WASHINGTON, April 23 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report (GAO-20-303) is entitled "Defense Infrastructure: Army Should Assess Progress in Standardizing Designs for Facility Construction". 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. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, chairman, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Mil  more

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island, April 23 -- Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair David N. Cicilline (Rhode Island) issued the following statement: "As all of us work to flatten the curve, our first priority must be ensuring that working men and women make it through this crisis. I'm proud that we've reached an agreement that will provide more relief for workers and small business owners, deliver critical resources for hospitals and health care workers, and lay the groundwork for a nati  more

PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island, April 23 -- Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair David N. Cicilline (Rhode Island) issued the following statement on April 21: House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) announced that they have introduced legislation to prohibit banks from collecting overdraft fees during the COVID-19 pandemic. "As we all do our parts to flatten the curve, it's critical th  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on April 21: Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus and a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, issued the following statement regarding Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern's proposal for proxy voting in the House of Representatives to address social distancing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic: "In the aftermath of the Septembe  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement on April 23: Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) voted in support of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, a $484 billion interim coronavirus relief package that supports public health and the nation's economy by providing critical aid for healthcare providers and small businesses and by funding a nationwide coronavirus testing strategy. Earlier in the day, Langevin spoke on the Hous  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. David N. Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statements: In response to a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon used sensitive business information from third-party sellers on its platform to develop competing products---contradicting its sworn testimony to Congress---House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicill  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 21 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As Americans battle a potentially fatal novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that attacks people's respiratory system, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have urged the Trump Administration to cut down on air pollution by strengthening clean air standards to help protect public health. The senators cited a study by Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which a  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 23 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: in an effort to help seniors and people with disabilities and their caregivers cope with the spread of coronavirus, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced over $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help fund home-delivered meals, care services in the home, respite care, information about and referrals to support providers, and other ser  more

NEW SHOREHAM, Rhode Island, April 22 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced over $2.4 million in federal financing to help Block Island replace a decaying water main and ensure that residents have access to safe, clean, reliable drinking water. The funds are being provided through a grant and low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. It   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 20 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As parents are forced to miss paychecks and kids can't go to school, U.S. Senator Jack Reed wants to ensure children and families can still access nutritious meals. Senator Reed announced that Rhode Island has been approved for a federal program that will help distribute $14.2 million to feed children and low-income families across the state while school is out. The Pandemic Electronic Bene  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 23 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: After holding the line and forcing Congressional Republicans to include a national testing strategy and additional federal assistance for Rhode Island hospitals and state-led testing efforts in the interim coronavirus relief package, known as 'COVID 3.5,' U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced that Rhode Island should get a quick cash injection of $17,492,264 to enhance testing in Rhode Island, as  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: In an effort to mobilize the power of national service, assist communities in need, and put more Americans to work combating the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and building a better future, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and several others are announcing new legislation to expand national service programs as the country works to respond   more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 25 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jack Reed shared a new COVID-19 Resource Guide to help keep Rhode Islanders informed and updated about federal assistance and efforts to combat novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The guide covers a broad range of topics, helps answer frequently asked questions, and links people directly to COVID-19 relief resources. "These are difficult times and I want Rhode Islanders to access the  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As federal resources are desperately needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bolster public health, and assist small businesses, the Trump Administration is awarding a $569 million no-bid contract to an apparently politically-connected, private contractor to build 17.17 miles of border wall in two separate locations along California's southern border with Mexico. At an above market rate. The $  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 22 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: The U.S. Senate approved a nearly $500 billion interim coronavirus relief package, known as 'COVID 3.5.' The legislation provides additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) to help small businesses, and it provides a major boost for hospitals and health care providers, as well as injecting needed funds for more COVID-19 test  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 25 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced that for the second time in just over a week, the U.S. Treasury Department wired a $625 million payment into Rhode Island's bank account, and the state has finally received its guaranteed allocation of $1.25 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds that Senator Reed championed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law No. 116-136  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 21 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: In order to safely reopen the American economy and prevent a second wave of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from flooding the health care system and further damaging the economy, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) says the United States needs a comprehensive, methodical strategy to increase swift, accurate testing and contact tracing. Senator Reed backs a $30 billion comprehensive national coronavir  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causing severe economic turbulence for the airline industry, Congress stepped in with a $50 billion rescue package in the CARES Act to help save hundreds of thousands of jobs and ensure air travel remains safe, reliable, and a viable connection for people, communities, and our economy. Notably, the amount of the airline rescue package is just $5 billion more than wha  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) unveiled bicameral legislation to repeal a massive tax giveaway for a small group of wealthy taxpayers that Republicans included in the coronavirus relief bill. The legislation would do away with provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT)   more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement: U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is applauding a $484-billion bipartisan emergency deal to rescue small businesses, support hospitals, and expand testing amid the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation passed the Senate this evening by unanimous consent and heads to the House of Representatives. Whitehouse released the following statement: "This bipartisan compromise is much better than the bill Lead  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following op-ed with Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, on the Federal Communications Commission's approval of Ligado's 5G network plan, which was provided to Defense News   more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse are joining their Democratic colleagues in calling on President Trump to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive all cost-share requirements for states responding to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency related to the outbreak, authorizing federal assistance to supplement  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 21 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As Americans battle a potentially fatal novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that attacks people's respiratory system, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have urged the Trump Administration to cut down on air pollution by strengthening clean air standards to help protect public health. The senators cited a study by Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which analyzed d  more