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U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Rhode Island Newsletter for Sunday May 17, 2020 ( 18 items )  

Rep. Cicilline Issues Statement on COVID-19 Relief Package
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement urging support for local news in the next COVID-19 relief package: "A thriving news industry is critical for any democracy. Local news outlets have been getting hammered for years, and this pandemic has made things even worse. "That's why I am pleased that the next COVID-19 relief package will make Rhode Island newspapers, radio, and television stations eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan  more

Rep. Cicilline, Colleagues to Federal Reserve, Treasury: Ensure Competitive Economy, Protect Small Businesses From Predatory Corporate Behavior
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urged the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) to use their authority under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to restrict large corporations that receive b  more

Rep. Cicilline: HEROES Act Provides $5.3 Billion to Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) announced that the Heroes Act, which the House will vote on Friday, provides more than $5.3 billion in new COVID-19 relief funding to protect the lives and livelihoods of Rhode Islanders. The Heroes Act provides $1.9 billion to the State of Rhode Island, and another $1.117 billion to Rhode Island city and town governments, in its first year. It then provide  more

Rep. Langevin Issues Statement on House Revised Proxy Voting Proposal
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following statement regarding Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern's revised proposal for proxy voting in the House: Congressman Langevin, who first proposed an e-Congress capability following the September 11 attacks, praised the initial resolution from Chairman McGovern when it was released last month. * * * "Once again, I commend Chairman McGovern for overseeing a deliberative process while drafting this resolution to all  more

Rep. Langevin: RI Delegation Announces Help for RI Farmers & Hungry Families
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 11 -- Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more Rhode Islanders than ever are in need of emergency and supplemental food. At the same time, Rhode Island farmers and food sector businesses are facing widespread market and supply chain disruption. In an effort to assist Rhode Island's families, farmers, and food businesses, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Repre  more

Reps. Cicilline, Sensenbrenner Introduce Bill to Protect Local News Publishers
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and Ranking Member F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05) introduced the Local News and Emergency Information Act. The legislation would ensure that all local news organizations are eligible for federal stimulus through the Paycheck Protection Program. "Reliable local information and reporting in our communities is more important than ever," Ci  more

Sen. Crapo Joins Call to Accelerate Rulemaking For Advanced Nuclear Reactors
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Mike Crapo joined U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) in sending a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki calling on the agency to accelerate completion of a rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactor technologies. In the letter, the senators  more

Sen. Reed Announces $86.7 Million to Help RI Boost COVID-19 Testing
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Although the Trump Administration has yet to submit a detailed national novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing plan, and the U.S. continues to lag other nations in per-capita diagnostic COVID-19 testing, the White House this week is releasing $11 billion to states nationwide to help with testing. U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who helped include the additional testing funds in the Paycheck Protection Program and He  more

Sen. Reed Wants Fresh Take on Federal Relief Efforts to Feed Families and Help Farmers & Fishermen
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, May 12 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Rhode Island's farmers, fishermen, and food industry are all facing widespread market disruption and hungry families in need require additional nutritional assistance. In an effort to assist Rhode Island's families, farmers, fishermen and food producers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed recently helped secure federal funding -- including $3,294,234 for   more

Sen. Reed: Conditions-Based Unemployment Insurance Plan Will Help Stabilize U.S. Economy, Boost Economic Survival of Workers, Businesses, Communities
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Unemployment is spreading across the country like the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), upending lives and livelihoods, and damaging individuals, businesses, state, and local budgets at an alarming rate. The U.S. economy shed more than 20 million jobs in April alone and 33.5 million people have become unemployed in the past seven weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. To effectively address the pand  more

Sen. Reed: Improving America's COVID-19 Testing, Tracing Capabilities Is Essential for Safer Reopening, Sustainable Recovery
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on May 11: After President Trump recently claimed "testing isn't necessary" to effectively combat novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the White House reversed course today and tried to take a Rose Garden victory lap under a banner claiming "America Leads The World In Testing." However, according to Worldometer, the U.S. lags behind many nations when it comes to per capita testing, including: Australia, Belgium, Ca  more

Sen. Reed: Senate GOP May Not See the Need for Urgent COVID-19 Fiscal Action, But the Fed, American People Do
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As Americans face record unemployment and the biggest price jump in grocery prices in nearly fifty years, and as communities struggle to reopen due to a lack of adequate novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing capacity, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is urging Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration to work with Democrats to provide the American people with much needed additional help. "The Trum  more

Sen. Reed: U.S. Senate Approves National 9-8-8 Suicide & Mental Health Crisis Hotline
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: In an effort to combat rising suicide rates, a bipartisan bill co-authored by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) to designate 9-8-8 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline unanimously passed the U.S. Senate last night. The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S. 2661), which Senator Reed co-authored with Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) d  more

Sen. Whitehouse Applauds Introduction of HEROES Act; House Relief Bill Would Boost RI Economy
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to extract a mounting human and economic toll, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is applauding the introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives to provide a new round of urgently needed relief for Americans. The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act would deliver additional financial help for struggling Rhode Isl  more

Sen. Whitehouse Proposes Bill to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: With nursing homes in Rhode Island and across the country working hard to keep residents and staff safe amid the ongoing pandemic, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bob Casey (D-PA) are proposing a bill that would provide $20 billion to help states, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities contain the spread of COVID-19. The Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act would  more

Sen. Whitehouse: Senate Democrats Back Stronger Ethics Guidance for Judges
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led colleagues in writing to the federal courts' Committee on the Codes of Conduct in support of the Committee's draft guidance that would bar judges from membership in the Federalist Society and American Constitution Society--two ideological outside groups. Joined by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL  more

Sen. Whitehouse: Senators Introduce Legislation to Ban 'Ghost' Guns as COVID-19 Pandemic Drives Demand for Untraceable Firearms
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of fifteen senators introducing legislation to ban "ghost" guns. Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced the Untraceable Firearms Act at a press call earlier with Everytown for Gun Safety. Reports indicate that the public health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have spurred an increase in demand for and sale of   more

U.S. Senate Poised to Answer Sen. Reed's Call for a New, Lifesaving Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Lifeline
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, issued the following news release on May 13: As more Americans find themselves in crisis, the U.S. Senate is finally poised to answer U.S. Senator Jack Reed's (D-RI) call to simplify the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline from a ten-digit number to 9-8-8, making it easier for desperate individuals or bystanders to reach a trusted, accredited source of help in their time of need. The Senate is poised to pass the National Suicide Hotline D  more