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Dear John,
If you or a loved one is enrolled or eligible for Medicare, the Open Enrollment period ends this coming Wednesday, December 7. You can compare coverage plans and get more information on Medicare’s website here or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
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].
Updates from Rhode Island
$5.5 Million for ‘Internet for All’ Planning Grants
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo recently came home to Rhode Island to unveil $5 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, & Deployment funding, another way the Infrastructure Bill is moving us to a more equitable future.
The COVID pandemic laid bare just how deep the digital divide is – and the need for action to address these inequities. Those with broadband access were able to work, shop for necessities like food and hygiene and safety products, and attend school from home, while those without broadband simply could not, and were forced to leave home to find connectivity. Your zip code should not determine your ability to access high speed, reliable internet. Broadband is not an indulgence, and this investment will enable us to start treating it like the utility that it is.
Rhode Island Kids Count Annual Celebration of Children’s Health Luncheon
It was great to join Rhode Island Kids Count for their Annual Celebration of Children’s Health and give a proper send off to Elizabeth Burke Bryant who has worked for nearly three decades to create a better Rhode Island for future generations to call home. She has left an indelible mark on the state and I know that Paige Clausius-Parks and the rest of the team at Kids Count will do an excellent job continuing her legacy.
25 Years of Teatro ECAS
Congratulations to Teatro ECAS on your 25th Anniversary. Thank you for empowering our youth and community through the performing arts as the leading Latino theater in New England. Here’s to 25 more!
Honoring Newport Elks Lodge's Citizen of the Year
Congratulations to my friend, former Mayor Richard Sardella on being named Newport Elks Lodge's Citizen of the Year! A much-deserved recognition and honor for your outstanding contributions to our community.
Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame Induction
I had a great time at the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame's Induction ceremony, celebrating those who made incredible advancements in military and civilian aviation in our nation. Thank you for your service!
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Respect for Marriage Act
This week, after months of negotiations following House passage back in July, the Senate passed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation is a crucial safeguard for LGBTQ+ people whose lives have been forever changed by Obergefell v. Hodges and Americans who are in interracial marriages thanks to Loving v. Virginia. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court declared marriage equality as the law of the land. On Tuesday, the House will approve the Senate-amended bill and ensure that these marriages will continue to be protected.
Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act
Being incarcerated should not strip these expectant mothers of their dignity, and so this week, I voted to pass H.R. 6878, the Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2022.
While Congress made important progress on this issue through the First Step Act, which prohibited the use of restraints on pregnant women in Bureau of Prison custody, more clearly needs to be done to protect pregnant women.
Many incarcerated women do not have access to the prenatal care they need. They are often unjustly placed in restrictive housing which can lead to unfair and unequal treatment just because the woman is pregnant. This is astonishingly still legal and widely used in BOP facilities.
By passing this legislation we will establish a much-needed national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women, while also ending the Bureau of Prison’s restrictive housing policies for pregnant women. This is long overdue.
One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act
Every year, more than 600,000 people in the United States are released from state and federal prisons. But even after they are released, in many ways, their sentences continue. This is why, as Mayor of Providence, I assembled a re-entry council to support reentry programs in the city. I witnessed firsthand how such services deliver desperately needed support and effectively reduce recidivism, thereby making our communities safer and more prosperous.
Criminal records create unbelievable barriers to securing housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other basic necessities. And there is no federal agency currently responsible for helping newly released people navigate these issues.
H.R. 3372, the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act provides much needed funding for the creation of community-based solutions to help formerly incarcerated people access vital services, which will help them return to their families and neighborhoods successfully. I was proud to vote to pass this bill and hope my Senate colleagues will swiftly do the same.
Condemning Iran’s Persecution of its Baha’i Minority
As the world has witnessed the Iranian regime’s violent repression of its own people in response to nationwide peaceful protests over the last ten weeks, it will come as no surprise that the Government of Iran’s gross misconduct and repression extend to religious minorities and have been especially brutal to the Baha’i community.
On Thursday, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 401-18, to House voted for H.Res. 744 and in doing so, strongly condemned the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The resolution also calls on the regime to release imprisoned or detained Baha’is and others imprisoned solely on account of religion, end the campaign of hate propaganda against the Baha’is, and reverse policies denying Baha’is and other religious minorities equal opportunities in higher education, earning a livelihood, due process under law, and free exercise of religious practices. The resolution calls on the President and Secretary of State to condemn these documented violations of human rights, demand the release of religious prisoners, and impose sanctions against those responsible for human rights abuses.
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
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, according to the State Department, for expedited processing is now at 3-5 weeks and regular processing is taking 6-9 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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