Now more than ever, the promises and progress of Juneteenth are under threat.

President Donald Trump is trying to rewrite history. He's erasing photos and stories of Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson from government websites, attacking the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and discouraging schools from teaching kids about our nation's past.

Trump is undermining the programs that have helped Black Americans catch up after years of oppression, segregation, and economic repression. He's trying to impose burdensome work requirements on SNAP that would disproportionately hurt caregivers, seniors, and children and cause more than 7 million Americans to lose some or all of their food assistance. He's fired the workers who connect families with Head Start grants, making it harder for families to enroll their kids in high quality preschool. He's tried to cancel NIH research grants focused on solving health disparities and announced the closure of the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, making communities of color poorer and sicker.  

In Congress, I'll continue to stand up for the values of Juneteenth — remembrance, progress, justice, opportunity, and lasting freedom for all.

The Department of Homeland Security is making $360 million available through two grant programs to help firefighters.  

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER) grant provides funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters in the communities they serve. 

The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program strengthens community fire prevention efforts and supports research that improves firefighter safety, health, and well-being. 

The application period for both programs opened on May 23, 2025, and will close on July 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. 

To learn more about the SAFER grant, click here. To learn more about the FP&S grant, click here. 

Stay alert and stay safe, Rhode Island!

Fake texts from numbers posing as the Rhode Island State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are targeting Rhode Islanders. 

Remember: 

 - Do not click on suspicious links

 - The DMV will NEVER demand payment by text. 

 - Check your license and registration status here.

I met with this year’s RI National History Day Competition finalists, competing on behalf of our state in the national contest.  

As Rhode Island has long been a leader in the struggle for rights and freedom, I am proud of our students’ work to interpret this year's theme of ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ in their research projects.

I enjoyed poetry and performances from Ms. Larkin’s and Ms. Lochotzki’s 2nd and 4th grade classes at Harris Elementary School in Woonsocket.

The students promised me they would keep working hard, show up every day, and, most importantly, be kind.

Honoring 250 years of bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our nation’s security.

I am proud to stand with our United States Army heroes who defend our freedom every day.

Republican health care cuts in their big, bad bill for billionaires will hit every Rhode Islander.   

I spoke with Rhode Island members of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership about how Republicans' planned health care cuts will strain our health facilities and harm the patients who rely on them.

I will keep fighting to stop this harmful policy in Congress.

For young people across RI ending the school year, as Dr. Seuss said, “Oh the places you’ll go!”  

I enjoyed reading a classic with 5th graders at Governor Pothier Citizen’s Elementary School in Woonsocket.

I asked the students to make me one promise based on the book’s lessons: in life, put one foot in front of the other and always try to move in a positive direction.

I hope the incredible fathers and father-figures of Rhode Island's First Congressional District had a Happy Father's Day!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH: Congressman Gabe Amo speaks out against Republican policies defunding public broadcasting.

Last week, I received a letter from a 6-year-old in Providence named Ryan. Ryan is worried Republicans will cut funding for his favorite Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) show, Wild Kratts, which teaches kids about animals and nature.

PBS has helped generations of kids learn about the world. In 1969, PBS’s beloved neighbor, Mr. Rogers, convinced Rhode Island Senator John Pastore that funding PBS is always worth it. Mr. Rogers eloquently argued for programs that taught kids empathy, communication, and how to manage their emotions.

It seems like the President and Congressional Republicans missed these essential lessons. Republicans passed a bill that would rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for PBS and NPR. I voted no. You can count on me to defend Wild Kratts for Ryan and all Rhode Islanders who enjoy public broadcasting.

To watch the full video, click here.

House Republicans had initially proposed removing taxes and regulations for silencers, but Republican Senators found a way to make their big, bad bill for billionaires worse. The latest proposal would remove taxes and regulations on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapon defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA). Republicans are intent on preventing states from trying to stop deadly weapons getting into the hands of those who seek to cause harm.

I spoke out about how the dangerous change proposed in the House would lead to more gun deaths because it would be harder for victims and law enforcement to locate the source of the shooting. I also led over 60 of my Democratic colleagues in opposing rolling back these vital gun safety rules.

Storms and natural disasters are increasing because of climate change. And now, President Trump is trying to stop NOAA from tracking weather disasters that cause more than $1 billion in damage. The Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Report helps communities understand and prepare for storms. 

As the Ranking Member of the SST Environment Subcommittee, I led 64 Democratic Members of Congress in calling on NOAA to reinstate this vital report so Americans know the true cost of climate change.

I introduced a bipartisan resolution designating June 14th, 2025, as "Veterans Get Outside Day," to support veterans struggling with mental health challenges. Nearly 460,000 veterans were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries between 2020 and 2022, and there were 6,146 veteran suicide deaths in 2020. Getting outside in a meaningful way can help ease the transition back to civilian life.

I am proud to work alongside colleagues in both the Senate and the House to encourage veterans to experience all the natural beauty Rhode Island has to offer. I will always work to give back to those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. 

Learn more about how I am supporting veterans here. 

Over the weekend, I traveled to Taiwan to reaffirm the United States' support for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Additionally, during my visit, I saw first-hand how essential our transpacific relationship is to economic growth, trade, technological advancements, and supply chains of the future. Congress must stand up for our democratic values, at home and abroad. 

I will continue to support strengthening our Taiwan-Rhode Island relationship to ensure peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Demanding Safer Air Travel

On January 29, 2025, a horrific mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington National Airport tragically killed all on board, including Rhode Island residents Christine and Spencer Lane. 

To improve the safety of our national airspace system, I led a bipartisan effort to call on the U.S. Government Accountability Office to study ways to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of safety oversight of the air traffic control system.

Learn more about what I am doing to make flying safer here. 

President Trump is withholding Congressionally appropriated funds from the independent federal agency that supports libraries. Growing up, I loved visiting the Pawtucket Public Library — it opened up worlds for me

The Government Accountability Office last week found that the Administration was illegally withholding funds for the agency that supports local libraries.

I joined 126 of my colleagues in Congress demanding President Trump continue funding libraries and will continue to call on President Trump to restore resources to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

I'm continuing to challenge Trump's unconstitutional actions in Court.

On Monday, I joined an amicus brief defending the National Institutes of Health's lifesaving medical research grants from Trump's cuts.

Recent Court wins include:

BLOCKED ANTI-TRANS PASSPORT RULE -- A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from limiting which gender marker trans and nonbinary Americans can select for their passport.

JOB CORPS MEDDLING STOPPED— A federal judge stopped the Trump administration from ending the career and vocational training offered by Job Corps. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISMANTLING PLAN HALTED— A federal judge blocked Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education and reinstated fired staff. 

TRUMP TARIFFS PAUSE— A federal court blocked the Trump administration from imposing cost-raising tariffs under an emergency powers law. This ruling cites an amicus brief I filed to stop the tariffs. 

President Trump’s chaotic foreign policy is undermining the United States’ credibility abroad while China rushes to fill the void. His policies are not just hurting our friends and partners abroad, but are hurting American businesses here at home.

In the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week, I asked Professor Lynn Kuok how we can advance American economic and foreign policy interests in Southeast Asia to counter China’s Belt and Road initiative.