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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Rhode Island Newsletter for Sunday September 15, 2019 ( 22 items )  

Congressional Delegation, State Officials Celebrate $60.3 Million Federal Grant to Upgrade Northbound Providence Viaduct
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Sept. 13 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - Funding comes from INFRA grant program created by Whitehouse to meet RI's needs for large-scale infrastructure projects * * * Gathered beneath the aging structure of the Northbound Providence Viaduct, Rhode Island's federal delegation and state officials today celebrated a $60.3 million federal "Infrastructure for Rebuilding America" grant, or INFRA grant, that will provi  more

GAO Issues Report on DOD's Open Source Software Pilot Program Implementation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Department of Defense's implementation of the open source software pilot program. The report (GAO-19-457) is titled "Information Technology: DOD Needs to Fully Implement Program for Piloting Open Source Software". The report was sent to Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Louisiana, chairman,  more

House Antitrust Subcommittee Issues Document Requests as Part of Digital Markets Investigation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Today, Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law sent document requests as part o  more

Langevin, Welch Introduce Bill to Incentivize Energy Efficient Construction
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) today introduced the Building Efficiently Act of 2019, a bill to encourage property developers to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings they work on. The bill would extend residential construction tax credits that expired in 2017 and expand them to rental properties. "Too often, developers neglect to make energy efficiency a priority when  more

Reed, Whitehouse Call for Senate Action to Ban High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - The Keep Americans Safe Act would prohibit the transfer, importation, or possession of magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition * * * U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today were joined by two dozen colleagues in calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to act on their  more

Rep. Cicilline Issues Statement on Impeachment Investigation Against President Trump
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on impeachment investigation against President Trump: "No one in this country is above the law, including the President of the United States. "The Constitution makes clear that the impeachment process is how Congress holds corrupt officials accountable for their actions." "By any reasonable measure, this is the most corrupt administration in modern history. W  more

Rep. Cicilline Issues Statement on Judiciary Committee Passage of Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, issued the following statement on the committee passage of the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (H.R. 1423): "For too long, corporations have used forced arbitration clauses buried deep in the fine print of contracts to undermine rights of working people. "By forcing victims of corporate misconduct into a private system that is rigg  more

Rep. Cicilline's Disarm Hate Act Heads to House Floor
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - Reported favorably by House Judiciary Committee with two additional measures Cicilline cosponsored, bill prevents individuals convicted of hate crimes from legally owning guns * * * The House Judiciary Committee passed U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline's (RI-01) Disarm Hate Act (H.R.2708) today as Democrats continued pressing for action to reduce gun violence in the only developed natio  more

Rep. Langevin Issues Statement on North Korean Hacking Sanctions
WARWICK, Rhode Island, Sept. 13 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus and a senior member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, issued the following statement regarding the sanctioning of three North Korean hacking groups: "The WannaCry ransomware and the intrusions into nodes in the SWIFT interbank transfer system were both major incidents that targeted civilian critical infrastructure. Attribution of the  more

Rep. Langevin Votes to Block Offshore Drilling in Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Congressman Langevin (D-RI) today voted in favor of H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act, which would ban oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. The bill would definitively reject a Trump Administration proposal, currently held up in the courts, to reverse protections of these waters that were put in place by President Obama. H.R. 1941 passed the House by a vote  more

Rep. Langevin: Congressional Delegation, State Officials Celebrate $60.3 Million Federal Grant to Upgrade Northbound Providence Viaduct
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Sept. 13 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Gathered beneath the aging structure of the Northbound Providence Viaduct, Rhode Island's federal delegation and state officials today celebrated a $60.3 million federal "Infrastructure for Rebuilding America" grant, or INFRA grant, that will provide funding to replace and upgrade the eleven bridges that comprise one of the busiest segments of I-95 in northeast. U.S. Senator Sheldon White  more

Rep. Reed: McElroy Confirmed to Be U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - Full U.S. Senate votes to confirm RI Public Defender Mary McElroy to federal bench * * * The U.S. Senate today approved the nomination of Mary S. McElroy to be the next U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Rhode Island. McElroy, who currently leads the office of the Rhode Island Public Defender, will fill a judicial vacancy that has sat empty since Judge Mary M. Lisi assumed senior sta  more

Reps. Nadler, Cicilline Issue Statement on Justice Antitrust Investigation Into Automakers on Deal With California
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, and Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following joint statement on reports that Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into automakers who reached an agreement with California regarding state emissions standards: "President Trump has repeatedly misused his office to punish perceived adversaries--in this   more

SEM. Reed: RI Fire Departments Granted $1.2M for New Training & Equipment
CRANSTON, Rhode Island, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-, issued the following news release: * * * - Cranston, Western Coventry, North Kingstown, Lime Rock & Johnston Fire Departments all to receive funds for firefighter safety and training. * * * In an effort to help local fire departments enhance response capabilities and improve fire protection services, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $1,214,374 in federal fundi  more

Sen. Reed Issues Statement on Homelessness in California
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on news reports that indicate the White House is considering pushing for a so-called major crackdown on homelessness in California: "Homelessness is a complex issue, and effectively addressing it requires real resources and a sustained commitment. "Unfortunately, President Trump seems more interested in scapegoating homeless people and trying to use their plight as partisan fodder against his perceived crit  more

Sen. Reed Issues Statement on National Security Advisor Bolton
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the firing of National Security Advisor John Bolton: "John Bolton was wrong for this job and I am not surprised he didn't last long in this role. "This is a White House in constant turmoil. While President Trump churns through national security officials every few months, his policies and inability to lead could cause long-term damage to the United S  more

Sen. Reed Speaks About Legislation on Investment in Pediatric Workforce
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Sept. 9, on legislation (S. 2443) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for investment in tomorrow's pediatric health care workforce: I am pleased to be introducing the Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric Workforce Act with Senator Cassidy. This critical legislation would provide funding for the Title VII pediatric subspecialty loan repayment prog  more

Sen. Reed Urges FDA to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: After more than 400 patients have been diagnosed with a mysterious illness linked to vaping, the Trump Administration today announced it is considering a proposed ban on thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes. U.S. Senator Jack Reed is strongly urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the sale of flavored vape products. "It sounds like the Trump Administration is taking a tentative step f  more

Sen. Reed: Brown University Gets $53.4 Million Federal Grant for Alzheimer's Research
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - U.S. Senator Jack Reed's efforts to boost Alzheimer's research helps bring major new grant to RI and will strengthen state's research infrastructure * * * Today, Brown University announced the university is receiving a major research grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to study Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and help deve  more

Sen. Whitehouse: McElroy Confirmed to Be U.S. District Court Judge for District of Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - Full U.S. Senate votes to confirm RI Public Defender Mary McElroy to federal bench * * * The U.S. Senate today approved the nomination of Mary S. McElroy to be the next U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Rhode Island. McElroy, who currently leads the office of the Rhode Island Public Defender, will fill a judicial vacancy that has sat empty since Judge Mary M. Lisi assumed s  more

Whitehouse, Alexander Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address E-Waste National Security Threat, Grow Domestic Recycling Industry
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - Fast-growing American e-waste exports provide raw materials for foreign-made counterfeit products and unsafe environmental disposal * * * U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced bipartisan legislation to stop the flow of electronic waste to China and other countries that counterfeit American technology. The Secure E-waste Export and Recycling Act (S  more

Whitehouse, Reed Call for Senate Action to Ban High-Capacity Ammunition Magazines
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: * * * - The Keep Americans Safe Act would prohibit the transfer, importation, or possession of magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition * * * U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today were joined by two dozen colleagues in calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to act  more