Dear John,

Wishing you, your family, and friends a very happy Fourth of July! As we celebrate our nation’s founding this weekend, I am thinking about all the brave men and women who have and are currently fighting for our safety and freedom in our military. I am also thinking about the future of our nation and the importance of ensuring a better future for generations to come. I remain committed to the founders’ vision of a more perfect union and am working every day in Congress to realize that goal.

You’re Invited: Senior Resource Fair

I'm thrilled that my Annual Senior Resource Fair is back after a COVID hiatus and will be taking place Monday, July 11 from 5-7pm at North Providence High School.

This event is free and open to the public and is an opportunity to learn about important resources available to seniors, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities. You and your loved ones will be able to meet with more than 30 federal, state, and local organizations like the Social Security Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, Taxpayer Advocate Service, and Rhode Island Housing. 

To allow for proper social distancing, all attendees must RSVP in advance.

Spots are reserved on a first come, first served basis. 

You can sign up online here, by calling my Pawtucket office at 401-729-5600, or emailing [email protected].

You’re Invited: Veterans Community Conversation

I'm thrilled to share that my Annual Veterans Community Conversation is returning this year with a BBQ dinner for veterans, active servicemembers, and their families on Monday, July 25 at 6pm.

During the event, you'll have an opportunity to speak with representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the RI Office of Veterans Services. I hope to see you there.

To allow for proper social distancing, all attendees must RSVP in advance.

Spots are reserved on a first come, first served basis. You can sign up online here, or by calling my Pawtucket office at 401-729-5600, or emailing [email protected]. 

Updates from Rhode Island

$350K for the East Providence Workforce Training Program

While Rhode Island has regained nearly 90% of the jobs lost during the pandemic shutdowns, supply chain challenges and an increasingly online economy have made it difficult for too many Rhode Islanders to find good-paying jobs. I’m proud to be working with local leaders to make that job hunt easier with the East Providence Workforce Training Program. Through coursework offered at Roger Williams University College, 530 East Providence adults will be able to build industry-specific, computer, and leadership skills. The program will offer coursework in Microsoft Office, social media marketing, business office technology, program management, and medical office specialist training.

I was proud to secure $350,000 in federal funding for this initiative in the 2022 federal spending bill. This is an important investment in our community and its strength and future. Everyone deserves a good-paying job that allows them to keep a roof over their head and food on their table. This program is one of the ways I am working to ensure this reality for every Rhode Islander.

Updates from Washington, D.C.

Introducing the Speak Out Act

Earlier this year, President Biden signed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act into law, restoring the constitutional rights of millions of sexual assault and harassment survivors by protecting them from forced arbitration clauses. However, far too many are still unable to come forward about their experiences because of predatory nondisclosure agreements, which are often signed under coercion or hidden in take-it-or-leave-it contracts. Predators have used these NDAs to build veils of silence around their heinous behavior that allow them to abuse with impunity.

This week, I joined with Representatives Lois Frankel, Ken Buck, Jerry Nadler, Pramila Jayapal, Morgan Griffith, Cheri Bustos, and Burgess Owens to introduce the bipartisan Speak Out Act. This legislation will prevent abusers from hiding their misconduct behind NDAs, allowing survivors to come forward and finally hold wrongdoers accountable.

Expanding Protections for Liberians in the U.S.

In 2019, Congress passed the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, legislation I sponsored to create a pathway to citizenship for the thousands of Liberians who have called the U.S. home for years and have been contributing to our workforce, paying taxes, and become integral members of our communities. However, because of backlogs and delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) many Liberians are still waiting for their lawful permanent status applications to be processed.

To maintain the integrity of this program, I wrote to the President earlier this year, asking him to extend and expand Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and employment authorization for Liberians who have long called the United States home so that they have the fair opportunity to apply for American citizenship. I’m very happy to report that the President acted this week to grant this extension so that Liberians with DED and employment authorization can remain in the U.S. until June 30, 2024. You can read more here.

Supreme Court Decision Eroding Climate Protections and the Rulemaking System

The Supreme Court’s reckless decision in West Virginia v. EPA, undermines nearly 40 years of precedent and could erode the federal government’s ability to enforce longstanding, landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act. 

Strong regulations are key to protecting public health and safety, promoting a stronger economy, and safeguarding the environment, especially for the predominantly Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities that are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and are already disproportionately affected by a warming planet. There can be no doubt that our nation’s food supply, financial markets, and healthcare systems will all become less safe because of this holding.

This is nothing short of a power grab by the conservative wing of the Supreme Court, and a blatant attempt to impose a deregulatory agenda via judicial fiat—one that voters have rejected time and again at the ballot box. This decision underscores the need to pass the Stop Corporate Capture Act to ensure the federal government can enforce the laws to protect our communities, workplaces, and families.

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].

Warm regards, 

David N. Cicilline
Member of Congress