Dear John,

I’m excited to announce that my office is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition.

The competition is open to high school students who live in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District. Students or teachers interested in participating should register by contacting André Herrera by email at [email protected] or by phone at 729-5600.

The deadline for submissions is 4:30pm on Friday, April 21, 2023.

My office will convene a panel to award first place, and the winner will have their artwork displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
 
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

Updates from Rhode Island

Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick’s Day! Thank you to the Providence St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee for putting together another great parade and celebration of Irish history and culture.

Updates from Washington, DC

The Equality Act

Yesterday, I announced that Congressman Mark Takano, Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, will be taking over as the new lead sponsor of the Equality Act, legislation I first introduced in 2015 to finally provide legal, non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQI+ community.

It is a national embarrassment that the LGBTQI+ community remains the only marginalized group in the United States that can legally be discriminated against, and we are seeing the consequences play out at every level of government. With homophobic and transphobic legislation being proposed in state legislatures across the country and here in Congress, it is far past time we act to pass this legislation into law. Congressman Takano has been a steadfast partner and champion in this fight, and I know that we will continue to march towards passage under his leadership.

Standing with Generation Lockdown

Today, I joined with students, survivors, victims, and educators impacted by mass school shootings across the country who skipped their spring breaks to travel to Washington, DC and call for the passage of the federal assault weapons ban and end their generation’s trauma of mass shootings.

It is appalling that an entire generation, “Generation Lockdown,” can unite around their shared experiences of active shooter drills and school massacres.

It should horrify every American that children are having to lead the fight against gun violence because we haven’t done enough to protect them. And yet, this week, I sat through a hearing with the aim of abolishing the ATF and dismantling gun regulations in this country.

Last July, for the first time in nearly three decades, the House, in a bipartisan vote of 217-213, passed the Assault Weapons Ban – a proven policy that we know will save lives. There is no good reason why we have not reinstated this policy that will reduce the gun massacres in our communities using these weapons of war.

When I decided to depart from Congress, I knew one of my main priorities had to be ensuring the continuation of the Assault Weapons Ban, and finding a new sponsor that would have the drive and tenacity to take on this fight.

Today, I was proud to announce that Congresswoman Lucy McBath will be taking over as lead sponsor as I leave Congress.

Like too many mothers, Congresswoman McBath suffered the unthinkable when she lost her son Jordan to gun violence. Her experience has transformed her into one of the most dedicated, fearless, and effective champions for gun safety in Congress. I am confident that under her leadership, and with support from the incredible advocates who have dedicated themselves to gun violence prevention, we will continue to make progress towards finally getting these weapons of war out of our communities.

Filing Your 2022 Taxes

As of January 23, 2023, the IRS has started accepting and processing 2022 tax returns. You have until the April 18, 2023 deadline to either submit your 2022 tax return or request an extension.

Free File options through IRS.gov

Through IRS Free File, taxpayers can select and use commercial software to prepare and file their federal income taxes online if they earned $73,000 or less in 2022. For taxpayers who are comfortable completing their own tax forms, Free File Fillable Forms may be a good option. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly Locator tool is available to help find organizations that provide free tax assistance for taxpayers with low incomes, the elderly and disabled, or people whose preferred language isn’t English. MilTax is a free tax resource from the Department of Defense available to the military community.

IRS tools and resources for the filing season

The IRS encourages taxpayers to use and bookmark tools and resources on IRS.gov, where tax information, support and account management tools are available 24/7.

• Online account — An online account lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, including return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, prior-year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. They can also pay their balance online or apply for a payment plan.
• Interactive Tax Assistant — Based on the taxpayer’s input, this tool provides answers to tax law questions specific to the taxpayer’s circumstances and doesn’t require a login. The system keeps provided information anonymous and discards all information when a taxpayer is done. 
• Let Us Help You — This page provides support for common concerns, like how to understand and respond to a letter from the IRS, or how to amend a return. Taxpayers also can get help with identify theft or tax scam concerns, payment options, penalty issues and more. 
• Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers — This tool allows individuals and businesses to search for tax preparers in their area who hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS.
• Where’s My Refund? — Using this tool, taxpayers can check the status of their refund within 24 hours after the IRS receives their e-filed return or four weeks after mailing a paper return.
• Forms, Instructions and Publications — This is a library of IRS forms, instructions and publications on virtually any tax topic, many available in multiple languages and accessible formats.
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers — Here, taxpayers can get plain language answers to the most frequently asked questions on a variety of topics.

Medicare Enrollment

There are two main ways to get your Medicare coverage – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

If you did not sign up for Original Medicare when you were first eligible, and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, the next time you can enroll is during the Medicare General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 each year. You can only sign up for Part A and/or Part B during this period. You may have to pay a late enrollment period for Part A and/or Part B.

Click here for additional information about Medicare General Enrollment Period.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, January 1 to March 31 is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period during which you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan).

Click here for additional information about Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

In Rhode Island, you can access the federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) by contacting the Point at (401) 462-4444 or visiting their website at oha.ri.gov/Medicare. There you can receive free, unbiased Medicare counseling year-round and during Medicare Open Enrollment.

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).

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 5-7 weeks and regular processing is taking 8-11 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