WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on June 5: Thousands of Rhode Island small businesses are getting some much needed certainty, clarity, and flexibility thanks to a new law that was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and signed into law. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which Reed helped pass, extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks, and allows businesses and   more

WASHINGTON, June 4 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) is calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the role of Attorney General Barr and senior White House officials in using tear gas, flashbangs, and rubber munitions to disperse a peaceful protest outside the White House in order to allow for President Trump to take part in a photo op. "The u  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement regarding the death of George Floyd and the demonstrations happening across the country: "To those who have joined demonstrations calling for justice for George Floyd, his loved ones, and others who have lost their lives unjustly: we hear you, and we mourn with you. Tensions are high and people are justifiably outraged over the countless incidents of injustice and discrimination against minorities and commun  more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement regarding President Trump's decision to roll back protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was established by President Obama as the nation's first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean: "The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a fragile national natural treasure that is home to beautiful sea life, including deep-sea corals that are   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 6 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: In an effort to help keep people safe and provide emergency housing assistance amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced a new award of $6,246,719 in federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding for the Ocean State. Reed says the new federal funds will help non-profits, local governments, public housing authorities, and other community entities across   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 2 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As unemployment rates soar and some eviction moratoriums begin to expire, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is calling for action to help struggling renters and homeowners and prevent a wave of evictions and foreclosures from exacerbating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Tomorrow, Monday, June 1, the Rhode Island District Court will begin processing eviction cases that were initiated befo  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with 24 colleagues, in calling on the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct an investigation into the patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). "Given the repeated   more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on June 2: Yesterday, President Trump ordered the tear gassing of peaceful protestors who were exercising their First Amendment rights so he could walk across a park in Washington, DC to conduct a photo-op outside a boarded up Episcopal church where President Lincoln often went to find solace and guidance during the Civil War. "When President Trump ordered peaceful protesters to be tear gassed for a photo-op,   more

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: In an effort to help struggling small businesses and promote economic recovery, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. The bill, which now goes to the President's desk to be signed into law, extends the PPP loan forgiveness period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks, and allows businesses and non-profits to spend more money on other business expenses,   more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded Senate passage of legislation to better align the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with the needs of small businesses, and called for additional changes to the program to simplify the loan forgiveness process for small borrowers. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act now awaits the President's signature to be signed into law. "Congress ha  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 3 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on the events that happened in Providence: "I am heartsick to see the destruction of small businesses in downtown Providence and attacks on police officers working to contain a dangerous situation. "Nobody has a right to inflict violence, which only serves to drown out the message of lawful protestors. "We must hold the people who organized this riot accountable and help rebuild what   more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this morning gathered with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus at the U.S. Capitol for a moment of silence to commemorate the lives of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, and to stand in solidarity with Americans peacefully objecting to racial injustice across the country. "Our country is at a crossroads. A nation reeling from a pandemic and an econ  more

WASHINGTON, June 5 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will introduce the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which will break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices. The bill has the support of the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Grower  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 6 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, in response to the Trump administration's announcement that it is removing environmental protections for national marine monuments in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England: "If President Trump had done his job and taken the threat of COVID-19 more seriously, our fishermen and our nation would be better positioned to weather thi  more