Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, January 20, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in. I was honored to be there to witness the historic moment that offered renewed hope for millions, shattered a glass ceiling, and was an important first step toward healing our country.

In recent years, our nation has been tested like never before. However, I’m confident we will pull through it, and I’m thankful that the President made it clear he is ready to confront the pandemic. One of his first actions was to put forth another COVID relief package to help Americans. The “American Rescue Plan” includes funding for a robust vaccination strategy, assistance to families and small businesses, and funding for state and local governments that will help safeguard the jobs of first responders. We have been working diligently to fast-track it for consideration as soon as possible.

This focus on keeping people safe and communities healthy is precisely why I invited one of Rhode Island’s very own frontline heroes, emergency physician Dr. Megan Ranney, to be my guest at the Presidential inauguration. Frontline workers like Dr. Ranney continue to work long hours and risk their own health to provide care to those who are ill. I wanted to take this special opportunity to highlight their invaluable contributions.

I am looking forward to working with an administration that embraces science and fact and is committed to strengthening our country by uniting us. In his inaugural address, the President emphasized that it’s our shared values that bring us together as Americans. Those values, in particular a commitment to the truth, have been under attack these last four years from within the White House. The rampant spread of misinformation, aided and abetted by the former President, culminated in an attack on the Capitol, the very heart of our democracy.

I’m optimistic that President Biden is ready to turn the page on this dark time in our history and return integrity to the White House.