Press Releases

PAWTUCKET – Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) hosted a virtual press conference today to urge that the United States Senate bring up the Heroes Act, legislation that will provide $5.3 billion to Rhode Island, keep first responders and health care workers in their jobs, strengthen our health care system, and expand our country’s testing capacity. Cicilline, who will testify on the Heroes Act before the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Finance at 4:00 PM, was joined on today’s call by U.S. Reps. Grace Meng, Brian Higgins, Donald Payne, and Dwight Evans.  

NEWPORT – In an effort to promote smart, sustainable economic development and ensure public input in how former U.S. Navy-owned land and infrastructure is used by the three municipalities that make up Aquidneck Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Congressman David Cicilline today announced a new $300,000 federal grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).  The federal funding will be used for a study to evaluate options for a possible transfer of U.S. Government infrastructure to the municipalities of Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth.  Reed, Whitehouse, and Cicilline announced the federal funds will be used to develop a plan to ensure the land and assets are utilized in a way that benefits the economy, environment, and overall quality of life throughout Aquidneck Island.

PAWTUCKET – Today, 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.  

PAWTUCKET – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) announced today 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. Cicilline will hold a virtual press conference on the bill with New England colleagues TOMORROW at 1:00 PM. Press can RSVP here.   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 provides $1.737 billion to the State, and $559 million to cities and towns, in its second year of implementation. A breakdown of the funding allocations for Rhode Island’s First District is embedded below.  

PAWTUCKET – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), who recently led 123 Republicans and Democrats in a letter urging support for local news in the next COVID-19 relief package, issued the following statement tonight:   “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) loans. This is an important lifeline for trustworthy sources of local news that will help them continue to serve our communities.”  

PAWTUCKET – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement today:   “This is an outrageous decision and a miscarriage of justice. Michael Flynn already pled guilty to a felony. Nothing that happened today can change that fact. The only thing that did change is that Attorney General Barr further corrupted the Department of Justice. The American people are justified in their anger that there is one set of rules for Donald Trump and his friends, and a completely different set of rules for everyone else.”   “This demands an immediate explanation from the Attorney General. He needs to answer for his actions before the House Judiciary Committee, and I am glad that Chairman Nadler is working to make that happen as soon as possible.”

PAWTUCKET – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), who last night called on the Public Utilities Commission to extend their moratorium on utility terminations, issued the following statement tonight:   “Rhode Islanders shouldn’t have to worry about losing utility service in the middle of a pandemic. I am pleased that utility terminations are being suspended through the end of the month. This is the right thing to do.”  

PAWTUCKET – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) wrote to Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Chairperson Margaret Curran today asking that the PUC extend a moratorium on utility terminations that is slated to expire tomorrow.  

PAWTUCKET – House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement after McGraw-Hill and Cengage decided not to move forward with their planned merger:   “As I warned two months ago, this merger would have created a single company that controlled more than 40% of the college textbook market. We’ve seen that movie before – such an entity would eliminate jobs and drive up costs for college kids who are already taking on enormous amounts of student loan debt. The merger made no sense, and I’m glad to learn that it has been abandoned.”