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Dear Friends, April is a great time to start thinking about enjoying the warmer months here in Rhode Island. Taking a bike ride, cleaning the yard, hiking in the woods, celebrating Earth Day, or walking the beaches can be a reminder about how fragile our environment is, and how much it contributes to our quality of life. While communities come together to clean up our neighborhoods, beaches and riverbanks, I am continuing to advocate for clean energy jobs and conservation programs in Congress. Recently, I joined my colleagues inCongress to support efforts promoting the continued conservation of wetlands and the continued development of hybrid and electric vehicles. In the coming months, Congress will also begin debating legislation for comprehensive energy reforms to achieve energy independence, increase energy efficiency, create clean energy jobs, and curb harmful pollution. As unemployment continues to rise in our state and more families are feeling the effects of our struggling national economy, energy policy reform is just one of the ways I am working with my colleagues in Washington to spur job growth and get our economy back on track. I welcome your thoughts as we continue to tackle these critical issues. To stay informated about H1N1 or Swine Flu please click here
Langevin recently joined his colleagues, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to celebrate Earth Day at the US Capitol.
Giving Families a Break I know firsthand what a difference a dedicated caregiver can make in the life of a person with a disability or chronic condition. Family caregiving is an essential, yet often overlooked, aspect of our nation's health care system. The ability to live at home and remain part of one's community can make a tremendous difference in an individual's treatment or recovery. After years of work, I was proud to announce $2.5 million in funding for the Lifespan Respite Care program.  The Lifespan Respite Care program, which was originally signed into law in December 2006, was funded in January as part of H.R. 1105 - the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.With this funding, states will be able to establish programs to assist family caregivers in accessing affordable and high-quality respite care services. Program funding will also be used to create a National Resource Center on Lifespan Respite Care to better coordinate and monitor respite services. (Back to top) Langevin joined with the staff of the Parent Support Network to announce funding for respite care programs. NIH Proposes Stem Cell Rules I am delighted that the National Institutes of Health has moved quickly to propose draft guidelines to govern federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.In early March, President Obama signed an Executive Order lifting the Bush Administration's restrictive policy on embryonic stem cell funding. By following up quickly with its issuance of guidelines, NIH is sending a clear signal around the world that our nation supports research based on science, not politics. I believe the proposed rules will help ensure that research is conducted within the strictest ethical bounds, while dramatically expanding the number of stem cell lines eligible for federal funding. As these guidelines are reviewed, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to give President Obama's Executive Order the force of law. Our nation stands ready to tackle the next set of challenges ahead to find cures to some of lifes most chronic and challenging diseases and conditions. (Back to top) Langevin and Brock Reeve, Executive Director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, met at the Providence VA Medical Center to talk about the future of embryonic stem cell research now that President Obama has signed an Executive Order lifting the ban on federal funding. Did you know? Crystal Kusma, a senior at Coventry High School, was the winner of Langevin's ninth annual Artistic Discovery Competition. The winning submission, judged by local, professional artists, was a charcoal and chalk pastel entitled, "Green." She and two guests will fly, compliments of Southwest Airlines, to Washington, D.C. this June for the unveiling of her artwork at the U.S. Capitol. Langevin congratulates Crystal Kusma of Coventry at his high school art competition. Calling For Your Thoughts I recently hosted my first hour-long telephone town hall meeting. The telephone system randomly chose constituents throughout Rhode Island's Second Congressional District and offered listeners the opportunity to ask a question. This system opens another exciting new line of communication for residents of the Second District. With this new technology, more than 10,000 constituents are able to listen by simply answering their home phones and following the prompts presented by the moderator. If time runs out and constituents still have questions, they will have the ability to leave a message that will be answered by me or my staff. I hope to host more of these telephone town hall meetings over the next year. I look forward to hearing from you! (Back to top) Small Businesses Drive the Economy I was pleased to recently join the Small Business Administration to congratulate Jamiel's Shoe World on securing an SBA-guaranteed loan with a 90 percent federal guarantee and the elimination of loan fees for both the business and the bank. The loan was made possible under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. I voted for the recovery bill because of programs like this one, and the relief these programs will bring directly to small businesses and to consumers, who have been greatly affected by the credit crunch. The $400,000 loan will be used by Jamiel's to pay off existing debt and provide working capital to the business. I am committed to bringing relief to Main Street and to the small businesses that are struggling in our state. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress on this vital and urgent goal. Thank you for your continued interest and support. Please do not hesitate to contact me about your priorities and concerns as the 111th Congress continues.

Sincerely,

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