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Dear John,
This week, Congress passed the 2023 federal spending bill and it is now on its way to the President's desk. For 2023, every Member of the House was allowed to submit 15 projects to the Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the spending package. I am proud to report that all 15 projects that I advocated for were included in the final legislation.
These 15 projects will help Rhode Island families with childcare and affordable housing, with the development and expansion of community centers, allow for better fire protection, and help us develop a safer, cleaner, and more efficient water supply. This funding will also support our community’s mental health and bolster learning opportunities for our students.
You can read more about all these projects here.
Also included in the package is the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation will enable an historic investment in our nation's antitrust enforcement while saving taxpayer money. It is a victory for working Americans and small businesses, and will make a real difference in ensuring that our economy works for everyone. This legislation was part of the suite of bills introduced following the Antitrust Subcommittee’s 16-month, top-to-bottom investigation into the state of competition in digital markets, and was the cornerstone of the Judiciary Committee’s markup in June 2021 of a bipartisan suite of bills to restore competition online.
Additionally, by passing this bill, we also provided additional aid for Ukraine and delivered on our promise to protect our free and fair elections with the Electoral Count Reform Act.
Updates from Rhode Island
$2M to Boost Local Vaccination Efforts
Eight Rhode Island community health centers are set to receive $2,086,664 from a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program meant to increase vaccination rates for COVID-19 in underserved populations.
Community health centers are a key resource for Rhode Island’s underserved communities and this funding will help ensure that all of our neighbors have access to and knowledge about COVID-19 booster vaccines. As we contend with an increase in winter illnesses – including the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 – it’s vital that every Rhode Islander has the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones.
This federal funding will help to improve access to vaccines, improve outreach to vulnerable communities, and help get more shots into arms by lowering barriers to care for Rhode Islanders hardest hit by COVID-19.
Community Angels' Toy Drive
It was a privilege to join Community Angels' Toy Drive for another year of free toys, coats, and winter gear for children in our community. Thank you to all those who donated their time and goods to the drive!
Kicking Off Hanukkah with the City of Providence
It was great to kick off Hanukkah with the City of Providence and so many community organizations at the Third Annual Hanukkah Spectaculah celebration. Chag Sameach to all those celebrating!
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Welcoming Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Congress
It was an honor and privilege to hear from President Zelenskyy Wednesday night as we held a Joint Session of Congress to mark his wartime visit to Washington.
Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion is not just a fight for the preservation of territorial integrity, it is one for democracy and against autocracy.
As President Zelenskyy said, our aid to Ukraine is not charity, it is an investment in democracy and a free world.
We, and our partners around the world, must continue to stand with the Ukrainian people.
The Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act
Following Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s joint address to Congress Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives voted yesterday to update war crimes law to ensure that alleged war criminals cannot find safe harbor in the United States.
Passed by a unanimous vote in the House and Senate, the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act (S.4240/H.R.7818) will update current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of war criminals in the United States regardless of the location or targets of their atrocities. The bill also eliminates the statute of limitations for certain war crimes.
I introduced this bill with Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05) and Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to stop the United States from being a safe haven for war criminals seeking to avoid accountability. With this legislation, we will ensure that any person present in the United States, regardless of nationality, can be brought to justice for their brutal, unwarranted, and illegal human rights violations committed under the guise of war. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation finally negates the ‘get out of jail free card’ that has existed in our judicial system for far too long.
Final Report from the January 6th Committee
This week, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol released its final report and held its final public hearing.
The report and public testimony make clear that former President Trump and his team systematically planned for the events of January 6th. This attack on democracy and his desperate attempt to illegally hold onto power was unquestionably an insurrection. The evidence is overwhelming and there must be accountability.
You can read the Committee’s final report here and find additional materials from the Committee on its website here.
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).
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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