Press Releases

RI Delegation Announces Nearly $6M to Hire 24 New Firefighters & Enhance Public Safety

Three local fire departments are getting a big staffing boost thanks to a federal public safety staffing grant. Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced a total of $5,877,024 in federal funding to help fire departments in Middletown, Portsmouth, and Woonsocket recruit, hire, and train firefighters. The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant will help provide salaries and benefits for these positions for three years.

Delegation Announces Additional $7.6 Million in CDBG Funds for RI

In an effort to help communities combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced a new infusion of $7,585,135 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This third tranche of awards brings the state’s total CDBG funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to date to $22,145,569.

RI Delegation Announces Federal Backing for National Expansion of RI Marine Trades Association’s Innovative Boat Recycling Program

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program has awarded a $105,452 grant to the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) Foundation to expand Rhode Island’s innovative fiberglass boat recycling program across New England and to the state of Washington.

Cicilline Votes to Restore Full Funding and Service of U.S. Postal Service

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee voted to fully restore the “operational changes” and fully fund the United States Postal Service. Earlier in the day, he spoke on the House floor about this important vote.

RI Delegation Announces Nearly $3.9 Million for Local Fire Departments

Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced $3,884,710 in new federal funding for seventeen fire departments across the state.

Cicilline On Trump and Pompeo’s Re-Imposing Sanctions on Iran

RI Delegation Demands Trump Administration End Sabotage of Postal Service

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline are demanding that the Trump administration end its sabotage of the United States Postal Service (USPS). In a letter sent today to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation call any action to undermine the operations of the USPS “unacceptable,” including efforts reported in Rhode Island that affect hardworking postal workers and the effectiveness of the postal system. The Rhode Island delegation cite concerns raised by the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers about changes implemented in the Ocean State that severely curtail the ability of letter carriers to deliver the mail on a consistent and timely basis.

RI Delegation Announces $2.3 Million Grant FOR ‘401 Tech Bridge’ Facility to Propel Textiles, Composites, Undersea Technology Industries

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Polaris Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) a $2.3 million grant to open a new facility in Rhode Island that will support the growth of the local textiles, composites, and undersea technology industries. The grant from the EDA’s Public Works Program will fund the construction of a new Advanced Materials and Technology Center for 401 Tech Bridge, a partnership between Polaris MEP, the University of Rhode Island, the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and the Office of Naval Research. The 17,000-square-foot facility will be located in Portsmouth.

RI Delegation Delivers $8.9M to Upgrade RIPTA Bus Fleet

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will be able to upgrade its bus fleet thanks to a new federal grant that was secured with the help of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline.

RI Delegation Announces Over $2.5M to Help RIers Access Housing During COVID-19 Crisis

In an effort to help low-income families shelter in place safely and connect to essential health and educational services amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced $2,552,658 in federal funding for 24 Rhode Island public housing agencies (PHAs) and two behavioral health centers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program.