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Dear John,
This week, I worked successfully to pass H.R. 7606, the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a bipartisan package of bills that will, as the name says, help lower prices for America’s families in the grocery aisle and at the gas pump.
The bill will lower prices by reducing our dependence on foreign fertilizer production, strengthening competition in the meat and poultry sector – which will also alleviate the supply chain bottlenecks that allows corporate giants to set bad prices for producers and consumers, and expanding access to American-made Unleaded 88 fuel. Read more about the bill here.
Updates from Rhode Island
March for Our Lives
Last Saturday, I was once again inspired by the next generation of leaders who are standing up and demanding action on gun safety. I am proud to stand with them and remain committed to protecting our students and communities from this preventable bloodshed. Enough is enough.
Dia de Portugal Celebrations
Rhode Island’s Portuguese community is as vibrant as ever and it was wonderful to join so many friends for the annual Dia de Portugal celebrations. I want to thank Ana Isabel dos Reis-Couto, the 2022 RI Day of Portugal Committee president, for a bringing us together for this important celebration and congratulate this year’s parade Grand Marshal Lídia Duarte Alves, president of the Holy Ghost Brotherhood Brightridge Club of East Providence.
Woonsocket Pride
I want to thank everyone who came to celebrate at and helped to organize Woonsocket Pride. With so many anti-LGBTQ+ efforts happening in states across the country, it’s even more important that we show all Rhode Islanders that they are a valued part of our community.
Gaspee Days Parade
Two hundred and fifty years ago, Rhode Island patriots burned the HMS Gaspee in America’s First Blow for Freedom. Last Saturday, I had the honor of celebrating this history and Rhode Island’s enduring commitment to democracy and freedom in the Annual Gaspee Days Parade.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Advancing the Active Shooter Alert Act
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted to send the bipartisan Active Shooter Alert Act, my bipartisan bill with Congressman Fred Upton to the House floor. This bill will create an AMBER Alert-like system for active shooter incidents, giving local law enforcement access to a much tool to keep their officers and our communities safe. You can read more about the bill here.
President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing LGBTQI+ Equality
This week, President Biden signed an Executive Order that takes critical steps to protect LGBTQI+ people by addressing anti-LGBTQI+ state actions, preventing conversion therapy, safeguarding healthcare access for LGBTQI+ people, preventing LGBTQI+ suicide, strengthening protections for LGBTQI+ older adults, protecting LGBTQI+ foster youth, and addressing LGBTQI+ homelessness, among other provisions.
President Biden has been a deeply committed ally to the LGBTQI+ community in the White House, and this Executive Order is another example of President Biden’s strong commitment to advancing LGBTQI+ rights. At a time when radical right-wing politicians are pushing legislation targeting our community — and particularly transgender and nonbinary youth — President Biden is not just speaking out against these laws, he’s also taking critical actions to secure and protect our rights. Today’s executive order will have a significant impact on LGBTQI+ people of all ages, from LGBTQI+ youth, including those in the foster care system, to LGBTQI+ older adults.
Uniting for Ukraine: Welcoming Refugees
On April 21, as part of fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the United for Ukraine program.
This program will enable Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole. To qualify for the program, Ukrainians must have a supporter in the United States. These supporters are responsible for providing their Ukrainian sponsor with financial support throughout their time in the United States.
You can learn more about the program, and becoming a sponsor, here.
Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests for Medicare Beneficiaries
More than 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, are eligible to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, authorized, or cleared over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost. You can learn more about the program here and find participating pharmacies here.
New Guidance from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is advising all US organizations, of all sizes, to be prepared to respond to any disruptive cyber security and is reporting that "[e]volving intelligence indicates that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks."
CISA has launched the Shields Up program to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of any attack.
Any abnormal cyber activity or incidents should be reported to [email protected] or 888-282-0827.
You can learn more about Shields Up and the support CISA can provide here.
Important Passport & Travel Reminder
As more Rhode Islanders and people around the world get vaccinated and boosted, we are seeing an increase in both domestic and international travel. With travel resuming, many folks are looking to renew passports and this uptick in requests has led to a backlog at the State Department. Turnaround time for expedited processing is now at 5-7 weeks and regular processing is taking 8-11 weeks from submission to receipt.
Before booking international travel, please remember to check the expiration date on your passport and plan accordingly. Passports last for 5 or 10 years depending on what age you were when you were issued your first passport. Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.
You can learn more from the State Department here.
As always, I am here to serve you. If there is anything I can do, please call my office at 729-5600 or send me an email at [email protected].
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