Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, which now heads to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. The annual defense authorization proposal includes several priorities for Rhode Island, including paid family leave for federal workers, higher wages for servicemembers, and protections for Liberian nationals facing deportation (Rhode Island has the highest Liberian population per capita of any state).

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives voted today to pass the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), landmark legislation that will give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies to bring down prices and make those savings available to hardworking families across America.

WASHINGTON – Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) questioned witnesses today during the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report and the Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment Report.

A link to the full line of questioning and excerpts are included below:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement today:

“I am deeply saddened by the death of my friend, former Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph F. Rodgers Jr.”

WASHINGTON – In 2019 alone, Rhode Islanders have received 121 MILLION robocalls and more than 53 BILLION robocalls have been placed nationally. U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) released the following statement following the passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to stop bad robocalls and protect Rhode Islanders from scammers, the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act (S. 151), in the House earlier today:

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation today introduced by U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), the AMIGOS Act (H.R. 565), to increase trade and investment ties between Portugal and the United States by making Portuguese nationals eligible for E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas. H.R. 565, which will make it easier for Portugal and the United States to do business with one another, now heads to the Senate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to honor Elizabeth Buffum Chace, a 19th century Rhode Island abolitionist, by renaming the U.S. Post Office located at 575 Dexter Street in Central Falls. U.S. Congressmen David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and James Langevin (RI-02) introduced the proposal, H.R. 2451, which the U.S. House passed last month. It now awaits the President’s signature.

WASHINGTON – House Antitrust Subcommittee Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) introduced The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019 (H.R. 5133) today to prohibit pharmaceutical companies from engaging in anticompetitive “product hopping.” The bill is scheduled to be marked up in the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) introduced legislation today to establish Rhode Island and surrounding counties in Massachusetts and Connecticut as a federal regional commission. The Southern New England Regional Commission Act, which Cicilline introduced with Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-03), will allow jurisdictions at different levels to work together with federal support to strengthen the area’s economy.