Addressing Pain at the Pump

Dear Friends,

I am greatly concerned with the rapid rise of gas prices and its impact on Rhode Island’s families and small businesses. We must put politics aside and develop a long-term comprehensive energy policy that will reduce our dependence on oil, while also pursuing short-term solutions where possible to prevent these increases from holding back our economy’s still fragile recovery.

One common sense effort involves reducing the influence of speculators, who drive up the price of oil to sell it for a profit, by creating and enforcing stringent guidelines for their participation in the marketplace. I have cosponsored the End Excessive Oil Speculation Now Act, which ensures energy prices accurately reflect supply and demand.

However, lawmakers across the political spectrum must accept that any policies that do not reduce our dependence on fossil fuels are only temporary fixes to this recurring problem. In this instance, international tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have affected oil supply, and until we decrease our use of oil, we cannot prevent events involving unfriendly nations from artificially driving up prices. The latest increase has happened despite a huge surge in domestic production. Our dependence on oil imports has fallen to its lowest level in 16 years, but the United States possess only about two percent of global oil reserves, while using more than 20 percent of what is produced worldwide.

We cannot overcome our energy challenges without producing more alternative sources, which requires the safe development of our abundant natural gas supply and expansion of renewable industries like Rhode Island’s burgeoning wind power sector. Recognizing our nation’s fiscal constraints, we must also use all sources of energy more efficiently. The recent increase in vehicles’ miles per gallon standards is a good start and should be complemented by weatherization efforts that decrease energy consumption by homes and businesses.

As your representative, I enjoy hearing your thoughts, whether in person or in writing. Please stay in touch via email, Facebook and Twitter to keep the conversation going, and check out my YouTube and Flickr pages.

Sincerely,

Jim Langevin

Tax Cut Compromise

I am pleased that Congress was able to work together to extend tax relief that benefits middle class families, continue emergency unemployment benefits and avert drastic cuts for Medicare doctors that would affect seniors’ health care. Keeping these same Americans in mind, we must move with the utmost resolve to find common ground on ways to create jobs and boost our economy. We can start by supporting proposals to increase partnerships between growing industries and community colleges to train our workforce with skills they need for available jobs.

Recognizing Alex and Ani’s Rhode Island Success Story

Last week, I enjoyed a wonderful tour of Alex and Ani’s new world headquarters in Cranston and of the additional space they will expand into in the coming months. Founder Carolyn Rafaelian has shown tremendous loyalty to Rhode Island with her commitment to hiring here. It is important to hear from her and her employees about ways we can create opportunities for other entrepreneurs in Rhode Island.
Read more about my visit ››

Save the date

WEST WARWICK SENIOR CENTER VISIT
St. Patrick’s Week Luncheon
March 15, 2012
Langevin speaks at 11AM
Followed by lunch
145 Washington Street
West Warwick, RI 02893

Did You Know...?

ART COMPETITION
The deadline for Rep. Langevin’s annual high school art competition is 4/6. The winner’s work will be hung in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Call 732-9400 for more information. ››

FAST FACT
In 2011, the U.S. imported 45.1 percent of its oil, the lowest amount since 1995. ››

In Other News

SPOTLIGHTING RI WORKFORCE PROGRAM
Rep. Langevin called on his colleagues to help close the skills gap by supporting more job training partnerships like the one between CCRI and National Grid. ››

APPLAUDING AGREEMENT TO HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS
Rep. Langevin highlighted the benefits of a settlement requiring banks that helped cause the housing crisis to contribute to solving it. ››

SUPPORTING TRANSPARENCY IN CONGRESS
Rep. Langevin advocated for legislation to prevent insider training by members and employees of Congress, while urging improvements to the bill. ››

SAVING SENIORS MONEY ON HEALTH CARE
Rep. Langevin released findings from a report that showed Second District residents have benefited from legislation he supported to reduce seniors’ prescription drug costs. ››

PROTECTING RI CITIZENS FROM ID THEFT
Recognizing the increased threats of identity theft during tax season, Rep. Langevin partnered with Identity Theft 911 to provide tips for constituents to protect themselves. ››

UNDERSTANDING OUR CHALLENGES IN CYBERSPACE
Rep. Langevin published an op-ed in Roll Call describing the massive economic costs of the country’s cybersecurity shortcomings and proposing solutions. ››

USING RI CYBER EFFORTS AS A MODEL NATIONALLY
Having helped Rhode Island develop partnerships to protect the state’s critical networks, Rep. Langevin passed legislation in the Homeland Security Committee to build on the Ocean State’s accomplishments. ››