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Dear John,
A decade ago, then-Vice President Biden made history when he came out in support of marriage equality, and this week, he again made history by signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law.
I am so thankful for President Biden’s leadership and support for this important legislation and for his unwavering commitment to equality. Our work, however, is not done. We need to harness the momentum of this key victory for equality and guarantee explicit nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in all key areas of life through the Equality Act. The House passed this legislation in February 2021, and now the Senate must do the same and send the bill to President Biden’s desk.
Last week, the House passed the annual defense spending bill for Fiscal Year 2023, which included the Vet Center Improvement Act and the AMIGOS Act. On Thursday, the Senate voted to send this package to the President's desk.
Vet Centers are a critical resource for our men and women in uniform. The Vet Center Improvement Act, legislation I've been working on with Senator Reed, will help ensure that these facilities have the staff and resources they need to provide high-quality service to our veterans, especially at a time when more veterans are seeking mental health care, counseling, and other life-saving services. I’m thrilled that this legislation is included in the defense bill, signaling its importance for our servicemembers and their families.
The Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing Our Success (AMIGOS) Act is legislation I introduced with Senator Whitehouse to build on our nation’s already strong economic relationship with Portugal. Our legislation will break down barriers that currently limit Portuguese investments in American businesses and projects and, in turn, will grow an already strong relationship between our two countries.
Updates from Rhode Island
Middletown Senior Center’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
It was great to join the Middletown Senior Center last Friday night to spread some holiday cheer at the annual Christmas tree lighting. Thanks to everyone who made it such a wonderful evening!
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Free COVID Tests Via the Postal Service
The Biden Administration announced yesterday that households can once again order free at-home COVID-19 tests though the Postal Service this winter. You can order your tests at CovidTests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Barring Trump from Federal Office
Yesterday, I introduced legislation to bar former President Trump from holding federal office under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Donald Trump very clearly engaged in an insurrection on January 6, 2021 with the intention of overturning the lawful and fair results of the 2020 election. You don’t get to lead a government you tried to destroy. Even Mitch McConnell asserted that Trump bears responsibility, saying on the Senate floor that ‘[t]here's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.’ The 14th Amendment makes clear that based on his past behavior, Donald Trump is disqualified from ever holding federal office again and, under Section 5, Congress has the power to pass legislation to implement this prohibition.
Briefing on the War in Yemen
This week, as Chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism, I held a briefing on the War in Yemen to provide members with the opportunity to hear directly how the war in Yemen has impacted civilians, how international and local organizations are supporting people on the ground, and how the Yemeni people themselves are involved in peacebuilding, humanitarian work, and other grassroots efforts to create a stable, secure, and prosperous Yemen.
Any solution to this conflict must be achieved through Yemeni-to-Yemeni dialogue. Ongoing peace negotiations must incorporate diverse Yemeni perspectives, including by engaging with women, youth, civil society, and other local leaders. The situation in Yemen is complicated, it is divisive, and it is heart-wrenching. I am grateful that this committee had the opportunity to highlight local Yemeni leaders and the important work these individuals and their organizations are doing on the ground to support the people of Yemen. It is in our national and global interest to secure an end to the conflict in Yemen and address the economic and humanitarian challenges facing the Yemeni people. And while the international community and regional actors have an important role to play, it is ultimately the people of Yemen that must determine their own future.
House Oversight Hearing on Anti-LGBTQI+ Extremism and Violence
On Wednesday, I joined a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing examining "The Rise of Anti-LGBTQI+ Extremism and Violence in the United States.” Unfortunately, during this vital moment to address the LGBTQI+ community’s fear and the danger they are living in, my Republican colleagues could not bring themselves to discuss anti-LGBTQI+ violence and its causes with our witnesses.
LGBTQ+ people make up roughly 7 percent of the country’s population but last year, 20 percent of reported hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity bias. Our community is being targeted and politicians’ abuse of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric to gin up support is not only disgusting, it’s dangerous.
Inaugural Report on The Condition of LGBTQ+ People in the United States
This week, as Chair of the Equality Caucus, I released our Inaugural Report on The Condition of LGBTQ+ People in the United States, which summarizes data relating to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in four key areas: Education, Economic Security, Health Care, and Housing.
LGBTQ+ people deserve the same opportunities to thrive as their non-LGBTQ+ peers. The data presented in this report shows, however, that the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people are vastly different than those of our straight and cisgender neighbors. With the increasing rise of violence against the LGBTQ+ community and the growing number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced in state legislatures and in Congress, it is critical that all levels of government work to ensure true lived equality for LGBTQ+ people. This data will help us to craft more effective policies and address the issues that members of the LGBTQ+ community are struggling with most.
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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