on this page: Health Care for All |Making College Affordable | Strengthening the Economy | Investing in Green Jobs | Privacy Statement

Dear Friends,

These are exciting times to be a Rhode Island voter!  All too often we hear media reports about low voter turnout.  I think on Tuesday, March 4, Rhode Island is in a great position to not only buck this trend, but to set new records for Presidential Primary turnout.

I have long been a leader on election reform, from my time as Secretary of State to my work on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in Congress in 2002.  HAVA has been called the most significant civil rights legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  The bill's funding helped replace outdated voting equipment, train poll workers and educate voters.  I also successfully lobbied for requirements that states make polling places accessible and provide at least one voting machine in each precinct that allows a disabled voter to cast a vote in a private and independent manner.  There is still work to be done to maintain public confidence in our democracy.  During the 110th Congress, election reform will remain one of my highest priorities, and I will continue to work for a fair and just electoral system all across America.

Congressmen Jim Langevin and Christopher Shays recently announced the American Health Benefits Program at the Comprehensive Community Action Program's Family Health Services Center in Cranston.

Health Care for All

Over 80 percent of the uninsured come from working families.  As the cost of health care continues to rise, it is burdening our families and placing American employers at a competitive disadvantage.  I, along with my colleague Congressman Christopher Shays from Connecticut, have introduced legislation that will require all Americans to have health insurance.  The American Health Benefits Progam, based on the tried and true model of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, would offer affordable health coverage to all Americans, with the lowest-income earners receiving subsidies to ensure affordability.

AHBP recognizes that any successful health insurance program must be based on three principles:

• Choice – A system of managed competition that encourages private insurance companies to develop a range of health care packages based on quality, efficiency, service and price.
• Shared Responsibility – Individuals, health care providers, the business community, and the government all have key roles to play in reforming America's ailing health care system.
• Affordability – By spending health care dollars more efficiently, we can make coverage affordable for all.

For more information about this legislation, click here.

Congressman Langevin meets with the University of Rhode Island's Focus the Nation team to talk about global warming solutions.

Making College Affordable

I am proud to be part of a Congress that has placed such a high priority on making college a reality for all of our nation's students.  On February 7, the House of Representatives passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which will reauthorize the Higher Education Act for five years and builds on legislation passed last year to help lower college costs and boost federal loan support for students.  Particularly given the current state of our economy, it is imperative that we invest in our education system to promote new employment and ensure that today's students can adapt to the jobs of tomorrow.

Some highlights of this bill include:

• Increasing the maximum amount of Pell Grants from $5,800 to $9,000.
• Increasing support for low-income and first-generation students, as well as veterans and military families.
• Creating a national center to improve college recruitment, retention, and completion of students with disabilities.
• Expanding eligibility for Pell Grants for students with intellectual disabilities.
• Streamlining the cumbersome filing process for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Requiring higher education institutions and student loan providers to give borrowers fair and full information on their loan terms and repayment options.
• Establishing a loan forgiveness program for high-need jobs like nursing.
• Boosting campus safety by helping all colleges develop and implement emergency systems and campus safety plans.

Strengthening the Economy

Our economy is in tough shape both here in Rhode Island and across the country, but some relief is on the way.  I was proud to support the bipartisan economic stimulus plan recently signed President Bush.  The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act is expected to help approximately 500,000 Rhode Island families who could receive tax rebates of up to $1,200 per couple, plus $300 per child, as early as mid-May.

The plan will provide a tax rebate for the low- and middle-income families hit hardest by the economic downturn.  This legislation also includes tax cuts for small businesses, doubling the amount they can immediately write off their taxes for capital investments, and encouraging investments in new equipment.  Additionally, the plan offers immediate tax relief for all businesses that invest in new plants and equipment by speeding up depreciation provisions.

While we still have more work to do, I believe this stimulus package will provide a quick and much-needed boost to the economy as we consider longer-term solutions to the problems we face.

Langevin recently met with Richard Rhodes, the Associate Dean at URI's College of the Environment and Life Sciences, to tour the university's new Center for Biotechnology and Life Science building, which will open in January 2009.

Investing in Green Jobs

On February 27, I was proud to vote for H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008, which passed the House by a vote of 236 to 182.  This bill repeals billions of dollars in subsidies and royalty payments to oil and gas companies and channels those funds toward research into conservation efforts and alternative energy development.  This measure extends and expands tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.  These provisions are critical to creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across our country, and I believe these resources will also increase "green" jobs in our state.

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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