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Dear John,
Early voting for this year’s general election has begun in Rhode Island! You can vote early through Monday, November 7 or on Election Day, Tuesday November 8.
You can find your polling place and view a sample ballot here.
A Voter Information Handbook, which includes information on how to vote, key contact information, and additional information on the three State Bond Referenda questions is available here.
Updates from Rhode Island
Another $11.25M to Shore Up Port Infrastructure at Quonset
An additional $11,250,000 is headed to Quonset’s Port of Davisville to upgrade the port’s North Berth at Pier 1, which was built in 1941.
Quonset and its Port of Davisville are critical to Rhode Island’s economy. Repairing and investing in Pier 1 will not only help to preserve jobs, but also lay the groundwork for future employment opportunities as we continue to grow and diversify our State’s industries – including auto shipping, offshore wind, and maritime trades.
The Port of Davisville is Rhode Island’s only public port and a key part of the Quonset Business Park, which hosts more than 200 companies and 12,900 jobs. This project, which is being funded through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) will rehabilitate the North Berth at Pier 1 in order to support more efficient use of the facility. Working with the rest of the Congressional Delegation, we previously secured $11.14 million under the PIDP in 2020 for the first phase of improvements to Pier 1.
Gordon School’s Beyond COP21 Symposium
On Thursday morning, I joined students at the Gordon School for their Beyond COP21 Symposium.
As we work to combat climate change and secure a healthy environment for generations to come, it is critical that we listen to and uplift these future leaders and their ideas.
Thankfully, President Biden is a leader who chooses science over fiction and facts over fear. And under his leadership, the United States has reentered the Paris Climate Accords – putting us back in a leading role to help combat this crisis globally.
The United States also sent a strong message to the global community earlier this year through passage of the Inflation Reduction Act – representing the most aggressive action to combat the climate crisis in our nation’s history.
Importantly, these steps put America on track to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to about 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
I’m proud of these students, of their perseverance and engagement, and look forward to continuing to work with them as we continue to make progress in this critical fight.
Cracking Down on Ghost Guns
On Wednesday, I joined with Congressman Mike Thompson, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force; and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) in leading 135 of our colleagues in calling for strong enforcement actions against ghost guns to stop their proliferation and protect our communities.
Welcoming Dr. Jill Biden to Rhode Island
It was great to welcome the First Lady back to Rhode Island this week and visit Rhode Island College with her.
Dr. Biden is an incredible example of a dedicated and impactful educator and I was proud to be with her as she spoke about her career in education and the importance of recruiting and retaining passionate and devoted teachers. I’m working to ensure that all of Rhode Island’s educators have the tools and resources they need and deserve to best teach our kids. Thank you for all you do for our communities.
The Newly Renovated Cumberland Senior Center
On Wednesday morning, I joined with Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter and Cumberland seniors to celebrate the newly renovated Cumberland Senior Center. It was incredible to see the site’s transformation with help from a federal Community Development Block Grant. I am so glad our seniors get to enjoy this beautiful space! Thank you to everyone who made this project possible.
Breaking Ground on the New Major Life Sciences Development
On Monday, I joined with Governor McKee, my colleagues in the Congressional Delegation, local elected officials, and representatives from Brown University to break ground on a new, state of the art 7-story building that will house the State’s new health lab, life sciences labs for Brown University, and additional bio-technology space in the Innovation and Design District on the former I-195 land.
I’m proud to have worked with the other members of the Congressional Delegation to secure a $81 million CDC grant to help fund this project that will create critically needed bioscience infrastructure in Rhode Island. The new facility will provide a modern space for the state’s Department of Health and other scientists to conduct cutting-edge research, helping to ensure we are prepared to identify and respond to new viruses and infectious diseases.
Celebrating 45 Years of Progreso Latino
It was great to celebrate Progreso Latino and thank this outstanding organization for 45 years of service in support of the Rhode Island Latino and immigrant community at this year’s anniversary gala. The help you provide to thousands of Rhode Islanders each year through your programming for children, adults, and families is truly transformational.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Responding to the Biased UN Report on Israel
Last week, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) Commission of Inquiry (COI) issued a report on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
I am deeply concerned by, and categorically reject, this latest biased report. It is clear the COI was not established to achieve justice for Israelis and Palestinians, but rather to cherry-pick and work to damage the Jewish State. Israel is the only country that is subject to such a standing country-specific agenda at the Human Rights Council.
The COI report fails to recognize the role of Hamas as a terrorist organization – one that has indiscriminately launched rockets into cities and towns killing Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike. Further, members of the COI have made unabashed antisemitic comments, exposing their inherent bias to the world.
Instead of issuing this politically motivated, one-sided report, the Human Rights Council should join the United States in supporting lasting steps towards Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Student Loan Relief
The Biden Administration’s Student Loan Relief application is now available online and open through December 31, 2023.
The application is available in English here, in Spanish here. FAQs are available in English here and Spanish 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.
If you need help with the application process, my office is here to help. You can call us at 401-729-5600 or email me at [email protected].
Please also be aware of scams.
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.
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].
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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