going to bail out airlines because they provide an essential service, it is not too much to expect the airlines not to make the pandemic worse. Click here to view the text of the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/booker-reed-whitehouse-demand-answers-from-trump-administration-on-deployment-of-anonymous-federal-agents-in-us-cities,"Booker, Reed, Whitehouse Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Deployment of Anonymous Federal Agents in U.S. Cities",2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.22.20 Booker, Reed, Whitehouse Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Deployment of Anonymous Federal Agents in U.S. Cities In the wake of Trump Admin's threat to deploy more federal troops, 27 Senators press the heads of DOJ & DHS on accountability and legal authorities for militarized interventions in American cities WASHINGTON, DC Citing concerns that the Trump Administration is seeking to use unidentified, heavily-armed armed federal personnel to escalate conflict in American cities where elected state and local officials oppose the federal intervention, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 23 additional Senate colleagues in sending a letter pressing U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf for answers. The Senators raised a series of questions about alarming actions taken against protesters by federal law enforcement agents deployed by the Trump Administration, as well as threats by President Trump to deploy additional federal officers to more American cities. Senators Reed and Whitehouse are cosponsors of the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act (S.4220), which would increase transparency and disclosure about the deployment of federal forces in U.S. communities and limit the scope of the deployment of armed federal agents unless their presence is specifically requested by both the mayor and governor. In the letter, the Senators cited recent aggressive and excessive actions taken by federal agents dispatched by the Trump Administration against protesters in Portland, Oregon. They also stressed President Trump's latest comments threatening further deployments, saying in the Oval Office on Monday, I'm going to do somethingthat, I can tell you. Because we're not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of theseOakland is a mess. We're not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats. Previously, President Trump had called protesters terrorists and told governors to dominate them and do retribution. We write with urgent concern about disturbing reports of actions by Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security officers against American protesters, as well as threats by the President to deploy federal law enforcement agents into the streets of more American cities. Federal officials should not be dispatched into the streets of our cities without proper authority, training, and accountability. Nor should they be violating the civil rights of Americans who are exercising their First Amendment rights and seeking reforms of their own government's policies, the 27 Senators wrote. The Senators continued: Critically, it remains unclear what legal authorities the federal government has invoked for its militarized interventions in American cities. All of this is part of an alarming pattern by the Trump Administration in taking an aggressive and excessive response to protests catalyzed by the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others. This includes the forcible clearing of peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square, in front of the White House, shortly before a photo opportunity for President Trump near St. John's Episcopal Churchreportedly at your direction, Attorney General Barr. The right of Americans to join together, assemble peaceably, and protest is vital to our democracy. It is at the core of the First Amendment. We decry violence in all its forms. But Americans should be able to exercise their rights under the First Amendment without inappropriate interference or legally questionable activities by federal officers. They should be able to expect accountability, transparency, and professionalism whenever federal forces are on the streets of America's cities. In addition to Booker, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was signed by SenatorsRon Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Makie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Pat Leahy (D-VT), and Chris Coons (D-DE). The Senators' questions for Barr and Wolf in the letter include: Whothe Attorney General, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, or some other officialhas directed the federal response to the protests in Portland and Washington? And who is directing such operations in other American cities? The Trump Administration has not clearly articulated its legal basis, if any, for deploying federal officers to American cities to engage in this conduct against protesters. And it is far from clear that all of these activities by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security are fully and properly authorized under federal law. When will the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security provide a full public explanation of its purported legal rationale? As explained above, there have been extensive reports of federal officers wearing camouflage and tactical gear who have jumped out of unmarked vehicles and detained protesters in Portland, but these officers have evidently lacked any obvious identifying markers. What agency or office is conducting these operations? What legal authority do you believe permits this activity? Which official made the final decision to authorize this activity? Do the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security intend to use this tactic, or similar ones, in other American cities? Why have federal agents deployed in American cities and authorized to execute arrests not consistently worn uniforms identifying them as law enforcement officers and indicating their employing agency? Some reports have indicated that federal agents in Portland have detained individuals who were not near federal property. To the extent your agencies are relying on legal authorities regarding the protection of federal property, what do you believe are the legal limits on the actions of federal agents operating at a significant distance from federal property? For the Department of Justice and/or Department of Homeland Security officers who have been deployed to Portland, Washington, and any other American cities to respond to recent protests, what training have they received in terms of crowd control, use of force, and civil rights? Department of Homeland Security agents are reportedly set to be deployed to Chicago soon, and the President has also referenced cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Oakland. In what cities is the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security currently planning deployments against protesters? When the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security deploys officers to respond to protesters in an American city, what notice will be provided about the nature and scope of their activitiesincluding whether federal agents will be operating in the streets without identifying markings? Full text of the letter follows: July 22, 2020 Dear Attorney General Barr and Acting Secretary Wolf: We write with urgent concern about disturbing reports of actions by Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security officers against American protesters, as well as threats by the President to deploy federal law enforcement agents into the streets of more American cities. Federal officials should not be dispatched into the streets of our cities without proper authority, training, and accountability. Nor should they be violating the civil rights of Americans who are exercising their First Amendment rights and seeking reforms of their own government's policies. Last Friday, our nation lost Congressman John Lewis, a titan of civil rights whose life embodied the American tradition of civil disobedience. As a young leader of the Civil Rights Movement, he repeatedly put his life on the line for racial justice and equality. When he led the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, an unidentified state trooper fractured his skull with a billy cluband then hit him again when he tried to stand up. Speaking at the 55th anniversary of that march earlier this year, after his cancer diagnosis, Congressman Lewis urged Americans, Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America. Since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers nearly two months ago, Americans have taken to the streets in and towns across the United States to protest police brutality and systemic racism. On Capitol Hill, this movement has also spurred critical and meaningful police reform legislation in the form of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a broad-based reform bill that has passed the House of Representatives with bi-partisan support and currently has 37 cosponsors in the Senate. The latest instance of alarming federal law enforcement activities directed by the Trump Administration has come from Portland, Oregon. Portland has seen more than 50 consecutive days of protests in the wake of Mr. Floyd's murder. Reports have emerged of a disturbing militarized response by federal agents dispatched to the city. According to these reports, federal officers wearing camouflage and tactical gear and lacking any obvious identifying insignia have jumped out of unmarked vehicles and detained protesters. One terrified protester did not know whether the men detaining him were law enforcement officials or far-right militia groups operating in the area who often wear military-style outfits. These officers have reportedly arrested, searched, and detained protesters before properly reading them their Miranda rights. Federal officers have also apparently fired less-lethal weapons through the slits in the federal courthouse's faade, and another was seen walking the streets with a burning ball emitting a chemical agent. Further, these tactics have not deescalated the situation, but rather have aggravated it. In addition, federal officers have been wearing military-style woodland camouflage with no apparent tactical purpose on the streets of an American city. These officers also appear to be equipped with military-style tactical gear unsuited for riot control or law enforcement responses to civil unrest. In fact, this use of military-style outfits has drawn criticism even from military leaders within the Trump Administration. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has evidently raised concerns about federal law enforcement agents patrolling American streets in uniforms similar to those worn by servicemembers deployed overseas in war zones. Deepening these concerns, it appears that federal forces were sent into the streets against their fellow Americans without proper training. An internal Department of Homeland Security memorandum reportedly warned that the federal officers dispatched to Portland were not specifically trained in riot control or mass demonstrations. The memorandum cautioned: Moving forward, if this type of response is going to be the norm, specialized training and standardized equipment should be deployed to responding agencies. Now, the President has darkly suggested that federal law enforcement activities in Portland were a harbinger of things to come in other American cities. I'm going to do somethingthat, I can tell you, he told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. Because we're not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of theseOakland is a mess. We're not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats. In his own words, Donald Trump made crystal clear the starkly partisan nature of his intentions, even expressly invoking his presumptive political opponent in November. Look at what's going onall run by Democrats, all run by very liberal Democrats. All run, really, by radical left, he said, adding, If [former Vice President Joe] Biden got in, that would be true for the country. The whole country would go to hell. And we're not going to let it go to hell. This was more than just a partisan broadside by the President. A spate of federal agents are expected to be deployed in the streets of Chicago soon, including at least 150 agents from the Department of Homeland Security. Further reporting indicates that federal officers may also be sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kansas City, Missouri; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nor was this the first time he had used this kind of inflammatory rhetoric. He tweeted on Sunday: The Radical Left Democrats, who totally control Biden, will destroy our Country as we know it. Unimaginably bad things would happen to America. Look at Portland, where the pols are just fine with 50 days of anarchy. We sent in help. Look at New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. NO! Previously, the President had urged a group of governors to dominate protesters or otherwise look like a bunch of jerks, while also calling protesters terrorists and encouraging the governors to do retribution. Other statements by senior Trump Administration officials have likewise been troubling, and appear to be designed to provide cover for federal use of force against civilians. Acting Secretary Wolf issued an official statement last week that Portland has been under siege . . . by a violent mob while local political leaders refuse to restore order to protect their city. Each night, lawless anarchists destroy and desecrate property, including the federal courthouse, and attack the brave law enforcement officers protecting it. This press release references violent anarchists 72 times, including in documenting 20 instances of graffiti. Acting Secretary Wolf, you also tweeted a photograph of yourself speaking to officers in camouflage uniforms, stating, We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch. Such characterizations of all protesters as violent anarchists, echoing the President's politicized rhetoric, seem intended not to seek resolution but rather to stoke the flames of hate and discord. Critically, it remains unclear what legal authorities the federal government has invoked for its militarized interventions in American cities. All of this is part of an alarming pattern by the Trump Administration in taking an aggressive and excessive response to protests catalyzed by the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others. This includes the forcible clearing of peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square, in front of the White House, shortly before a photo opportunity for President Trump near St. John's Episcopal Churchreportedly at your direction, Attorney General Barr. The right of Americans to join together, assemble peaceably, and protest is vital to our democracy. It is at the core of the First Amendment. We decry violence in all its forms. But Americans should be able to exercise their rights under the First Amendment without inappropriate interference or legally questionable activities by federal officers. They should be able to expect accountability, transparency, and professionalism whenever federal forces are on the streets of America's cities. In light of these concerns, we respectfully request that you respond to the following questions: 1. Whothe Attorney General, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, or some other officialhas directed the federal response to the protests in Portland and Washington? And who is directing such operations in other American cities? 2. The Trump Administration has not clearly articulated its legal basis, if any, for deploying federal officers to American cities to engage in this conduct against protesters. And it is far from clear that all of these activities by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security are fully and properly authorized under federal law. When will the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security provide a full public explanation of its purported legal rationale? 3. As explained above, there have been extensive reports of federal officers wearing camouflage and tactical gear who have jumped out of unmarked vehicles and detained protesters in Portland, but these officers have evidently lacked any obvious identifying markers. a. What agency or office is conducting these operations? b. What legal authority do you believe permits this activity? c. Which official made the final decision to authorize this activity? d. Do the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security intend to use this tactic, or similar ones, in other American cities? 4. Why have federal agents deployed in American cities and authorized to execute arrests not consistently worn uniforms identifying them as law enforcement officers and indicating their employing agency? 5. Some reports have indicated that federal agents in Portland have detained individuals who were not near federal property. To the extent your agencies are relying on legal authorities regarding the protection of federal property, what do you believe are the legal limits on the actions of federal agents operating at a significant distance from federal property? 6. For the Department of Justice and/or Department of Homeland Security officers who have been deployed to Portland, Washington, and any other American cities to respond to recent protests, what training have they received in terms of crowd control, use of force, and civil rights? 7. Department of Homeland Security agents are reportedly set to be deployed to Chicago soon, and the President has also referenced cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Oakland. Other reporting has indicated Albuquerque, Kansas City, and Milwaukee may be included as well. In what cities is the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security currently planning deployments against protesters? 8. When the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security deploys officers to respond to protesters in an American city, what notice will be provided about the nature and scope of their activitiesincluding whether federal agents will be operating in the streets without identifying markings? We appreciate your prompt attention to this urgent matter and respectfully request a response no later than August 4, 2020. Sincerely, -end-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/ri-delegation-announces-distribution-of-713-million-in-cares-act-funds-to-five-local-hospitals,RI Delegation Announces Distribution of $71.3 Million in CARES Act Funds to Five Local Hospitals,2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.22.20 RI Delegation Announces Distribution of $71.3 Million in CARES Act Funds to Five Local Hospitals Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced that $71.3 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been distributed to five Rhode Island hospitals to offset the costs of caring for coronavirus patients. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We set this funding aside in the CARES Act to help local hospitals and providers who are struggling with the fallout of this pandemic, but the Trump Administration's distribution has been slow and uneven. While I'm glad Rhode Island hospitals are finally receiving this additional infusion of CARES Act assistance, more needs to be done to help offset their COVID-19 related losses, said Senator Reed. Rhode Island hospitals have done excellent work under very challenging circumstances created by the pandemic, and I congratulate Lifespan in particular on receiving nearly $50 million in this distribution, said Senator Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. This federal funding will help cover some of the costs hospitals already incurred caring for COVID patients, and help prepare our health care system for whatever may come in the months ahead. I'll keep working to assure all our hospitals get all the funding they deserve for their great work. For our state to recover from this unprecedented health crisis, Rhode Island hospitals need to continue receiving resources to provide quality care, said Congressman Langevin. I'm encouraged by the way our healthcare system has weathered the pandemic, but serious risks remain, and we will continue to work to provide even more assistance as we negotiate a fifth COVID aid bill. These federal funds will help hospitals continue their invaluable work against COVID-19. This investment for Rhode Island hospitals will help, but it's clear that more will need to be done, Congressman Cicilline said. Rhode Islanders have done an excellent job flattening the curve. We need to be prepared and help our hospitals be equipped for what comes next. I will continue fighting to ensure we get the resources we need. According to HHS, the hospitals that received funding are: Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence $8,400,000 Miriam Hospital, Providence $24,000,000 Rhode Island Hospital, Providence $25,430,609 Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence $7,950,000 Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket $5,550,000 This round of funding was based on a formula for hospitals with over 161 COVID-19 admissions between January 1 and June 10, 2020, or that experienced a disproportionate intensity of COVID admissions, exceeding the average ratio of COVID admissions per bed. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/senators-encourage-supreme-court-to-take-up-challenge-to-super-pacs,Senators Encourage Supreme Court to Take up Challenge to Super PACs,2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.22.20 Senators Encourage Supreme Court to Take up Challenge to Super PACs Whitehouse, Leahy, Udall, Blumenthal, Hirono, Van Hollen point to fundamental threat' posed by unlimited contributions to super PACs; Justices ought to strike down SpeechNow and end shadow campaign finance system, senators argue READ THE FULL AMICUS BRIEF HERE Washington, DC Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in support of a petition for Supreme Court review of the major campaign finance case Lieu v. Federal Election Commission (FEC). The senators argue that the Court should take up the challenge to the wrongly decided appeals case SpeechNow.org v. FEC and limit the power of super PACs to corrupt American democracy. The lower court's decision in SpeechNow misapplied the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC to permit wealthy donors and corporations to contribute unlimited amounts to independent political action committees (PACs), creating super PACs and inundating our political system with special interest activity at the expense of free and open democratic discourse, the senators argue. The absence of limits on contributions to super PACs opens a world of unregulable threats and promises; it confounds the independence and transparency predicates of Citizens United; it gives a small set of participants disproportionate and undemocratic influence in American politics; it distorts election and policy outcomes; and it causes millions of ordinary Americans justifiably to lose faith in the political process, the senators write. This fundamental threat to American democracy warrants review by the Court to correct the holding in SpeechNow. Citing their own experience in American politics, the senators describe how SpeechNow has led to a shadow campaign finance system in which corruption, or the appearance of corruption, is endemic and inevitable. As a result of SpeechNow, a small number of very wealthy individuals can contribute unlimited amounts of money, or threaten to make those contributions, to independent super PACs. Those threats can apply strong political pressure in secret, distorting elections and the legislative process. Such a system is not what the Supreme Court imagined in deciding Citizens United. This is all a rich recipe for corruption, the senators write. Massive donations inherently tend toward corruption. Covert massive donationsknown only to the donor, the candidate, and those facilitating the transactionexacerbate the risk of corruption. And private threats and promises of massive donations defy the predicates of transparency' and independence' that Citizens United applied to expenditures, presumed to protect against corruption. Undermining such important protection against corruption does serious damage to the public's perception of our election system, the senators note. Polling shows overwhelming majorities support stronger limits on the amounts individuals and organizations can contribute in elections. Given the stakes often at play in Congress, there is no natural upper bound on political contributions by special interests and no limit to the force of their corrupting influence, the senators continue. Hundred-million-dollar influence operations can yield hundred-billion-dollar political returns. It should be no surprise that there is a public crisis of confidence in our democracy. The disenchanted voters are not wrong. The senators argue in favor of the challengers to SpeechNowRepresentative Ted Lieu (D-CA), the late Representative Walter Jones (R-NC), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and a bipartisan group of state candidates and officials. The Supreme Court is expected to decide on whether to take the case in over the coming months. Read the senators' full brief here. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-sullivan-testify-on-marine-debris-crisis-sos-20-act,"Whitehouse, Sullivan Testify on Marine Debris Crisis, SOS 2.0 Act",2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Sheldon Whitehouse,W000802,www.whitehouse.senate.gov,,,legacy,"07.22.20 Whitehouse, Sullivan Testify on Marine Debris Crisis, SOS 2.0 Act WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) testified yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) regarding U.S. efforts to combat the global marine debris crisis and the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, legislation introduced by Sullivan, Whitehouse and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) that passed the Senate in January and is under consideration by the House. Clickhereto watch Senator Whitehouse's opening remarks. I was glad to testify in yesterday's subcommittee hearing along with my partner on ocean plastics, Senator Sullivan,""said Senator Whitehouse. ""Plastic pollution and marine debris befoul all our oceans and hurt coastal communities in Rhode Island and across the world. We asked for a fund to help clean up the plastic waste already filling our seas and to reduce the amount of new plastic dumped every year. The Save Our Seas Act, now law, and our Save Our Seas 2.0 bill had bipartisan support, and this hearing suggests funding will be bipartisan too. I thank Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Leahy. Click hereto watch Senator Sullivan's opening remarks. Click here to watch the full hearing (video starts at 00:26:30). With more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined, Alaska and its residents are keenly aware of the threat that marine debris poses to our pristine environment, our world-class fisheries, and our many coastal communities, said Senator Sullivan. SOS 2.0 is not a silver bullet, but it builds on the success of the Save Our Seas Act and will enable us to make even more significant progress in combatting plastic pollution. Senators Menendez, Whitehouse and I look forward to further action in the House on the bill and to continuing efforts in combating ocean pollution. I especially want to thank Senators Graham and Leahy and members of the subcommittee for their support and for helping to bring attention to this important global environmental challenge. The subcommittee also heard testimony from Jonathan Moore, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Michelle Bekkering, assistant administrator of the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). TheSOS 2.0 Actis composed of three main pieces: Strengthening the United States' domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue. Enhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge. Improving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for infrastructure and studies of waste management and mitigation. TheSOS 2.0 Actis cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D- Hawaii),Ted Cruz (R-Texas),Angus King (I-Maine), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), in addition to Senators Whitehouse, Sullivan, and Menendez. Timeline January 2020 Senators Whitehouse,Sullivan and Menendez hold a colloquy on the Senate floor discussing the Senate's unanimous passage of the SOS 2.0 Act. January 2020 The Senate votes unanimously to pass the SOS 2.0 Act. November 2019 theSenate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committeeadvancesthe final piece oftheSOS 2.0 Act. September 2019 The Senate Environment and Public Works and the Senate Foreign Relations Committeesadvance two piecesof theSOS 2.0 Act. July 2019 Major stakeholders and media organizations react to the SOS 2.0 Act. June 2019 Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Menendezintroduce theSOS 2.0Act. February 2019 Anew coalitionof private sector businesses form the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and pledge $1.5 billion to help address the global marine debris crisis. October 2018 President Trumpsigns theSave Our Seas Actinto law in an Oval Office ceremony. September 2018 The House passes theSave Our Seas Act. August 2017 Sullivanwelcomes the directorof the Marine Debris Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to Alaska. August 2017 The Senate unanimouslypassestheSave Our Seas Act. July 2017 Senator Sullivanchairs a hearingof the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard regarding the global marine debris crisis. April 2017 TheSave Our Seas Actadvancesfrom the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. March 2017 Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Bookerintroduce theSave Our Seas Act, legislation that was cosponsored by 19 of their Senate colleagues. January 2017 Senator Sullivan is named chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. December 2016 The Senate passes theMarine Debris Act Amendments, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Booker. May 2016 Senator Sullivanchairs a hearingof the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlifeon the marine debris crisis. # # # Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-announces-distribution-713-million-cares-act-funds-five-local-hospitals,RI Delegation Announces Distribution of $71.3 Million in CARES Act Funds to Five Local Hospitals,2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,David Cicilline,C001084,cicilline.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced that $71.3 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been distributed to five Rhode Island hospitals to offset the costs of caring for coronavirus patients. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We set this funding aside in the CARES Act to help local hospitals and providers who are struggling with the fallout of this pandemic, but the Trump Administration's distribution has been slow and uneven. While I'm glad Rhode Island hospitals are finally receiving this additional infusion of CARES Act assistance, more needs to be done to help offset their COVID-19 related losses, said Senator Reed. Rhode Island hospitals have done excellent work under very challenging circumstances created by the pandemic, and I congratulate Lifespan in particular on receiving nearly $50 million in this distribution, said Senator Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. This federal funding will help cover some of the costs hospitals already incurred caring for COVID patients, and help prepare our health care system for whatever may come in the months ahead. I'll keep working to assure all our hospitals get all the funding they deserve for their great work. For our state to recover from this unprecedented health crisis, Rhode Island hospitals need to continue receiving resources to provide quality care, said Congressman Langevin. I'm encouraged by the way our healthcare system has weathered the pandemic, but serious risks remain, and we will continue to work to provide even more assistance as we negotiate a fifth COVID aid bill. These federal funds will help hospitals continue their invaluable work against COVID-19. This investment for Rhode Island hospitals will help, but it's clear that more will need to be done, Congressman Cicilline said. Rhode Islanders have done an excellent job flattening the curve. We need to be prepared and help our hospitals be equipped for what comes next. I will continue fighting to ensure we get the resources we need. According to HHS, the hospitals that received funding are: Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence $8,400,000 Miriam Hospital, Providence $24,000,000 Rhode Island Hospital, Providence $25,430,609 Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence $7,950,000 Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket $5,550,000 This round of funding was based on a formula for hospitals with over 161 COVID-19 admissions between January 1 and June 10, 2020, or that experienced a disproportionate intensity of COVID admissions, exceeding the average ratio of COVID admissions per bed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-hails-passage-great-american-outdoors-act,Langevin Hails Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act,2020-07-22,2020,2020-07,Democrat,House,RI,Jim Langevin,L000559,langevin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act, which ensures the Land and Water Conservation Fund will be able to access $900 million annually and creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which will provide funding for national parks and public lands in communities across the nation. The bill passed the House by a vote of 310-107. Passing the Great American Outdoors Act is a major victory for the country and Rhode Island as it supports conservation and our economy through direct investments in our national treasures, said Langevin. This legislation will protect our public lands for generations to come and counteract climate change at a critical time for our planet, all while creating needed employment opportunities. With passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, more Americans will be able to enjoy breathtaking destinations as we prioritize the preservation of endangered wildlife and irreplaceable natural habitats. The legislation is one of Congress's most significant investments in environmental conservation in a generation. A portion of the royalties collected from energy extraction on public lands and waters, including offshore oil and gas drilling, are deposited in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Last year, Congress passed the bipartisan Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act guaranteeing that $900 million will be placed in the LWCF each year. However, since its creation in 1964, Congress has rarely spent all funds deposited in the LWCF on conservation activities. Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act ensures these funds will be automatically spent to help state and local governments create and expand parks and recreational opportunities. The LWCF is one of the nation's most popular conservation programs and is used each year to enhance and establish local, state and national preservation areas by funding wide-ranging projects. In Rhode Island, the LWCF has supported the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge, Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Roger Williams National Memorial with nearly $40.5 million in aid. The Great American Outdoors Act also creates a National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to deal with the enormous backlog of deferred maintenance among Federal land management agencies. The National Park Service alone estimates that it has $11.9 billion in restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement projects that have been put off due to a lack of funding. Over the next five years, the Legacy Restoration Fund will allocate nearly $1.9 billion per year to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education to fix buildings, trails, roads and other public infrastructure. With the impacts of climate change more visible each day, protecting public lands and preserving natural wildlife habitats is now more important than ever. Temperatures have increased nearly 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, and the United Nations recently found that human activities threaten 1 million plants and animals with extinction. Governments can help combat climate change by protecting undeveloped natural resources, preserving habitats and increasing species resilience. The Great American Outdoors Act passed the Senate in June. It now heads to the President who is expected to sign it into law. A fact sheet of the Great American Outdoors Act can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z