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Dear John,
As you prepare to file your 2022 taxes, I want to share information about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provided 31 million workers and families with $64 billion last year.
Even if you haven’t been eligible for the EITC previously, that doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible now. Eligibility is based on marital, parental, and financial status. You can use the EITC Assistant to determine if you are eligible for this tax credit.
If your income was $60,000 a year or less in 2022, you are eligible for free tax return preparation services. Click here to find a volunteer tax assistance site.
If your income was $73,000 or less in 2022, you can file for free with through the IRS’s Free File program online here.
Updates from Rhode Island
Grants for First Time Home Buyers
This week, RIHousing announced the launch of the RI Statewide DPA Grant Program, which is offering $17,5000 grants assists with down payments and/or closing costs for first time buyers. Funded through American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal recovery funds, this program will help put homeownership in reach for more Rhode Islanders.
To qualify, you must:
You can learn more about the program by visiting the program’s website here or calling 401-450-1391.
Opening the New Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center
I was thrilled on Monday to celebrate the opening and first day of service for the new Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center.
I'm proud to have helped deliver approximately $43 million in federal funding for this project alongside my colleagues in the Congressional delegation. By providing new rail and bus service options for residents, this long-awaited transit hub will improve quality of life for so many Rhode Islanders with transit connections for those in Central Falls, Pawtucket, and the Blackstone Valley.
This hub will also help spur economic development and contribute to the sustainability of our state and regional transit system, reducing congestion on our roads and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Congratulations to everyone involved in this years-long project.
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Standing with the People of Iran
On Tuesday, the House came together to support the people of Iran and denounce the Iranian regime’s unbridled brutality and human rights abuses.
Ahead of the vote, I spoke on the House floor, calling on my colleagues to join me in this bipartisan vote and send a clear message to the people of Iran, the Iranian regime, and the international community.
Fighting to Protect Rhode Island’s Waters
Today, I introduced an amendment on the House floor to protect Rhode Island’s coastal economy, our environment, and way of life in response to a Republican bill that could put key Rhode Island industries like tourism, commercial and recreational fishing, and boating at serious risk.
H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, is a handout for Big Oil, putting their profits over hardworking Rhode Islander’s wallets and economic stability.
My amendment, which received bipartisan support, would have protected the more than 467,000 Rhode Islanders employed by the coastal economy, which contributes $59.3 billion in GDP annually, according to the NOAA Office for Coastal Management. Thankfully, H.R. 21 is not expected to move forward in the Senate, and President Biden has vowed to veto it should it reach his desk.
Justice Department Sues Google in Landmark Antitrust Lawsuit
On Monday, the Justice Department announced its civil antitrust suit against Google for allegedly monopolizing the digital advertising industry.
This historic lawsuit is an important step to hold Google accountable for allegedly monopolizing the digital advertising industry.
As the Department alleges in its complaint, Google has engaged in a systemic pattern of expanding its dominance through harmful acquisitions, and has abused its market power through a series of anticompetitive practices, from manipulating auction prices and rules in its own favor to disadvantaging rivals.
This market is concentrated, opaque, and unregulated. It is akin to Goldman Sachs owning the entire New York Stock Exchange, as Google’s own executives have allegedly observed.
As a result, Google has the power to impose a hidden monopoly tax on businesses and siphon revenue from news publishers and other content creators, undermining the open internet and the vibrancy of the free and diverse press.
The Justice Department’s complaint is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for fair rules for competition online through passage of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act.
I applaud Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and the Staff of the Antitrust Division for their tireless work to safeguard competition and am working with my colleagues to pass the legislation needed to support this work.
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].
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