A Message from Gabe:

Greetings Rhode Islanders,

If you tuned into the news from Washington this week, you have heard all about Congress’ effort to live up to its most essential task — keeping the federal government open before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

Unfortunately, the proposal put forward by House Republican leaders this week included unserious provisions that were never going to become law. If passed, it would have increased the risk of a government shutdown, threatening essential services for veterans, Social Security recipients, and countless programs that need funding from Congress to operate.

It's no secret that Congress has several serious challenges to address. Next week when we reconvene, I encourage House leadership to put forward a "clean" continuing resolution — without partisan provisions — so that we can fund the government in the responsible way that the process deserves.

I’m committed to working with my colleagues from both parties to pass a responsible funding plan — one that protects veterans, seniors, families, and our national defense. The American people deserve real solutions, not symbolic bills and band-aid fixes that fail to meet the moment. The stakes are simply too high to be playing politics with a government shutdown.

You have my word that I’ll keep fighting for smart, responsible policies that reflect the values of our communities. We can do better, and I know we will. Together, we’ll keep Rhode Island moving forward.

Sincerely,

Gabe Amo

Member of Congress

Today, I proudly joined Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Representative Seth Magaziner in announcing more than $125,000,000 in funding from the Department of Transportation to help Rhode Island replace the Washington Bridge. Since November, when the westbound span was originally closed for safety reasons, our delegation has been working non-stop to secure federal commitments from Congress to help our state rebuild.

Every dollar to rebuild the Washington Bridge is a dollar to alleviate the burden on Rhode Island’s residents, businesses, and visitors. This $125.4 million in grant funding is significant — and further demonstrates our congressional delegation’s commitment to leave no stone unturned as we marshal federal support for this critical project.

The Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Departments of Labor and the Treasury issued new rules to make mental health and substance use disorder benefits more accessible. The new rules ensure insurance policies don’t unfairly limit access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits through burdensome prior authorization and step therapy requirements. These changes will improve fairness in coverage and ensure that health plans are held accountable for providing equal treatment across the board. For more information, click here.
	The Department of State has launched a new online platform for passport renewals. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can renew your passport online from the comfort of your home. It's a straightforward process — just create an account, upload a digital photo, and pay online. Please note that only routine service is available, and daily application limits apply. For more details visit the State Department's website. You can always call our Pawtucket office at 401-729-5600 if you have any questions.
Rhode Island just launched the first phase of the federal Home Energy Rebates Program, thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. This program is designed to help families save money on energy-efficient upgrades like heat pumps, electric panels, and insulation. If you qualify, you could get up to: $4,000 for upgrading your electrical panel $2,500 for improving electrical wiring, $840 for energy-efficient appliances like electric stoves. These upgrades will lower your energy bills, support clean energy jobs, and help Rhode Island hit its net-zero emissions target by 2050. To find out if you're eligible and how to apply, check out Rhode Island's Home Energy Rebates website.

	I was honored to meet with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Ambassador’s residence in Washington. I’m grateful for his leadership and our shared appreciation of the Special Relationship.
	At a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute panel during this Hispanic Heritage Month, I spoke on the need for government and the private sector to have diverse suppliers.
	I celebrated the groundbreaking of the new, state of the art RIPTA transit hub with federal, state, and local leaders! Let’s build on this commitment to improving public transit throughout Rhode Island.
	As a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I’m very excited by the marine tech innovation happening right here in Rhode Island. Earlier this month, I got the chance to experience some of this work at 401 Tech Bridge’s Blue TIDE event and even launch an underwater drone!
	As a member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I joined colleagues in commemorating the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus. On the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’m working to support Cypriot reunification and to facilitate an enduring peace in the Mediterranean.

Highlighting Rhode Island’s Role in
Protecting the Indo-Pacific

Congressman Amo questions Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on domestic benefits of AUKUS.

At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing this week, I discussed how Rhode Island plays a crucial role in supporting the Indo-Pacific through the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security pact.

In Rhode Island, we are proud of our role in AUKUS defense production, ensuring mutual security and boosting our local economy through small businesses that provide good-paying jobs. That’s why I highlighted the Ocean State's contributions to defense production, especially in submarines, and stressed the importance of a smooth arms transfer process for our allies. I also touched on concerns about the increase in cooperation between Russia, China, and North Korea.

For more details on the hearing and to view my remarks, click here.

If you need help with personal casework: Contact the district office in Pawtucket: 1070 Main Street, Suite 300 Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 729-5600 Fax: (401) 729-5608

If you need help with legislative issues: Contact the Washington, D.C. office: 2233 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4911 Fax: (202) 225-3290