Sunday - July 6, 2025
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Rhode Island Newsletter for Saturday May 03, 2025 ( 29 items )  

Amo, Magaziner Honor Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio on House Floor
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Amo, Magaziner Honor Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio on House Floor WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) and Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) spoke on the House Floor to honor the late Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio of North Providence. Over the course of more than 40 years in the Rhode Island state legislature, Senate President Ruggerio fiercely advocated for the   more

AMS Signs "Call for Constructive Engagement"
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 30 -- The American Mathematical Society issued the following news release: * * * AMS Signs "Call for Constructive Engagement" The American Mathematical Society (AMS) joined more than 500 members of the educational community in signing a public statement, "A Call for Constructive Engagement," (https://www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-call-for-constructive-engagement) the first instance where current presidents have spoken out collectively in large numbers on federal matt  more

Brown University faculty to consider Statement of University Values and Voice
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 30 -- Brown University posted the following news: * * * Brown University faculty to consider Statement of University Values and Voice A committee charged with defining Brown University's core values and developing a statement on how the University may use its voice publicly shared a revised Statement of University Values and Voice and an explanatory report with the Brown community on Wednesday, April 30.  The statement -- which was presented to Brown's Facult  more

Commerce Committee Unanimously Passes Whitehouse-Sullivan FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Commerce Committee Unanimously Passes Whitehouse-Sullivan FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest Bipartisan legislation would protect Rhode Island's prized fishing industry by quashing unfair competition from illegal pirate fishing Washington, DC -U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) cheered the passage of their Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harves  more

Committee Leaders Demand Answers After NOAA Complaints Reveal Firings Decisions Came from Outside of NOAA Leadership
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Committee Leaders Demand Answers After NOAA Complaints Reveal Firings Decisions Came from Outside of NOAA Leadership (Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Members Lofgren (CA-18), Sykes (OH-13), and Amo (RI-1) sent a letter (link is external) to NOAA Acting Administrator Grimm demanding answers on who exactly is in charge at NOAA after a document reviewed by  more

Congressman Gabe Amo, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, and Congressman Mike Quigley Introduce Legislation To Reverse Trump Administration Decision Allowing Federal Agencies To Ban Public Input
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Gabe Amo, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, and Congressman Mike Quigley Introduce Legislation To Reverse Trump Administration Decision Allowing Federal Agencies To Ban Public Input Washington, D.C.--Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) introduced a resolution opposing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'  more

CVS Health Corporation Reports First Quarter 2025 Results and Updates Full-Year 2025 Guidance
WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island, May 2 -- CVS Health issued the following news release: * * * CVS Health Corporation reports first quarter 2025 results and updates full-year 2025 guidance First quarter financial highlights * Total revenues increased to $94.6 billion, up 7.0% compared to prior year * GAAP diluted EPS of $1.41 and Adjusted EPS of $2.25 * Generated cash flow from operations of $4.6 billion Operational highlights * CVS Health to exit the individual exchange business * Aetna introd  more

EPA IG: Quality Control Review of Bacon & Company's Fiscal Year 2022 Single Audit of the Narragansett Bay Commission
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following 9-page report (No. 25-N-0025) on April 23, 2025 entitled "Quality Control Review of Bacon & Company's Fiscal Year 2022 Single Audit of the Narragansett Bay Commission." Here are excerpts: * * * April 23, 2025 Ms. Patricia Boucher Audit Partner Bacon & Company, CPAs, LLC 875 Centerville Road, Building 3, Unit 10 Warwick, Rhode Island 02886 Dear Ms. Boucher: This is our final report on the qua  more

In upcoming Commencement speeches, senior orators to reflect on resilience, responsibility
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 28 -- Brown University posted the following news: * * * In upcoming Commencement speeches, senior orators to reflect on resilience, responsibility PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- "Home" means something different to graduating seniors Nkeke Harris and Aliza Kopans, but they both found a version of it at Brown University. Harris, who will earn their bachelor's degree in critical Native American and Indigenous studies, is a member of the Narragansett Indi  more

Magaziner to Speak on House Floor Every Day Until Funding for Malnourished Children Is Restored
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Magaziner to Speak on House Floor Every Day Until Funding for Malnourished Children Is Restored WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced that he will speak on the House floor every day the chamber is in session until federal funding for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), used to save the lives of malnourished children around the world, is restored. Edes  more

Magaziner, Amo Honor Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio on House Floor
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Magaziner, Amo Honor Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio on House Floor WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) spoke on the House Floor to honor the late Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio of North Providence. Over the course of more than 40 years in the Rhode Island state legislature, Senate President Ruggerio fiercely advocated fo  more

New center at Brown to study the intersection of climate, environment and human health
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 28 -- Brown University posted the following news: * * * New center at Brown to study the intersection of climate, environment and human health From extreme heat and air pollution to the health effects of chemicals in plastic products, society is confronting historic challenges at the intersection of climate, environment and health -- challenges that require interdisciplinary expertise to drive innovative research and practical solutions.  Scientists and resea  more

NUWC Division Newport engineer mentors university students on underwater vehicle projects
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * NUWC Division Newport engineer mentors university students on underwater vehicle projects NEWPORT, R.I. - Two university senior design teams, and their Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport mentor, presented their unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) Capstone projects to Division Newport staff on April 9. The students from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, were tasked with co  more

Polsinelli Online Solutions for Home Care Announces New Relationship With the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, May 2 -- Polsinelli, a law firm, issued the following news release: * * * Polsinelli Online Solutions for Home Care Announces New Relationship with the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care We are pleased to announce that Polsinelli Online Solutions for Home Care LLC (POSH), an online compliance platform that offers home-based care providers a comprehensive one-stop source for industry-specific guidance and state-specific forms and documents, is now being offered as a   more

Reed & Whitehouse Denounce Trump's Disjointed International Student Visa Revocations That Drives Away Top Talent
WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed & Whitehouse Denounce Trump's Disjointed International Student Visa Revocations That Drives Away Top Talent WASHINGTON, DC - Earlier this month, the Trump Administration abruptly and arbitrarily removed thousands of international students from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) database, which schools and the federal government use to monitor visa compliance. Student  more

Reed Announces Additional $2.6 Million to Help RI Families Save on Home Energy Bills
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed Announces Additional $2.6 Million to Help RI Families Save on Home Energy Bills WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help more Rhode Islanders reduce their home energy costs, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that Rhode Island is getting an additional $2.6 million through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), after the Trump Administration finally released the remaining $400 m  more

Reed Condemns Secretary Hegseth's Dysfunctional Management of the Pentagon
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed Condemns Secretary Hegseth's Dysfunctional Management of the Pentagon WASHINGTON, DC - Over the past 100 days, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's tenure at the Pentagon has been marked by sweeping ideological purges, scandals, and the unjustified firings of senior military leaders. On Thursday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke on the   more

Reed Opposes Trump's Plan to Defund NPR & PBS
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed Opposes Trump's Plan to Defund NPR & PBS WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump tried and failed in his first term to kill federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP) but is now taking another shot at undercutting NPR and PBS stations across the country. Yesterday evening, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to prohibit federal funding for National Public Rad  more

Reed Renews Push to End Special Tax Deductions for Huge Executive Bonuses
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed Renews Push to End Special Tax Deductions for Huge Executive Bonuses WASHINGTON, DC - According to the Economic Policy Institute, the gulf in pay between CEOs and average workers is 290 to 1. In an effort to ensure that hardworking U.S. taxpayers are not forced to subsidize lavish executive compensation packages while making a fraction of CEO pay, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today reintroduced  more

Reed: New $18.4B Navy Submarine Contract to Boost RI Workforce & Help Safeguard the Nation
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Reed: New $18.4B Navy Submarine Contract to Boost RI Workforce & Help Safeguard the Nation WASHINGTON, DC - The enormous black cylinders that begin to take shape in the cavernous manufacturing production facilities at Quonset Point provide the United States with an unparalleled strategic deterrent that helps safeguard the nation and provides the U.S. Navy with an unmatched advantage beneath the wa  more

Rep. Amo: Remembering Senate President Ruggerio
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Gabe Amo, D-Rhode Island, issued the following floor remarks on April 30, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rhode Island's late, great, senate president, Dominick Ruggerio. Mr. Speaker, "Donny," as he was referred to by those who knew him best, was a "force" to be reckoned with, a "forza," as his Italian loved ones would say. For over   more

Rep. Magaziner: Call for Restoration of Global Emergency Food Aid Funding
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, issued the following floor remarks on May 1, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise for the third time to call for funding for global emergency food aid to be restored. For years, USAID funded the production of ready-to-use therapeutic foods at Edesia Nutrition in my district. The food that was manufactured there has been sh  more

Rep. Magaziner: Edesia Nutrition Saves Malnourished Children
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, issued the following floor remarks on April 29, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a matter of life or death for millions of children around the world. Malnutrition is the leading cause of death for children under 5 globally. When children starve, their bodies break down their own muscles, bones,   more

Sen. Reed Issues Comments on Senate Floor About Tribute to Noel Simpson
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. President refers to the presiding officer of the Senate at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Noel Simpson, senior director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA), on his upcoming retirement and thank him for his more than three decades of service dedicated to Rhode Island students, families, and  more

Sen. Reed Issues Comments on Senate Floor About Trump Administration First 100 Days
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following floor remarks on May 1, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. President refers to the presiding officer of the Senate at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. President, I rise to discuss my concern about the chaos that is roiling the Department of Defense. Sunday will mark the 100th day of Pete Hegseth serving as Secretary of Defense. During his confirmation hearing, Mr. Hegseth said: President Trump wants a Penta  more

Senator Valarie Lawson Elected Rhode Island Senate President; Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Urge Follow-Through on S 359 to Keep Assault Weapons Out of Rhode Island Communities
NEW YORK, April 29 [Category: Sociological] -- Everytown for Gun Safety posted the following news release: * * * Senator Valarie Lawson Elected Rhode Island Senate President; Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Urge Follow-Through on S 359 to Keep Assault Weapons Out of Rhode Island Communities PROVIDENCE, R.I. - With the election of Senate President Valarie Lawson as the new Rhode Island Senate President, volunteers with the Rhode Island chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students   more

U.S. maternal deaths doubled during COVID-19 pandemic, among other findings in new study
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 28 -- Brown University posted the following news: * * * U.S. maternal deaths doubled during COVID-19 pandemic, among other findings in new study A new study says much of the rise in U.S. maternal deaths before the COVID-19 pandemic may have been due to how deaths were recorded and did not reflect a true increase in risk. Yet when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, maternal death rates spiked across nearly every age and racial group.  The findings were detailed in a s  more

Whitehouse Raises Alarm as Justice Department Arrests Judge and Pledges More Prosecutions of Judges
WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Whitehouse Raises Alarm as Justice Department Arrests Judge and Pledges More Prosecutions of Judges Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, today raised the alarm after the FBI arrested a Wisconsin state court judge and the Attorney General of the United States pledged to prosecute more judges. "I don't know what happ  more

Whitehouse, Grassley Welcome GAO Report on Use of Beneficial Ownership Information to Bolster Fraud Detection in Federal Programs
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * Whitehouse, Grassley Welcome GAO Report on Use of Beneficial Ownership Information to Bolster Fraud Detection in Federal Programs Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), former co-chair of the Caucus, announced the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report  more