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Dear John,
Late Wednesday night, House Judiciary Committee Democrats voted to send my bill, H.R. 1808 – the Assault Weapons Ban, to the House floor. This was the first time the House debated and marked up an assault weapons ban since 1994.
We are in the midst of a gun violence epidemic – an epidemic of carnage and unspeakable loss that has left far too many families broken. And we know something that will reduce this bloodshed, because we saw the Assault Weapons Ban work from 1994 to 2004.
Compared with the decade before its adoption, the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban was associated with a 25 percent drop in gun massacres and a 40 percent drop in fatalities. As soon as the ban expired, fatalities and shootings skyrocketed again. In fact, researchers estimate that if we still had a federal Assault Weapons Ban, we would see 70 percent fewer mass shooting deaths. Maybe if we hadn’t let this law lapse, the parents at Parkland – or Sandy Hook or Uvalde or in too many other places to name – wouldn’t have to bury their children. We owe it to them, and every parent, grandparent, brother, sister, neighbor to pass this bill that will protect our communities and get these weapons of war out of communities so that no other family has to face this unimaginable loss.
You can watch my opening remarks from the Committee’s markup here.
Updates from Rhode Island
$3.2M in American Rescue Plan Funds for Woonsocket’s Food Sector
This week, the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $3.2 million grant to Woonsocket which will help support business expansion, workforce development, and entrepreneurship efforts in our retail food sector. This funding, made available through the American Rescue Plan, is an investment in Rhode Islanders and our community’s future. By diversifying Woonsocket’s economy, we are not just working to recover from the economic pains caused by COVID-19 but building back in a way that is more equitable and creating an economy that works for everyone. I look forward to visiting the new market and small businesses it will house.
House Passage of Funding for 11 Local Projects
This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8294, an Appropriations package laying out Fiscal Year 2023 funding for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Agriculture, Rural Development; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs; and the Interior, Environment. This package approves funding for all 11 projects that I fought to include in the bill. These 11 projects will help Rhode Island families with childcare and affordable housing, with the development and expansion of community centers, allow for better fire protection, and help us develop a safer, cleaner, and more efficient water supply for our homes, schools, and businesses. You can read more about these projects here.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Release of Final Big Tech Report
On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee formally published our report resulting from the Antitrust Subcommittee’s 16-month top-to-bottom investigation into the state of competition in the digital marketplace. The report, Investigation of Competition in the Digital Marketplace: Committee Report and Recommendations, was initially released in October 2020 and demonstrates clearly that it is time for Congress to act. The Committee Report details at length how dominant platforms abuse their monopoly power to destroy competition, exploit other businesses, harm consumers, and impede disruptive innovation. The facts are not in doubt, and the solutions are clear.
I’m working to get Congress to enact the suite of bills that the Judiciary Committee approved following this investigation that will promote competition, rein in the gatekeeper power of dominant platforms, and ensure our antitrust enforcers have the tools and resources they need to vigorously enforce the law. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act, the Open App Markets Act, and the State Antitrust Enforcement Venue Act are ready for votes today.
Respect for Marriage Act
This week I helped to introduce and pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), enshrine marriage equality for the purposes of federal law, and provide additional legal protections for marriage equality.
The Respect for Marriage Act will protect same-sex and interracial marriages from any radical or bigoted decision that may come from the current extreme Supreme Court majority. This legislation protects couples who are already married and ensures that these unions will continue to be recognized, even if a future Supreme Court overturns landmark marriage equality decisions. I am proud of this bill, glad that it passed the House with bipartisan support, and urge the Senate to send it to the President’s desk for his signature right away.
Right to Contraception Act
In light of Justice Thomas’s alarming and extreme concurrence stating that we should reexamine established rights including the right to access birth control, yesterday I joined with colleagues in passing the Right to Contraception Act. Every Rhode Islander – and American – must have the ability to make their own family planning decisions. As Republicans set their sights on criminalizing abortion, including by punishing women for accessing basic reproductive healthcare and their doctors for providing this care, I am committed to defending these well-established rights.
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 sponsors 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.
Shields Up: 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. CISA 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 your age when the passport was issued. 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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