Finding Practical Solutions for Rhode Island

Dear Friends,

While I continue to advocate tirelessly for the national policies that give all our citizens the best opportunities, I believe there are also practical ways for Rhode Islanders to maximize the resources we have.

As part of a series of events on the growing health care industry, I visited an expanding company that just hired 20 people, but only two are from our state. We aren’t providing the right training for available jobs, and I have written the Governor about options for improving collaboration between business leaders at the Economic Development Corporation and members of the state’s higher education board. Furthermore, working with non-profits, educators and the business community, we have launched a high school cyber competition and formed a partnership between colleges and cybersecurity companies. These efforts provide a model for developing talent in emerging fields where we will find our best hope for job creation.

In many cases, we simply need to bring together the right groups and individuals to find potential solutions. One example involves our underserved foster youth, who are far less likely to get a post-secondary education than their peers, but more likely to become dependent on public assistance. At a roundtable of state and non-profit organizations, we found that we can partner existing resources outside the foster care community with groups already committed to the issue to improve financial literacy among teenagers about to age out of the system.

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

It’s All about Jobs!

With President Obama about to address Congress and the American people on the topic tonight, I am pushing for a comprehensive strategy to address our jobs deficit. We cannot solve any of our pressing economic challenges, including our debt, unless we put our citizens back to work. This means tax breaks for small businesses, which create the majority of new jobs, investing in needed infrastructure projects that only become more expensive the longer we wait, and supporting science and math education to ensure we have a workforce that meets the needs of growing industries. In anticipation of the President’s address, I have also sent a letter urging him to include in his speech proposals to close the skills gap by supporting key job training programs. I discussed these issues, and how they fit into reducing our long-term debt, with the New England Council.

Cleaning up from Irene

It has been a trying couple of weeks for Rhode Islanders impacted by Hurricane Irene, including the thousands who were left without power for a significant amount of time. After the storm I visited businesses along the beach in Westerly, and I know many of you are hard at work repairing damage in your own homes and communities. Please call my office if you need assistance in navigating disaster relief claims and applicable tax provisions. You can also find helpful resources by visiting the American Insurance Association's Catastrophe Central Consumer Resources page.
Further assistance from the State ››

Save the date

STEM TO STEAM FORUM
Fostering innovation in the arts with RISD President John Maeda
Monday September 26
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Rhode Island Foundation
One Union Station
Providence, RI 02903
RSVP: (401) 732-9400 or
stemtosteam@risd.edu

Did You Know...?

IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCES
Rep Langevin has compiled resources for Rhode Islanders to protect themselves against identity theft. ››

FAST FACT
According to a 2010 survey by Investor Protection Trust, about one out of every five seniors over 65 have reported being the victim of financial abuse or fraud. ››

In Other News

ADDRESSING JOBS PROPOSALS
Speaking with the country’s oldest regional business organization, Rep. Langevin outlined the path forward for creating jobs while bringing down the long-term debt. ››

CREATING JOBS IN RI’S HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY
Watch Rep. Langevin address the need to close the skills gap in growing fields like health care to bring down the unemployment rate. ››

PROTECTING FOSTER CHILDREN FROM IDENTITY THEFT
Watch Rep. Langevin and the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association pursue solutions for a distressing issue facing kids in the foster care system. ››

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES
Recognizing small businesses are the main driver of job growth, Rep. Langevin met with company owners and a local credit union in Westerly about ways to help entrepreneurs start up and expand. ››

CSPAN COMMUNICATORS: CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS
Rep. Langevin appears as featured guest to talk about his leadership on cybersecurity and the urgency with which Congress must act.
Part 1 ››
Part 2 ››

“BECOMING AN ‘INTERNPRENEUR’”
The Warwick Beacon highlights the importance of internpreneurships, a key component of any jobs plan. ››

PROTECTING SENIORS FROM FRAUD
Congressman Langevin met with seniors in Cranston, Warwick, and Westerly to discuss deficit reduction measures and to help seniors protect their finances from swindlers. ››