Dear John,

On Monday, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we think about Dr. King’s legacy, it’s important to remember not just his powerful and enduring words, but also how he always pressed for action and how deeply he understood how difficult this work can be.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” 

Dr. King was well acquainted with this continuous struggle and taught us that “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

In fact, on April 4, 1968, when Dr. King was murdered in Memphis, he was there to stand up for sanitation workers who were fighting for a fair wage and safer working conditions.

The night before, he delivered what became his last public speech – “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” during which he said:

“And another reason that I'm happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where we're going to have to grapple with the problems that men have been trying to grapple with through history, but the demand didn't force them to do it.  Survival demands that we grapple with them.”

Today, we too are grappling with the problems that have plagued us throughout our history. We are called, as Dr. King was, to act and bend that arc of the moral universe towards justice.

Updates from Rhode Island

Rhode Island Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I had the opportunity to join with Rhode Islanders across the First Congressional District to honor Dr. King and I want to thank all the community organizations who put together these remembrances.

Hope & Main Downtown Makers Marketplace

I was thrilled to join with Hope & Main President & Founder Lisa Raiola, Barbara Papitto and the Papitto Opportunity Connection, Joe Paolino, and my colleagues in government to celebrate the opening of the Hope & Main Downtown Makers Marketplace.

For almost a decade now, I’ve been in awe of the work of Hope & Main and all the work it has down to establishing itself as Rhode Island’s premier culinary incubator and ranking among the top in the country.

This new local market and eatery will fill a space in the heart of Providence’s Financial District, giving downtown workers a space to go for breakfast and lunch for locally sourced items, while also giving Hope & Main’s chefs and entrepreneurs the opportunity to test out their creations with new customers and expand their reach.

With 40 percent of Hope & Main’s entrepreneurs being founders of color and its offerings of food from countries such as Ethiopia, Trinidad, Bolivia, and Vietnam, it is not only a premier culinary institution, but also a key partner in creating a more equitable and vibrant local food industry and market here in Rhode Island.

First in Warren, and now here in downtown Providence, Hope & Main provides a base to help jump start culinary ideas and provide food makers with the markets and customers they otherwise would not have been able to reach – while also giving Rhode Islanders access to new and unique food products.

I look forward to seeing the continued success of this organization and all its entrepreneurs.
 

Meeting with Rodger Cuzner, Consul General of Canada in Boston

On Tuesday, I met with Consul General of Canada in Boston, Rodger Cuzner, to discuss the interconnectedness of the U.S. and Canadian economies and opportunities for shared expansion into clean energy sources. In light of all that is happening across the international community, notably Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s illegal invasion, it is critical that we continue to strengthen our relationships with steadfast allies like Canada.

Updates from Washington, D.C.

RI’s Col. Clements. Jr. to Lead Community Policing Office at DOJ

Attorney General Garland could not have picked a better person than Colonel Clements to lead the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) at the Department of Justice.

Colonel Clements is a dedicated law enforcement officer with an exemplary 40-year career with the Providence Police Department, during which he championed community policing and deepened the trust between the police and the community. His leadership produced historic reductions of crime in our city. It was an honor to have worked closely with him as Mayor of Providence and now as a Member of Congress over many years of his extraordinary career, and I look forward to partnering with him in this new role. I know that he will continue his outstanding record of public service as the Director of the COPS Office at a vital time for implementing and strengthening smart community policing and providing much needed resources and support to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies across the country.

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).

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]. 

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].

Warm regards, 

David N. Cicilline
Member of Congress