Dear John,

As winter approaches, it’s predicted that we are going to see a higher-than-usual increase in home heating costs. To help keep these and other utility costs down, I want to share with you some resources and programs that are available through our federal, local, and state government.

• The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay their heating bills through federal grants to the household. There are two components to this program: Heating Assistance and Crisis Assistance.
• The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps income-eligible households reduce heating bills by providing whole house energy efficiency services to households that qualify for LIHEAP. Some services available include installing insulation and providing health and safety measures including: installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, reducing drafts, and providing proper ventilation.
• The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), funded by the American Rescue Plan Act  and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is available for eligible low-income households through September 30, 2023, or until funds are exhausted. LIHWAP helps eligible low-income households afford and maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services through federal grants. One-time payments are made directly to the household’s utility company.
• The Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HSRRP) provides a one-time service to eligible homeowners to increase the efficiency of their heating system, or replace it if necessary. Households that qualify for LIHEAP may be eligible.

Updates from Rhode Island

$11.3M to Combat the Opioid Epidemic & Improve Mental Health

Far too many Rhode Islanders have fallen victim to our nation’s opioid epidemic and we need to do all we can to not only support those in recovery, but to also boost addiction prevention programing. We need to make sure that our neighbors who are struggling with their mental health or with substance use disorder not only know that help is available, but can access that care without undue barriers or stigma. The State Opioid Response Grants Program has been saving lives since its inception, which is why I continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that we are providing enough funding to keep these grants flowing to communities like ours.

I’m proud to report that Rhode Island is receiving more than $11 million in new federal grants to combat the opioid epidemic and improve mental health.

The Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH) will receive $7,443,492 to help prevent opioid addiction statewide, reduce the number of prescription drug/opioid overdoses, increase access to treatment and reduce unmet needs through prevention, treatment, and gather data on addiction treatment and recovery resources.

Newport County Community Mental Health; Gateway Healthcare, Inc.; and Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. will each receive $1 million federal grants to improve community behavioral health services.

Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) will receive $928,000 to treat adults with opioid use disorder and provide behavioral health counseling services.

Federal Funding for Firefighters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has awarded $2,713,266 to help fire departments in Cranston, Middletown, and Providence purchase new trucks and equipment.

Our neighbors too often see firefighters and first responders on the worst days of their lives, but these heroes’ dedication to service and our community help keep those bad days from becoming catastrophic. Each year, I work with my colleagues to ensure we are doing our part in Congress to help our local fire departments meet community needs through grant programs like AFG. These federal funds can and do save lives, and I will continue to work to make sure our firefighters are receiving the equipment, resources, and training they need to keep themselves and the public safe.

Specifically, the Cranston Fire Department will receive $1,000,000 for a new aerial ladder truck; Middletown Fire Department will receive $383,810 for state-of-the-art communications equipment, including new radios – base, portable, and mobile repeaters; and the Providence Fire Department will receive $1,089,416 for firefighter training and specialized washer and dryer machines to clean carcinogens and chemicals from firefighter turnout gear and $240,040 to purchase a new state-of-the-art ambulance.

Honoring Cape Verdean Veterans

Last Saturday, I had the honor of joining Republic of Cabo Verde President José Maria Neves and First Lady Lígia Fonseca as we unveiled the newly engraved names of Cape Verdean men and women who proudly served in the United States Armed Forces. Together with Cabo Verde Minister of Communities Jorge Santo, Cabo Verde Consul General in Boston Octavio Gomes, Governor McKee and community leader Lucy Rose-Correia, we recognized and honored these servicemembers and their sacrifice to our nation.

Honoring Retiring Servicemembers

Last weekend, I had the privilege of joining the 2nd Brigade, 78th Training Division, 84th Training Command, US Army Reserve for the retirement ceremony of eight brave men and women who have served our nation honorably. Thank you to these heroes for their service and sacrifice.

National Federation of the Blind of Rhode Island Annual Convention

While we’ve made great strides since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we still have work to do to ensure a truly accessible Rhode Island and country. I joined The National Federation of the Blind of Rhode Island last weekend for their annual convention, to not only celebrate the progress we've made together but to also renew our commitment to building a more accessible world.

The Importance of Rhode Island’s Textile Industry

Thank you to the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network for a great discussion at Monday’s Sustainability Forum on how we can continue to grow Rhode Island's textile industry and support domestic manufacturing. In Congress, I'm working to ensure that we support domestic industry, big and small.

Bristol Porchfest

I had a great time at the 4th Annual Bristol Porchfest last Sunday. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who put together such a fun afternoon of music and community.

Updates from Washington, D.C.

133,900 Rhode Island Student Loan Borrowers Eligible for Biden Plan

A new Department of Education report estimates that 133,900 borrowers in Rhode Island are eligible for the Biden Administration’s student debt relief plan which will deliver up to $20,000 in debt relief for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for non-Pell borrowers. Information for borrowers is available from the Department of Education here.

In addition to debt relief, the Biden Administration also announced several steps to reform our broken student loan repayment system. These changes will hold schools accountable who excessively hike up their prices, expand the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, and cap monthly payments for borrowers based on their income. Additionally, the Department of Education will now cover a borrower’s unpaid monthly interest, meaning that borrowers on income-driven repayment plans will no longer have to worry about their balance continuing to grow despite making their monthly payments.

The Presidential Election Reform Act

On Wednesday, I joined with my colleagues in voting to pass the Presidential Election Reform Act, bipartisan legislation that will protect our free and fair elections, uphold the rule of law, and defend the Constitution.

A federal judge already found that Trump and his allies engaged in “a campaign to overturn a democratic election, an action unprecedented in American history” and it’s clear that he and his followers have not been dissuaded from trying this again. The former president and extremist politicians around the country continue to spout the big lie and refuse to commit to accepting the results of future elections. If we want to prevent another January 6th, we need to act.

As our justice system works to hold those responsible accountable for their actions leading up to and on January 6, 2021, Congress has a responsibility to make legislative changes to ensure that democracy remains in the hands of the American people. The Presidential Election Reform Act is a key part of this work. It’s shameful that most republicans refused to join House democrats in voting to pass this bill and continue to put power and party over the American people, and I want to thank the nine Republicans who stood up for democracy by voting yes.

You can learn more about the bill here.

Public Safety Legislation

My most important responsibility as a Member of Congress is to do everything I can to keep Rhode Islanders safe – which means ensuring that we invest in programs that address the root causes of crime, that provide necessary training and equipment so that we have effective, accountable policing; and that empower social services to respond when a police response may not be the right answer.

On Thursday, I voted with my colleagues to pass a package of four pieces of legislation to improve public safety:

• H.R. 8542, Mental Health Justice Act of 2022: Mental illness is not a crime, and we need to stop treating it like one. This legislation provides $250 million for local governments to create or support programs that dispatch mental health professionals instead of law enforcement to situations involving someone who is experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis. Those in these emergency situations can still call 911, but a trained mental health emergency response team will be dispatched first to better help those in crisis. Mental health first responder units will help to reduce violence against individuals with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities, while still providing for the safety of our communities.
• H.R. 6448, Invest to Protect Act of 2022: Many local police departments are simply so small that staffing shortages and lack of resources prevent them from investing in the training, equipment, and systems needed to ensure effective, accountable community policing. This legislation would provide grants to these smaller agencies to help them retain and recruit officers, reduce the use of force, and invest in strong accountability measures, including de-escalation training, improved response to substance use disorders, improved support for survivors of domestic violence, and promoting a duty of care.
• H.R. 4118, Break the Cycle of Violence Act: We have seen unquestionable proof that community-based intervention programs are effective in reducing violence – especially in cities. This violence takes a massive toll on our communities, and has an enormously disproportionate impact on communities of color. Black men aged 15-34 make up just 2% of the population, but accounted for 37% of all gun homicides in 2019, Black children are six times more likely to die from gunfire from police intervention than White children, and Black Americans are six times more likely to be homicide victims than White Americans. This legislation would award grants to community-based intervention programs, including through nonprofits, hospital-based intervention programs, group violence intervention programs, and crisis management initiatives to create a holistic approach to community violence and – as the research has shown – effectively decrease it.
• H.R. 5768, VICTIM Act of 2022: Almost half of murder cases across the country go unsolved – and even fewer are solved in cities with more than 250,000 people. That means that in almost half of murder cases, victims are left without closure or justice, and perpetrators walk free –  posing a great danger to public safety. This bill will help bring closure and justice to these cases and better support victims by making funding available to hire and train detectives to investigate homicides, sexual assaults and other violent crime; ensure victim services are funded, staffed, and trained to address the needs of survivors and family members; and enable departments to acquire and upgrade investigative technology to better process evidence.

Fighting for the Assault Weapons Ban

Yesterday, I joined with advocates, survivors, and victim’s families to call on the Senate to pass the Assault Weapons Ban. The House passed my legislation in July and these families shouldn’t have to wait one more day for action.

It is always so inspiring to see groups like these, fighting for what they believe in, but I wish they didn’t need to come to DC. Families shouldn’t be forced to demand that their representatives do their jobs and act to keep their communities safe. We know that the 1994 assault weapons ban saved lives and that this bill will, too. That should be the only factor affecting Senators’ votes - not gun lobby money.

Welcoming SkillsUSA Rhode Island Students to DC

SkillsUSA is a national organization dedicated to preparing America’s future workforce through trainings and programming that help develop personal, workplace, and technical skills through a partnership between students, teachers, and industry.

I was thrilled to welcome the Rhode Island chapter to the Capitol this week, who were in Washington, DC for the Washington Leadership Training Institute. It’s clear that our future is in good hands.

Scam Alert: Student Loan Forgiveness

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a Consumer Alert warning Americans against potential scams related to President Biden’s student loan forgiveness executive order.

The student loan forgiveness program is free.

As the FTC has stated, “[a]nyone claiming to be able to sign people up for the program, get them in early, or guarantee eligibility is a scammer. Never pay someone who promises early or special access, or guaranteed eligibility for the program. Those are scams and should be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”

More information is available here.

Missing Your Tax Refund?

If you are owed a tax refund, filed on paper more than six months ago, and the Where’s My Refund? tool does not have any information about the status of the return, the IRS is now advising that you resubmit your tax return for 2021, electronically if possible. They have advised that this submission must include an original signature and all the documents submitted with your original return. More information is available here and of course, my office is always available to help. You can call us at (401) 729-5600 or email me at [email protected].

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 4-6 weeks and regular processing is taking 7-10 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].

Warm regards, 

David N. Cicilline
Member of Congress