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Dear John,
Today, in a bipartisan vote of 217-213, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1808, the Assault Weapons Ban, legislation that I first introduced seven years ago. This was the first vote the full House has taken on an assault weapons ban since 1994.
There are more guns than people in this country – more mass shootings than days in the year.
This is a uniquely American problem.
In 2022 alone, more than 160 people have been killed by an assault weapon and more than 245 have been injured. This bill will not stop all gun violence, but it will effectively decrease it.
Researchers estimate that if we still had a federal assault weapons ban, we would see 70 percent fewer mass shooting deaths. And while nothing we do can bring back 70 percent of these victims to their family and friends, we can honor their memories with action and prevent more carnage moving forward.
I’m urging the Senate to pass this bill immediately and send it to the President for his signature.
Updates from Rhode Island
Renaming the Central Falls Post Office in Honor of Elizabeth Buffum Chace
It was great to join with Buff Chace, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, and local leaders to dedicate the Central Falls Post Office in memory of Elizabeth Buffum Chace, a legendary activist for women’s rights, an abolitionist, and advocate for prison reform.
I first introduced the bill to give this honor to Mrs. Chace – the “Conscience of Rhode Island” – in May of 2019, and while the passed that December, the pandemic kept us from having this ceremony sooner.
Born in 1806, she was raised by Quakers and began fighting for women’s rights at an early age, soon becoming an activist for the anti-slavery movement. She passed around petitions, organized groups of abolitions, and opened her home as a station in the Underground Railroad. She also served as President of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association, helped organize a Female Anti-Slavery Society, and served on the Ladies’ Board of Visitors to the Penal and Correctional Institution of the State.
Passing away in 1899, she cemented her standing in history as a legendary suffragist and abolitionist after dedicating her life to advocating for women, children, and people of color.
Elizabeth had a true passion for social change, and her life-long activism embodies the best of Rhode Island’s values and remains an inspiration for the progress to come.
$55 Million EPA Loan to Protect Narragansett Bay
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Narragansett Bay Commission in Providence, Rhode Island is receiving a $55 million loan to modernize and ensure reliable service at the Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facilities.
According to the EPA, the loan will be used to:
- replace the odor control system,
- implement improvements to disinfection and de-chlorination systems,
- construct a new septage receiving station,
- improve cybersecurity,
- install standby power capabilities to maintain uninterrupted operation of treatment processes, and
- support the installation of a solar carport which will help power the plant.
You can learn more here.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
The Bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act
On Thursday, the House sent the CHIPS and Science Act to the President’s desk. This is the bold action we need to maintain our global standing and provide a strong economic future for American families, small businesses, and workers.
Importantly, this bill will bolster scientific research here in Rhode Island through an estimated $1.8 billion for the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, (EPSCoR). EPSCoR is a critical program that funds cutting edge scientific research in smaller states like Rhode Island with historically underfunded academic communities. Drawing on the talent, knowledge, and perspectives of academic institutions from every state, no matter how small, helps maintain our competitive edge in scientific advancement.
This bill will also boost our domestic manufacturing capabilities and supply chains, end our dangerous dependence on foreign manufacturers, lower costs for American consumers, and create 100,000 new, good-paying jobs.
You can watch my floor speech on the legislation and learn more about here.
Supreme Court Term Limits
On Tuesday, I joined with Congressman Hank Johnson to introduce the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act to establish term limits for Supreme Court justices. Under the bill, a new justice would take the bench every two years and then would spend 18 years in active service.
We must address the legitimacy crisis currently facing the Supreme Court. Instituting term limits for Supreme Court Justices will help rebalance the bench and restore the public’s trust in our nation’s highest court.
You can read more about the bill in The Hill here.
Addressing Monkeypox
Earlier this week, Congressman Jerry Nadler and I were joined by more than 100 of our colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to provide additional funding for sexual health clinics across the country to implement federal monkeypox response efforts. More than 100 organizations endorsed our letter, including the New York State Department of Health, National Coalition of STD Directors, National Coalition of LGBTQ Health, Whitman-Walker Health, Human Rights Campaign, and others.
As we explained in our letter, with monkeypox cases on the rise, communities are relying on these clinics for disease detection, contact tracing, symptom monitoring, and community education and we need to ensure that these facilities and healthcare workers have the resources they need.
You can read our full letter to President Biden, Secretary Becerra, and Dr. Walensky here.
Combatting Antisemitism
On Thursday, I joined with the House and Senate Antisemitism Task Forces in meeting with Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah E. Lipstadt; Ambassador At Large, Office of International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain; and Biden Administration officials to discuss the work we are and can continue to do to combat antisemitism here at home and abroad. We can, and must, work to stamp out this hate and bigotry wherever and whenever we see it.
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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