WPRI: Johnson & Johnson to hire 75 at new RI office

WPRI: Johnson & Johnson to hire 75 at new RI office

By Ted Nesi

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Johnson & Johnson will establish a new technology office in Providence to develop health-related software, with initial plans to employ 75 people, state and company leaders announced Monday.

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s aides confirmed a deal with the Fortune 100 company to locate a new health technology center in the city. The new office will employ high-skill IT workers such as developers and engineers, creating software and running analytics to support Johnson & Johnson efforts to improve health outcomes, they said.

“I’m excited,” Raimondo said in an interview. “It’s a big deal. It’s another sign of our momentum. It’s a big, brand-name company that quite literally could have chosen anywhere they wanted – everyone would want Johnson & Johnson to put a center of excellence in their hometown, and they picked us.”

Raimondo said she views the potential for Johnson & Johnson in Rhode Island along the same lines as General Electric, which earlier this year reached a similar deal with her administration to put new tech jobs in Providence.

“Plant the flag,” she said. “Open a center. I have no doubt they’re going to fall in love with Rhode Island and grow and grow and grow, and I’ve been – as you can imagine – not shy about expressing to them that that’s my plan.”

Raimondo’s office said Johnson & Johnson will seek nearly $5 million in tax credits over 10 years as part of the deal: $4.1 million in Qualified Jobs Incentive credits tied to the new employees’ income tax payments, and up to $500,000 to subsidize worker recruitment and rent payments. A spokesman said the new office is projected to generate about $775,000 in new state revenue per year.

Johnson & Johnson becomes the third major global company to announce plans to put tech jobs in Providence this year, along with GE and Virgin Pulse, which Raimondo suggested is a sign her economic strategy is starting to pay off. All three companies have been attracted in part through incentive programs championed by the governor, at a combined price tag of about $16 million.

Steve Wrenn, a Johnson & Johnson global vice president who previously worked at CVS, lavished praise on the state during a news conference at the Providence Public Library that was attended by university presidents, business executives and nonprofit leaders.

“Providence is an unknown gem to a lot of people,” Wrenn said, adding that the company was also lured by the new tax incentives created in recent years by Raimondo and the General Assembly.

Raimondo acknowledged that providing such tax breaks frustrates many people, but defended it as a necessary evil for economic development.

“I find it annoying myself,” she said. “I do, really. But the best analogy is, we can’t unilaterally disarm. If every state said at the same time we’re disbanding our economic-development incentives, then I would do it. But when I have places like Boston – which is about as hot of an economy as you’ll find – throwing $130 million to get a few hundred GE jobs, it’s foolish to think we can compete if we don’t.”

She added: “And 10 years from now, when GE has 700 employees there and J&J has 700 employees there and Virgin Pulse has 700 employees there and it’s tens of millions of dollars of revenue for the state, great, I did my job.”

Congressman Jim Langevin said before the new tax breaks were put in place Rhode Island had difficulty competing for new jobs with its neighbors in New England. “Rhode Island didn’t really have those kinds of incentives at all,” he said. “It was a source of frustration for so many of us.”

Johnson & Johnson is based in New Jersey and posted $70 billion in sales last year. Its consumer division currently has an office in Cumberland that works with Woonsocket-based CVS Health, a major seller of the company’s products, which include Band-Aids, Tylenol and Listerine. It also has a sizable medical-device factory across the border in Raynham, Massachusetts.

Johnson & Johnson plans to start hiring for Providence just after the new year, with plans to open the office by the spring, Raimondo’s aides said. The new office will initially be located at One Ship Street, a property owned by Wexford Science & Technology, the developer that reached a deal last week to build a new innovation complex on the old I-195 land; Wexford is receiving about $1 million in tax breaks to renovate the building.

Raimondo said she hopes Johnson & Johnson will make the Wexford complex its permanent home once that facility is ready, though she said the decision will be up to executives there. She said the company has similar offices to the new Rhode Island one in Limerick, Ireland, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, and she hopes it will grow to a similar size as those.

Johnson & Johnson’s interest in Rhode Island was first piqued last spring when Raimondo appeared on a panel in Washington at The Brookings Institution, a think tank that has advised her administration. Also on the panel was Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky, who Raimondo said told her afterwards he was intrigued by her description of Rhode Island’s potential.

Raimondo said that conversation started months of discussions between state and company officials led by Sandra Peterson, a top Johnson & Johnson executive, including a meeting Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor had during a trip to the U.K. A “turning point” in the talks, Raimondo said, was a State House meeting last summer where senior Johnson & Johnson executives met with officials from local colleges including RISD, URI, CCRI and Bryant.

“The I-195 corridor is uniquely suited to support Johnson & Johnson’s new health technology center and Rhode Island gives us access to the economic development tools and university assets we need to stay competitive in the rapidly growing health tech space,” Wrenn said.

“That’s another reason why I’m so excited,” Raimondo said. “This isn’t just them tossing a few jobs here. This is them having spent a year – they did a deep analysis on why Rhode Island.”

That was also another sign, she argued, that tax breaks are “necessary, but insufficient” to attract companies.

Raimondo said she’s hopeful more companies will announce new commitments to Rhode Island next year, though she also emphasized that she spends a significant amount of time talking about expansion with businesses that are already in the state. She singled out Electric Boat as a key example, noting the company provides good-paying jobs to workers who don’t have a college degree.

“As I go into 2017 I have to stay focused on creating jobs at every level,” she said.

Narragansett Times: Rhode Island leaders active in Russian hacking inquiry

Narragansett Times: Rhode Island leaders active in Russian hacking inquiry

By KENDRA GRAVELLE

PROVIDENCE — As numerous House leaders and senators have called for an inquiry into the Russian hacking of the November election — among them, Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, who released a joint-statement with New York Senator Charles Schumer, Arizona Senator John McCain and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham calling for a serious investigation into the cyberattacks — Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin, who has made protection against cyber threats a top priority, weighed in on the news of Russia’s election interference.

“It’s important that we do as thorough an investigation as possible to determine the degree to which [Russia] or anybody else was involved,” Langevin said, “and to try to get a full understanding of how far this went and what we can do in the future to better protect the integrity of our elections and prevent outside interference, wherever possible.”

Langevin identified three means by which Russia could have interfered with the November election.
The first: by hacking into the U.S. voter registration system.

In October, it was revealed that Russia had made attempts to hack the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and had attempted to hack into the U.S. voter registration system.

“They were trying to undermine confidence in U.S. elections,” Langevin said.

He added that there had also been concerns that Russia was trying to hack into the U.S. election system to alter election results.

“There’s a danger that a nation-state could actually penetrate into our system and prevent or mess with the vote total,” he said.

Currently, there is no evidence that any outside entity achieved success in penetrating the election system to alter vote counts, Langevin explained, adding that the system is not actually connected to the internet.

“Then there’s the third area,” Langevin said, “which were the efforts by Russia to conduct operations that actually tried to influence the outcome of the election — tried to favor one candidate over another.”

On Dec. 9, the CIA conceded that Russian intelligence agents had procured thousands of confidential DNC documents and private emails, which were then leaked throughout the months leading up to the November election, sabotaging the Democratic Party.

“That, right now, is the most troubling aspect of this,” Langevin said, “and that’s where we need to take further steps to hold an investigation.”

“This is a new attack vector,” he continued, “that many people would not have thought about previously, and we’re going to have to take further steps in the future to protect against.”

In the wake of the news of Russia’s interference with the election, president-elect Donald Trump has made a slew of comments indicating that he distrusts U.S. intelligence agencies.

“I found Trump’s comments troubling,” said Langevin, who served for eight years on the House Intelligence Committee. “I’ve dealt with many individuals from the CIA and I’ve always found these people to be incredibly dedicated patriots and professionals in the intelligence world.”

“It’s troubling to hear president-elect Trump all of the sudden casting dispersion on the motivations of members of the CIA,” he continued.

He added that he hopes Trump will take the time to look more objectively at how the CIA derives its intelligence.

“I hope he will be satisfied that they are giving him good information,” Langevin said, “and that their job is not to be political, but to gather, present and connect the dots on objective information.”

Although Russians have taken aggressive steps toward other countries in the past, Langevin added, this case is unprecedented.

“This is certainly a paradigm shift that has taken place,” he continued, “and something we’ll have to guard against in the future.”

These kinds of cyber attacks can hopefully be prevented in the future, Langevin said, through electronic as well as diplomatic actions.

“There has to be strong signals sent both publicly and privately,” he said, “if anybody tries to influence our elections, there will be consequences for doing such a thing.”

He added that the U.S. shouldn’t be afraid to levy sanctions in response in order to such hacks to send a strong message.

Langevin, a member of the Homeland Security and the House Armed Services committees, said the United States makes more use of and is more dependent on the internet than any other country, making it a highly vulnerable target for cyberattacks.

“We have to be aware of our surroundings and aware of the potential threats,” he said. “That’s the challenge with protecting the country in cyberspace. There’s such a vast area to cover.”

Educating its citizens in the fields of computer science and technology is one tool the U.S. should utilize to protect against cyber threats in the future, Langevin said.

“I am deeply troubled by how under-resourced we are in terms of the number of people who have the right skills to do the jobs that we need done in protecting the country in cyberspace,” he added. “That’s going to be something I will continue to work on — trying to develop a stronger cyber workforce.”

He lauded programs like CS4RI, Rhode Island’s initiative to have computer science taught in every public school statewide by December, 2017, and CyberCorps, a scholarship program aimed at attracting students to the fields of cybersecurity and information assurance.

“I continue to be a strong advocate for the country taking more aggressive cyber security measures,” he said. “This is a moving target, and there’s never going to be a point where we are 100 percent secure in cyberspace. Right now the aperture of vulnerability in cyberspace is very wide and we need to collapse it down, so the risk is something that’s much more manageable.”

“We need to be ever-vigilant about cyber vulnerability,” he continued, “and we need to make sure we have the right people and resources in place to better protect the country.”

In their bipartisan statement, Reed, McCain, Schumer and Graham identified the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together to ensure such cyber attacks come to an end.

“This cannot become a partisan issue,” the statement reads. “The stakes are too high for our country. We are committed to working in this bipartisan manner, and we will seek to unify our colleagues around the goal of investigating and stopping the grave threats that cyberattacks conducted by foreign governments pose to our national security.”

Nextgov: House Cyber Leader Calls for Special Cyber Committee

Nextgov: House Cyber Leader Calls for Special Cyber Committee

By Joseph Marks

One of the Congress’ top cyber advocates on Friday called on House Speaker Paul Ryan to create a special cybersecurity committee that would lead an investigation into Russian hacks aimed at disrupting the 2016 election.

The proposed select committee would cut across jurisdictional lines to “investigate pressing cybersecurity matters, starting with Russian interference with the election,” according to the statement from Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I.

The FBI now agrees with a CIA assessment that Russia’s interference in the election was aimed at helping President-elect Donald Trump win, rather than simply sowing chaos, according to a Washington Post report out Friday based on anonymous sources.

The intelligence community’s official determination thus far is only that the top levels of the Russian government directed the breaches and that they intended to “interfere with the U.S. election process.”

House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes has declined to launch a special investigation into the election-year hacks, while Ryan has not taken a firm position on the question.

“I believe a Select Committee on Cybersecurity is the best way to streamline oversight and ensure a thorough, fair investigation into this disturbing attack on our democracy,” said Langevin, who co-founded the House Cybersecurity Caucus and has served on major House panels with cyber jurisdiction, including the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Intelligence committees.

The call comes a day after losing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton reportedly attributed the breaches at the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to a “personal beef” between herself and Russian President Vladimir Putin over her assertion while secretary of state that Russian parliamentary elections were rigged. She said the breaches contributed to her losing the election during a meeting with campaign donors.

Clinton also reportedly endorsed a 9/11 Commission-style investigation into the breaches.

President Barack Obama also pledged a response to the Russian hacking in an interview with NPR posted Thursday, saying the response would be both “proportional” and “meaningful.” Vice President Joe Biden previously made a similar pledge.

“I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action and we will at a time and place of our own choosing,” Obama said, adding that “some of it may be explicit and publicized, some of it may not be.”

Obama said he has spoken with Putin directly about the breach.

PBN: Virgin Pulse expanding in R.I., to bring 300 jobs over next five years

PBN: Virgin Pulse expanding in R.I., to bring 300 jobs over next five years

BY PBN Staff

PROVIDENCE – Citing Providence’s “hip vibe” and talent pool, Virgin Pulse, which acquired ShapeUp Inc. earlier this year, plans to expand its Rhode Island presence and create nearly 300 new jobs in the city over the next five years.

David Osborne, president and chief operating officer of Virgin Pulse, said the company considered a Boston office, but selected Providence because of the “access to talent and supportive business climate.”

The company, which provides software and technology solutions that increase employee productivity by improving employee health, well-being and engagement, already employs 65 in Providence.

“Our growth strategy is centered on hiring high-potential, early-in-career talent. With its hip vibe, low cost of living and high density of college students, Providence was a great fit from both a business and cultural perspective,” Osborne said in a statement.

Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced Virgin Pulse’s plan to bring 300 jobs to the state at a press conference Thursday along with Virgin Pulse executives.

“When Virgin Pulse bought ShapeUp, the worst kept secret among business leaders was that they were looking to move north to Boston. Because of the great, talented people who live here and because of the economic tools we’ve created with help from the General Assembly, instead of losing 65 good paying jobs to Boston, we’re going to create nearly 300,” Raimondo said in a statement. “I am thrilled that Dave, Derek and the Virgin Pulse executive team took a fresh look at Rhode Island. I look forward to bringing a box of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to their offices to meet their new employees. We will continue to make the necessary investments in our people so that Rhode Islanders have the skills they need to compete for the jobs Virgin Pulse, GE Digital, CIC, Wexford and others are creating right here in Rhode Island.”

Virgin Pulse will begin hiring nearly 300 additional staff over the next three to six months and is already seeking applications for open positions. It is working with TechHire Rhode Island, a statewide initiative for delivering in-demand tech talent for Rhode Island employers, to fill positions.

“Not only does it make good business sense for us, growing our presence in Providence allows our employees to take advantage of the wide range of healthy lifestyle experiences that the city offers,” Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin Pulse, said. “As a company that cares about the health and well-being of its employees, it was clear that this walkable city has an active living culture that is well aligned with our corporate mission and values.”

Virgin Pulse has applied for $2.5 million in Qualified Jobs Tax Credits and $3.2 million in Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credits. The Qualified Tax Credit would not take effect until the jobs are created and those hired are paying state income tax. The Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credits would support expanding Virgin Pulse’s current 29,000-square-foot space to a nearly 90,000-square-foot office in downtown Providence. The request for incentives will be discussed at the R.I. Commerce Corp. meeting on Dec. 19.

David Ortiz, a spokesman for Raimondo, said the company has not said where it plans to move in Providence. It currently is in the Jewelry District at 111 Chestnut St.

U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin said this announcement is important because it preserves existing jobs, adds hundreds more and promotes economic development.

“This is a signal to the rest of the country that Rhode Island is making strides to roll out the welcome mat for new and growing businesses,” Langevin said.

Dr. Rajiv Kumar, chief medical officer at Virgin Pulse, said prior to the acquisition by Virgin Pulse, ShapeUp “benefitted immensely from strong partnerships with the Rhode Island state government, local institutions and community leaders.”

“I’m thrilled that Virgin Pulse saw the potential that exists here and decided not only to stay, but to grow our footprint in this supportive and vibrant community,” Kumar said.

A third-party analysis projects that the expansion will generate $10.5 million in additional revenue to the state and nearly $60 million of additional gross domestic product, once Virgin Pulse completes its full hiring.

Virgin Pulse is the latest company that has announced plans to move to Rhode Island. GE Digital, which opened a temporary office on Dorrance Street this year, will move into a new spot at 75 Fountain St. next year.

On Dec. 13, the morning after the I-195 Commission voted on an $18.5 million incentive package, the governor announced that Wexford/CV Properties has secured key tenants – including Cambridge Innovation Center – for its anchor property in the I-195 Innovation and Design District.

MarineLink: First US Offshore Wind Farm Powers Up

Posted by Eric Haun December 15, 2016

Power developer Deepwater Wind said its Block Island Wind Farm has begun delivering electricity into the New England region’s grid, becoming the United States’ first commercially active offshore wind farm.

The energy produced from the Block Island Wind Farm is linked to the New England grid via Block Island and mainland Rhode Island by National Grid (NGG)’s new sea2shore submarine transmission cable system.

The milestone concludes the two-year offshore installation of the wind farm, which Deepwater Wind said was completed on-time and on-budget with the help of more than 300 local workers.

“Our success here is a testament to the hard work of hundreds of local workers who helped build this historic project, and to the Block Islanders and the thousands more around the U.S. who’ve supported us every step of the way of this amazing journey,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski.

Technicians from GE Renewable Energy, which supplied the project’s five offshore wind turbines, put the wind farm through its paces during the four-month testing period. The project’s crew transfer vessel, the Rhode Island-built Atlantic Pioneer, transported technicians to the wind farm around the clock.

“Rhode Island is proud to be home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm – and I’m proud to be the only governor in America who can say we have steel in the water and blades spinning over the ocean,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “As the Ocean State, we’re motivated by our shared belief that we need to produce and consume cleaner, more sustainable energy and leave our kids a healthier planet – but also by this tremendous economic opportunity. With this project, we’ve put hundreds of our local workers to work at-sea and at our world-class ports and are growing this innovative industry. I applaud Deepwater Wind for leading the way.”

“It’s official: America’s first offshore wind farm is powering homes and businesses with clean, reliable energy,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “This is a historic milestone for reducing our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s happening here in the Ocean State. Congratulations to all of the many partners whose years of diligent planning and outreach have put Rhode Island at the forefront of clean energy innovation and positioned our offshore wind industry for growth.”

“The Block Island Wind Farm is a symbol of Rhode Island’s national leadership in one of the most innovative industries in the country,” said Congressman David N. Cicilline. “As a nation, we have an obligation to respond to the threats posed by climate change, and off-shore wind energy promises to help us reduce our carbon pollution and create good-paying, sustainable jobs right here in Rhode Island. The start of commercial operations at the Block Island Wind Farm is an important step that marks the beginning of a new era in America’s green energy industries.”

“Each step of the way, each milestone achieved in the life of the Block Island Wind Farm, has been building to this moment. This is a historic and groundbreaking project for Rhode Island and for our country. I am so proud and excited to see the blades of progress turning and the wind farm in operation,” said U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin.

“We’ve made history here in the Ocean State, but our work is far from over,” Grybowski said. “We’re more confident than ever that this is just the start of a new U.S. renewable energy industry that will put thousands of Americans to work and power communities up and down the East Coast for decades to come.

The Hill: Commerce survey: Cyber researchers fear legal repercussions

By Joe Uchill – 12/15/16 09:10 AM EST

A Department of Commerce survey shows that 60 percent of cybersecurity researchers fear legal repercussions for reporting security vulnerabilities they discover to a product’s manufacturers. 

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s survey came through its role in a multi-stakeholder working group focused on increasing industry adoption of programs to allow researchers to report vulnerabilities — often called coordinated disclosure programs

“The more we can share information, the more prepared we can be in keeping the nation and the economy safe,” said Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.). A member of Langevin’s staff sits on the working group and was involved in creating the survey.

Until this year, copyright law prevented researchers from investigating many products.

A related vendor survey showed that industry split into two tiers on the topic — one that had fully embraced disclosure and another that had not. But despite growing adoption, few vendors expected disclosure programs from their suppliers. Less than a third of vendors expect third-party suppliers to have disclosure policies, and only a quarter worked with their suppliers to remediate vulnerabilities. “It was rewarding to see indications that both sides see the value of coordinated disclosure,” said Jen Ellis, vice president of community and public affairs at the security firm Rapid 7, and the head of the working group.

Ellis highlighted that researchers are largely more interested in helping vendors fix products that are not secure than in remuneration.

Only 15 percent of researchers expected payment for notifying a company of a bug, though 70 percent expected continued communication about patches.

One of the hold-ups in the adoption of coordinated disclosure programs is distrust between vendors and researchers. Notification of a fixable product flaw often comes only during lawsuits or bad press, and firms view researchers looking to help with skepticism.

Many companies do offer rewards — called “bug bounties” — to encourage researchers to investigate their products, however. With 85 percent of survey respondents not expecting compensation, that would cast bug bounties as more of a bonus than a full-time revenue stream for most researchers.

Warwick Beacon: Constituents dish out concerns Langevin lunch

Warwick Beacon: Constituents dish out concerns Langevin lunch

By John Howell
Pizza isn’t on the regular menu at the Greenwood Inn in Warwick. But when pizza is a staple at Congressman Jim Langevin’s luncheons and more than 80 people show up, the chef makes pizza.

A good deal more than pizza was served up Saturday as a steady stream of constituents poured in, hoping to tell Langevin what’s on their minds or to seek his help. Some were still crestfallen over the election results and, as Meg Geoghegan, communications director, said, there’s not much to say.

“We’re not happy about it either,” she said.

But such a fatalistic outlook wasn’t the case when it came to issues raised by Jim and Katie Bonner of Cranston, Roger Morin of Warwick, Marie Hennedy of East Greenwich and Paul Kelley of Warwick.

Langevin went from table to table engaging in one-on-one conversations. Following were staff members who recorded constituent contact information and the particulars of the issue being raised.

The Bonners attended because they were told by the City of Cranston that concerns over the reactivation of a rail spur leading to the former Ciba Geigy plant was a federal issue. The rail line has been inactive for at least 25 years. Neighboring homeowners have improved the area over the years, clearing brush and planting trees and shrubs. Jim Bonner said Safety Kleen, a company that collects and stores used motor oils from service stations, cut down their plantings. Safety Kleen is clearing the tracks so that they can contract with the Providence Worcester Railroad to transport the oil. To date, they’ve used tanker trucks.

Bonner said people are concerned about contaminated soil and safety, and more than 80 people attended a meeting at Park View School last week to discuss the issue. He said the company didn’t have answers. His wife said there have been a high number of cancer deaths in the neighborhood, something she attributes to Ciba Geigy being in the neighborhood years ago. The pharmaceutical company ceased operations in the 1980s.

Langevin’s office didn’t have an immediate answer for the Bonners. Seth Klaiman, the congressman’s district director, said the office would follow up with the City of Cranston and examine what jurisdiction the federal government has in the matter.

Langevin’s office will also follow up with Roger Morin, who said the Veterans Administration denied payment for medication his doctor prescribed to fight multi-myeloma, a cancer that Morin believes resulted from his exposure to Agent Orange. Morin is a veteran Air Force pilot who served in Vietnam. His exposure to Agent Orange happened stateside, he said.

While Morin’s doctor prescribed the generic drug, Celecoxib, he said the VA refused to cover its cost because it is “too expensive.” He said he is living off ibuprofen and it is “tearing up my liver.”

“It’s outrageous to say it’s too expensive,” he said.

A veteran submariner, Paul Kelley came to lunch to impress upon Langevin how important Electric Boat operations are to the state.

“If we lose Electric Boat, we have lost the only lead yard for the construction of submarines,” he said. “No one knows how to build subs like we do.”

Marie Hennedy, who led the West Bay League of Women Voters for years, attended to urge Langevin to do whatever he could to address the problem of homelessness.

Justin Oakley attended in hopes that the congressman, who he pointed out understands the issue better than most because of his disability, would help spread the word that home aids, such as grab bars and chair lifts, can prevent falls and other accidents that end up costing Medicare thousands of dollars. He advocates that such aids should qualify for Medicare funding and speculates it could save millions in medical payments while improving the quality of life for seniors.

“A $150 grab bar can save a fall and a $35,000 hip replacement,” he said.

Bernard Rimmerman of East Greenwich was there to tell Langevin he believes House Representatives should be limited to three terms or six years.

“I feel there should be some new thinking,” he said.

Katie Albert, who fields constituent calls in Langevin’s office, was one of the staff keeping tabs on the issues raised. She said that soon after the election the office received a flurry of calls over President-elect Trump’s selection of Steve Bannon as executive chairman of management and strategy. Since then, the political calls have simmered down.

Informed that the Greenwood Inn doesn’t usually have pizza on the menu, Albert thought she better sample it. She gave it a thumbs up. However, by the time Langevin reached the last of the tables, the pizza was gone. His staff ordered him a BLT to go.

RIFuture: RI delegation is concerned about Rex Tillerson

RIFuture: RI delegation is concerned about Rex Tillerson

By Bob Plain on December 13, 2016

It’s fair to say Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is concerned with President-elect Donald Trump tapping ExxonMobile chexecutive Rex Tillerson to serve as secretary of state.

Senator Jack Reed said he has “serious concerns.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said he has “deep concerns.” Congressman Langevin said he has “significant concerns” and Congressman David Cicilline said, “The American people have a right to be deeply concerned.”

The four Democrats’ concern stems from either Tillerson’s ties to Russia and/or his ties to corporate America. Trump announced this morning he will put Tillerson up for nomination. Because Tillerson has ties to Russia and the CIA suspects Russia meddled with the election in an effort to benefit Trump, Tillerson could face a difficult Senate confirmation process.

Below are the full statements from each member of the delegation.

Senator Jack Reed:

“I have serious concerns about Mr. Tillerson’s nomination, and it serves as a reminder of the need to quickly and thoroughly investigate Russia’s campaign to subvert our election and our country’s interests.

“Our nation’s top diplomat should be someone who stands up for America’s best interests, but Mr. Tillerson’s profession has been putting Exxon Mobil’s bottom line above all else. He even opposed U.S. sanctions against Russia after the country’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 because his multinational oil company stood to lose Russian contracts.

“It is troubling that the President-elect continues to fill his cabinet with people who will blur the lines between corporate interests and America’s national interests, and put profits ahead of people.

“Mr. Tillerson deserves a fair confirmation process and I am sure he’ll face some tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans. I look forward to learning more about his views, background, and plans to prevent his personal conflicts of interest from interfering with his role as Secretary of State.”

Congressman David Cicilline:

“Once again, Donald Trump is revealing that his campaign for the presidency was nothing more than a long con of the American people. Rather than ‘draining the swamp,’ he is stocking his Cabinet with the same Wall Street billionaires and wealthy special interests he condemned over the last two years.”

“What’s worse is that, just days after it was revealed that Russian intelligence operatives are apparently still in possession of stolen Republican campaign emails, President-elect Trump has selected a Secretary of State with deep ties to Vladimir Putin’s regime and zero foreign policy experience.”

“Rex Tillerson advanced Exxon business interests in Russia, he opposed President Obama’s sanctions after Russia invaded Crimea, and Putin personally awarded him one of Russia’s highest honors for foreigners – the Order of Friendship.

“We are in uncharted waters. The American people have a right to be deeply concerned about potential Russian influence over the decision-making of the incoming administration.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse:

“Donald Trump pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ of corporate insiders in Washington to ensure that our government serves the American people, not massive corporations like ExxonMobil. That’s why it’s disturbing to see operatives of the Koch brothers, Exxon, and other special interests fill the ranks of the transition team, and the biggest swamp alligators floated as nominees to run federal agencies. I also have deep concerns about this nominee’s ties with Russia at a time when our allies in Europe depend upon international economic sanctions to deter Russia’s further violations of international law.”

Congressman Jim Langevin:

“Another day, another alarming Cabinet pick from President-elect Trump. I have significant concerns about the selection of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Not only does he lack any policy or diplomacy experience, but he has extensive business interests in Russia and a friendly relationship with Putin, having been awarded an Order of Friendship in 2013. At the same time we are discussing Russian interference in our electoral process – interference in our very democracy – Mr. Trump puts forth a candidate with documented ties to Moscow. It is a disconcerting choice, to be sure, and I hope that my colleagues in the Senate fully explore his background and his vision for our nation’s foreign policy.”

PROJO: Reed, Langevin: CIA assessment points to need for cyber-scrutiny

PROJO: Reed, Langevin: CIA assessment points to need for cyber-scrutiny

By Jennifer Bogdan

U.S. Rep James Langevin on Saturday said he was “deeply disturbed” by the CIA’s assessment that Russia intervened in the election to help Donald Trump win the presidency.

The CIA’s assessment, in part, relied on information that people with connections to the Russian government provided WikiLeaks with hacked emails. Langevin, D-R.I., is a longtime proponent of increased cybersecurity.
“It is imperative that our intelligence agencies continue to conduct a thorough review of Russian information-warfare activity to confirm the extent of the operation and the motives of those involved,” Langevin said.

“This incident continues to underscore the immediate need to improve our nation’s cybersecurity as it represents a new front in nation-state conflicts.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the committee will conduct an inquiry next year into Russia’s cyberthreats that could help shed light on Russia’s suspected interference in the election.
Reed, D-R.I., said he hopes the results of any review by the committee could be made public “without jeopardizing intelligence sources or methods.”

Last month, Reed was one of seven U.S. senators on the committee who sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to declassify and release more information about Russia’s involvement in the election.

“We shouldn’t allow any attack on our democratic system to go unchecked,” Reed said.

Warwick Beacon: RI to receive $6M for early education

Warwick Beacon: RI to receive $6M for early education

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U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, announced Wednesday that Rhode Island preschool programs will receive $6,043,131 from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services through the Preschool Development Grant Program. Rhode Island is one of 18 states awarded funds to expand access to preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families.  

In a press release the state Congressional delegation lauded the grant.

“Early childhood education programs benefit families, communities, and our economy.  We want every child to have a chance to start off strong and achieve their full potential.  I am proud to have helped deliver these funds.  Because we stood firm and staved off the elimination of funding for the Preschool Development Grant, more kids are going to get an opportunity to learn,” said Senator Jack Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee who helped successfully provide $250 million to continue support for Preschool Development Grants in the fiscal year 2017 Appropriations bill.

“Every mom and dad wants their kid to have the chance to do well in school right from the start,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.  “These federal resources will help open the doors of quality early education centers to more of Rhode Island’s littlest learners.”

“Early education is the foundation upon which student success is built, especially for low-income and at-risk children,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “By increasing access to preschool and other early learning opportunities, that foundation is strengthened for hundreds more young people, giving them the skills, confidence, and support they need to perform in kindergarten and throughout their educational experience.”

“This funding is great news for Rhode Island’s families. Ensuring high-quality early education is one of the most effective ways we can help Rhode Island children do better in school,” said Congressman David Cicilline, who advocated for this funding. “All of Rhode Island’s children deserve access to preschool educations that set them up to succeed in school and compete for the high-paying jobs of the 21st Century. This report clearly demonstrates that our state is meeting its goals for improving access in high-needs communities, and this funding will help us continue to close the achievement gap and ensure all our children have the opportunities they deserve to build necessary skills and thrive academically.”

Over the past three years, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have invested $750 million nationwide to expand access to early education in 230 high-need communities. Rhode Island is one of six states that met or substantially exceeded enrollment targets. Between the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the state increased the number of classrooms served from 17 to 33, representing 594 students.