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Dear John,
This week, the Biden Administration released a preview of and more information about the Student Loan Debt Relief application form that will be available later this month.
The White House shared that the short and simple application will be available online – mobile and desktop – at a .gov URL and that applicants will not need to log in or provide any documents when completing this form. After borrowers have submitted their information, they will be contacted directly by Federal Student Aid should any additional information be needed.
The application will be available in both English and Spanish and borrowers can apply through the end of the year (December 31, 2023).
More information on this program is below.
Updates from Rhode Island
Inflation Reduction Act Benefits for Seniors
On Tuesday, I was joined by Mayor DaSilva for a visit to East Providence Senior Center where we discussed key health care provisions in the historic Inflation Reduction Act that will lower costs for Rhode Island seniors.
With growing concerns about inflation, Rhode Island seniors on fixed incomes are struggling to bear the burden of the rising cost of prescription drugs, food, housing, and other essentials. No one should be forced to ration medication or choose between keeping a roof over their head and filling a lifesaving prescription. Yet, too many seniors are forced to make this impossible choice, and so President Biden and Democrats in Congress took action to lower health care and everyday costs for seniors through the historic Inflation Reduction Act.
Through this law, we will keep money in seniors’ pockets by finally empowering Medicare to negotiate the price of high-cost prescription drugs, providing free vaccines, capping out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D at $2,000 per year, capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month, expanding eligibility for the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, and cracking down on Big Pharma’s price gouging practices. These are straightforward and long overdue changes, and I will be working with my colleagues to build on these policies to make health care costs even more affordable for every Rhode Islander.
You can read more about these benefits for seniors here.
Statewide Body-Worn Camera Program
The last few years have shown us how vital it is to foster relationships between our communities and police departments – and to equip our law enforcement with the tools they need to function efficiently and safely while also maintaining transparency and accountability.
Unfortunately, many law enforcement agencies across the country can’t afford to provide body cameras to their officers. Thankfully, Rhode Island has taken steps to address that problem by establishing the Statewide Body-Worn Camera Program. I was proud to work with my colleagues in the delegation to secure a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Justice to support this initiative and want to thank all the local leaders who are working to implement this public safety program.
$353 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades
Rhode Island has been allocated an additional $353 million from the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to strengthen roads, bridges, and other key transportation infrastructure across the state. President Biden and Congressional Democrats passed this historic law to upgrade Rhode Island’s transportation infrastructure and pave the way for stronger economic growth, less congestion and pollution, and more good-paying jobs. This latest round of federal infrastructure funding will put more Rhode Islanders to work improving our roads, bridges, and other key infrastructure. I will continue to work with Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Congressman Langevin and partnering with state and local leaders to put these game-changing investments to work.
Touring G-Form’s North Smithfield Manufacturing Facility
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour G-Form’s North Smithfield facility and learn more about the products they are manufacturing in Rhode Island. I'm proud to support all of Rhode Island’s great manufacturers, the jobs they create, and growing our economy – all with the honored label: Made in the USA!
NAACP Providence Branch Gala
I was honored to join with the NAACP Providence Branch last Friday night to recognize great leaders, including my friend and colleague Congressman Ayanna Pressley, who have fought for the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all Rhode Islanders and Americans. I remain inspired by all the honoree’s and the entire organization’s commitment to community, equality, and justice.
Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Scholarship Event
It was great to be with the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America to honor Person of the Year Gary DiSarro and all of the 2022 scholarship winners. Of course, it is always a special honor to award the Cicilline Family Scholarship. Thank you to the Grand Lodge for supporting generations of Italo-Americans.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
2021 Tax Credits
Beginning this week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be reaching out to more than 9 million individuals and families who appear to qualify for a variety of key tax benefits but did not claim them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return. These special reminder letters are being sent to people who the IRS believes may qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC), or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) but haven’t yet filed a 2021 return to claim them.
The IRS also announced that to help people claim these benefits without charge, Free File services will remain available an extra month this year, through November 17, 2022.
Child Tax Credit
Did you know that eligible families can still claim their 2021 Child Tax Credit? If you haven’t yet received your credit – even if you have low or no income and have never filed taxes – you can still claim at least $3,000 per child at ChildTaxCredit.gov. The deadline to claim your credit is fast approaching on November 15, 2022. If you need help navigating these resources, or with any other federal agencies and programs, you can contact me and my staff at 401-729-5600 or email me at [email protected].
Also, the 2021 tax return filing deadline for those with an extension is October 17, 2022. The IRS is encouraging everyone to file their returns electronically as soon as possible, and notes that electronic filing is not only the best way to avoid errors, but also fast and, most importantly, secure. More information is available in English here and in Spanish here.
Service Academy Nominations
One of my greatest honors as a Member of Congress is nominating candidates to U.S. Service Academies each year. Interested students should visit my website to learn more and you can also find additional information here: U.S. Service Academy Frequently Asked Questions.
Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve branches of the military or merchant marines for a minimum of five years.
Students who are prepared to proceed with the nomination process can download the application form here.
All applications are due by 5pm ET on October 31, 2022. If you have any questions throughout the process, please contact Christopher Bizzacco at 401-729-5600 or by email at [email protected].
Help with Winter Heating and Utility Costs
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.
As always, if you need help navigating or accesses these resources, or have questions about other resources that may be available to you, my staff and I are here to help. You can call us at (401) 729-5600 or email me at [email protected].
Reminder: Student Loan Forgiveness Program
As a reminder, the Biden Student Loan Debt Relief program will soon be available to borrowers. An application will be made available over the coming weeks. You can check your eligibility and learn more about the program here.
You can also sign up for updates from the Department of Education here.
To ensure receipt of relief before the COVID-19 loan repayment pause ends at the end of the year, the Department of Education is advising all borrowers to apply for this relief before November 15, 2022.
The Department of Education estimates that completed applications will be processed within 4-6 weeks. Approximately 8 million borrowers who are eligible for the program will receive this relief automatically since the Department already has the necessary and relevant income data. If you are unsure if the Department of Education has this information, you can fill out the application to be sure.
As always, my office is available to help with all federal programs, including navigating this new program. If you have any questions or need help, you can send me and my staff an email here or give us a call at (401) 729-5600.
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.
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].
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