on this page: In Your Neighborhood |Protecting Little Rhody | Getting Answers from the Bush Administration | Keeping Kids Healthy | Privacy Statement

Dear Friends,

July is always an especially busy time for Congress as we continue working to appropriate federal funding for programs big and small across the country. I look forward to this time of year with mixed emotions – so many worthy Rhode Island programs apply for funding, but there is only so much money to go around.While I am proud of all the important federal assistance approved by the House of Representatives over the last few weeks, this is only the first step in a long process. Once the Senate votes on the appropriations bills, this funding must still be approved by a House-Senate conference committee and signed into law by the President. I will continue working to ensure that support for these projects stays strong as the process continues. Here is the list of projects waiting for final approval:

• The Northwest Community Health Care is expected to receive $300,000 for the construction of an 8,000 square foot community health center on Danielson Pike in Foster.
• The Comprehensive Community Action Program, Inc. (CCAP) is expected to receive $100,000 for the facilities and equipment for their new oral health program for children from low income families, located in Warwick.
• The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is expected to receive $1.5 million for the I-195 Relocation Project.
• The Coventry Department of Human Services is expected to receive $150,000 for Coventry CARES Community Center.
• The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence is expected to receive $300,000 to continue operating the Nonviolence Streetworkers Program, which reaches out to “unattached” youth at high risk of joining gangs or committing violent offenses.
• The Providence After School Alliance, in a joint venture with the Education Partnership, is expected to receive $200,000 for Providence After-School Programs.
• The Narragansett Police Department is expected to receive $200,000 for Narragansett Interoperable Communication – a statewide safety communications network.
• The University of Rhode Island is expected to receive $637,000 for laboratory equipment at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences.
• The University of Rhode Island is expected to receive $149,000 to increase community awareness on tick-borne disease prevention.
• The University of Rhode Island is expected to receive $292,000 for the Growing Green Initiative to develop a comprehensive horticulture/agriculture program at the University.
• Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations is expected to have an additional $588 million to build components for an additional sub to be constructed as early as FY 2009.

Langevin visited the Urban Edge Farm in Cranston to discuss the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, better known as the Farm Bill, and how it affects Rhode Island.

In Your Neighborhood

Last month I announced that I would be hosting a series of community visits this summer. I was delighted to meet so many residents in the Westerly and Charlestown areas over the July 4th recess. In the coming weeks, I will be out and about in Providence, Foster, Glocester and Cranston. Here is my schedule for August:

• Monday, August 6, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  Question & Answer session with the community at the John Hope Settlement House, 7 Burgess Street, Providence, RI 02903
• Tuesday, August 7, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  Question & Answer session with the community at the Glocester Manton Library, 1137 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, R.I. 02814
• Thursday, August 9, from 5 p.m.-7p.m.
  Question & Answer session with the community at the William Hall library, 1825 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905

Langevin spoke with Debbie Nigrelli, executive director of the St. Mary/St. James Food Pantry during a recent visit to Charlestown.

Protecting Little Rhody

Rhode Island will be receiving approximately $19.5 million in Homeland Security funding for Fiscal Year 2008.  Included in this amount is approximately $5.15 million designated under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program.  It is no secret that first responders in Rhode Island and across the country are being asked to do more with less, but with the addition of UASI funding their jobs may become a little easier.  We all know that Rhode Island was initially predicted to take a major homeland security funding cut, and I have worked hard to make sure that didn't happen.  I have long advocated for the Providence area to be included in the UASI program, and I am pleased that in large part due to these additional resources, our state appears to have fared better than expected for the coming year.

Getting Answers from the Bush Administration

Since 2001, I have strongly disagreed with many policies promoted by the Bush Administration.  I believe our government must be responsive to its citizens, and I have, on numerous occasions, called for increased Congressional oversight on the activities of the executive branch.  As you may know, some organizations and members of Congress have called to investigate grounds for possible impeachment.  I have grave concerns about many actions taken by top officials in the Administration, including the President and Vice President.  However, given the critically important issues that the American people expect Congress to act on, I believe our energy is better spent now trying to bring an end to the conflict in Iraq, addressing our domestic and international priorities, and ensuring that Congress meets its oversight responsibility.  I am concerned that using Congress's limited time on impeachment proceedings would be divisive and distracting at a time when the new Congressional leadership cannot afford to take attention away from the pressing legislative undertakings that are needed to move our country forward.  In the meantime, I assure you that I will continue to work to conduct aggressive oversight in a fair and responsible manner and to hold the Bush Administration accountable for its actions.

Langevin listened to Westerly residents at his town meeting at the Westerly Public Library.

Keeping Kids Healthy

I am proud to let you know that I voted for H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act, just this week.  After the Bush Administration's budget cut funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), known as RIte Care in Rhode Island, Congress has worked to not only fully fund this important program, but also extend it to 5 million more American children.  SCHIP has made health insurance a reality for over 12,000 children in Rhode Island this year - the majority of them in families where one or more adult is part of the workforce.  SCHIP is a critical component of health care delivery in Rhode Island, as it is across the country, and I am so honored to be part of a Congress that is taking steps to ensure that all children who are eligible for this program are able to participate.  By reauthorizing the SCHIP program, we renew our national commitment to achieving the goal of insuring all children whose parents cannot afford private health insurance coverage.

Thank you for your continued interest and support.  Please do not hesitate to contact me about your priorities and concerns as the 110th Congress continues.

Sincerely,

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