on this page: Combating Climate Change |Blowin' in the Offshore Wind | Coverage for All | Helping Businesses Improve Safety | Protecting the Homeland | Privacy Statement

Dear Friends,

As we slowly emerge from winter hibernation and reach for our rakes and garden trowels, we are reminded of Rhode Island's beauty and the need to work together to make sure our natural resources are here to enjoy for years to come.  In celebration of the 37th Annual Earth Day, I recently posted a new page on on my website with informative environmental links and conservation tips.  For more on what I am doing in Congress to advocate for a healthier environment, click here.

However, this spring has also brought great tragedy to our nation.  I know I join millions around the country and the world who are at a loss to fully comprehend the shootings on the Virginia Tech campus that took 33 lives, including that of Daniel O'Neil, a native of Lincoln.  Every life that was lost was taken too early.  Every life taken had a history, a family and dreams for the future.  As the findings of the investigation unfold, we must review our laws and security procedures to make sure that we are doing all in our power to protect our citizens.  I also hope we can learn from this tragedy and begin a national discussion on how we can reduce violence.  I will continue my efforts on the House Homeland Security Committee to enhance the safety of all Americans.

Langevin recently visited the Cole Middle School in East Greenwich to talk about life in Congress and take student questions.

Combating Climate Change

We can no longer ignore the fact that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and contributed to changes in the earth's climate.  In Rhode Island, the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, are potentially disastrous.  Beach erosion makes our communities more prone to flooding and endangers our tourism-based economy, while the destruction of wetlands could eradicate wildlife and reduce the natural buffer against storm surges.

In an effort to combat these dramatic impacts, I am an original cosponsor of the Safe Climate Act, which would freeze global warming emissions from the U.S. starting in 2009 and aggressively reduce them in subsequent years to reach a goal of 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.  The legislation would also require that 20 percent of U.S. electricity come from renewable sources by 2020 and create new clean car standards to reduce emissions.

Blowin' in the Offshore Wind

Having long supported the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, I am encouraged by the state's recent release of a comprehensive wind study.  We must find responsible ways to harness this natural resource for domestic energy consumption.  That is why I am cosponsoring legislation that would extend the wind production tax credit for five years.  This tax credit has helped make wind power a more marketable and competitive energy source since its implementation in 1992, and a five-year extension would leverage even greater investment into research and production.  Wind energy is particularly advantageous because it creates no air emissions -- an important factor for New England, where power plant pollution is a major contributor to our poor air quality.

Coverage for All

My vision is that all Americans will one day have access to the same level of care as Members of Congress.  While realizing this goal will take time, there are many issues we can tackle in the interim.  Recently Congress focused its efforts on uninsured children, as we work to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), known in Rhode Island as RIte Care.  The SCHIP program provides matching funds to RIte Care which, in turn, provides health care coverage for children and some mothers who are near or below the poverty level.

This summer, I look forward to supporting the passage of SCHIP Reauthorization, which will ensure that all children currently enrolled can remain in the program and accelerate progress in covering uninsured children.  I know that with the right commitment and resources, we can eventually reach our goal of covering all of America's children.

Helping Businesses Improve Safety

I recently reintroduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2007, the benefits of which are twofold.  First and foremost, it will draw on the lessons of the Station nightclub tragedy to help save lives.  Secondly, it will help businesses who want to do the right thing and improve fire safety.  This legislation will create tax incentives for property owners to retrofit buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems.  It reduces the tax depreciation time on nonresidential real property from 39 years to only 5 for those that install sprinklers.  Other benefits include lower local fire department costs, increased loan activity, reduced insurance claims and premium costs and increased retrofitting and installation jobs.

Protecting the Homeland

As chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersercurity and Science and Technology, I recently held two high profile hearings aimed at streamlining government resources so that the nation is ready in the event of a terror attack. The first hearing, "Can BioShield Effectively Procure Medical Countermeasures that Safeguard the Nation?", examined Project BioShield, a joint venture between the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to develop and pre-purchase new countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks.  During the hearing, I heard from both industry and government officials on what they see as key problems with Project BioShield and how best to fix them.  It is critical to our nation's public health system that we commit the time and energy to making Project BioShield a success.

Langevin with Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (far right).

The second hearing was entitled: "Cyber Insecurity: Hackers are Penetrating Federal Systems and Critical Infrastructure."  The issue of cybersecurity is an important and often overlooked line of defense.  Since much of our critical infrastructure is dependent on computers and networks and is interconnected and interdependent, a cyberattack could disrupt major services and cripple economic activity.  We must make sure that our federal information systems remain secure, and this hearing helped identify how we can do more in this area.  I plan to monitor the government's initiatives in both these areas and will share updates with you in the future.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.  Please do not hesitate to contact me about your priorities and concerns.

Sincerely,

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