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Dear John,
Don't forget to vote! Early voting for this year’s general election runs through Monday, November 7. Election Day is this 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
New Central Falls Community Center
I was thrilled to join this week with Senators Reed and Whitehouse, Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera, and local community leaders to announce new federal funding to bring a full-service community center to Central Falls.
The new city-run center, to be known as El Centro of Central Falls, will be located at 702 Broad Street, in a former church property operated as the Ministerio Guerreros De Cristo church.
Since the closure of the old Ralph J. Holden Community Center in 2011, residents and community leaders have been advocating for a new center that can serve as a one-stop, centralized resource that will connect residents with the health, mental health, wellness, fitness, and other wraparound supports they deserve.
I’m proud to have helped bring home $3.7 million for this crucial project which directly responds to the needs of Central Falls residents and am looking forward to joining everyone for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Pell Bridge Modernization Project
As we all know, the Pell Bridge isn’t just critical infrastructure for Rhode Islanders, it’s iconic – and one that we should ensure can and will serve Rhode Islanders and visitors for decades to come. This means, we need to invest in and modernize the bridge now so that we can return it to a state of good repair while reducing long-term costs and improving safety. Thanks to the landmark infrastructure law that President Biden signed into law, we are receiving $82.5 million in federal funding to do just that.
The Pell Bridge is a prime example of the types of projects that the bipartisan infrastructure law was designed to support and fund. I’m looking forward to an extended, long life for this Rhode Island icon.
Unveiling the New Roger Williams Park Gateway Center
On Monday, I had the opportunity to join with local leaders and elected officials to unveil the brand new Roger Williams Park Gateway Center, a project that transformed vacant, blighted land on Broad Street into a gateway for the Park and event space for the community and surrounding neighborhoods. I’m thrilled that Senator Whitehouse and I were able to help play a part in this effort and secure $700,000 through the Community Project Funding process. Congratulations to Providence and the surrounding community!
$900,000+ to Support Local Environmental Champions
I’m excited to report that Rhode Island is set to receive five grants, one cross border grant, and technical assistance for four projects through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Southeast New England Program (SNEP).
These grantees will receive important funding and technical guidance to develop designs, plan, assess, and implement strategies and green infrastructure to improve climate resilience, restore habitats, and protect watersheds.
This work is critical to ensuring a sustainable and healthy environment for generations of Rhode Islanders to come and I want to thank all the grantees for their tireless work and congratulate them on these awards.
$500,000 for Clean Air Monitoring
Through a grant from the EPA, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is receiving $500,000 to conduct air quality monitoring in Providence. Clean air is an absolutely necessity for our communities – especially to keep our kids, our seniors, and those with medical conditions safe and healthy.
In line with the President’s pledge to ensure greater environmental justice, these funds are concentrated on Rhode Island communities that need it most and have been traditionally underserved and marginalized.
I was proud to join with my colleagues in Congress in providing for these funds through the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act.
Taxpayer Advocate Services
This week, I had the opportunity to visit with the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) team to thank them for all the help they provide Rhode Islanders in ensuring that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights.
As an independent organization within the IRS, TAS protects taxpayers’ rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS, and provides helpful tips and resources to help navigate the federal tax system.
You can access and learn more about these resources on their website, here.
As always, if you need additional assistance, you can always contact my office at 401-729-5600 or email me at [email protected].
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Putting a Spotlight on Human Rights Ahead of UN Conference in Egypt
This week, in partnership with Congressman Bill Keating, Senator Chris Murphy, and Senator Jeff Merkley, I led 52 members of the House and Senate in urging the Biden Administration to raise human rights concerns with the Egyptian government ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).
We are deeply troubled by the message sent to the global community by the Egyptian government imprisoning tens of thousands of political prisoners – including many environmental activists – while hosting COP27. With the world’s attention on Egypt this month, COP27 presents a unique opportunity for the United States to press the Egyptian government to release these activists and demonstrate its commitment to inclusive engagement with the full range of stakeholders on climate solutions.
You can read our letter to the Biden Administration here.
Health Insurance Open Enrollment
Are you uninsured or hoping to pay less or change your health insurance plan?
Rhode Islanders can shop for your 2023 plan NOW, through January 1, 2023 at healthsourceri.com.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, 13 million Americans will save an average of $800 individually or $2,400 per family per year on their health insurance premiums.
Key Dates:
- Sign up by December 23, 2022 for coverage beginning on January 1, 2023
- Sign up by December 31, 2022 for coverage that will be active starting in January 2023
- The last day for Open Enrollment is January 31, 2023 for coverage that will become active in February 2023
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.
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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