Progressive Charlestown: Langevin doesn’t like Amtrak Bypass either

At a meeting Thursday afternoon, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) provided Charlestown Town Council President Virginia Lee and Westerly Town Council President James Silvestri with a letter he sent today to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), opposing the current proposal for realigning tracks in Washington County, as part of the Northeast Corridor Future “NEC Future” Tier 1 plan.

As currently laid out in the plan, the new rails would cut across nature preserves, family farms, and sacred tribal lands, and their siting has been vehemently opposed by town officials and residents throughout South County.

“I have personally heard from hundreds of constituents who oppose the proposed realignment in Washington County, and I want them to know that I have heard their concerns and I support their community,” said Langevin.

“I am a strong proponent of high-speed rail, but I believe there must be a solution that modernizes intercity passenger rail in Rhode Island without disturbing ecosystems, impinging on property rights, and threatening the natural beauty of Charlestown and surrounding areas.”

In his letter to the FRA, Langevin underscored his support for upgrades to passenger rail infrastructure, and said he is hopeful that an alternative solution can be developed.

The FRA continues to accept comments on the regional plan, and is expected to finalize this framework after March 1, 2017.

The FRA will then continue to study local impacts in more depth (Tier 2). Langevin called on the FRA to include additional public hearings in Rhode Island during these future comment periods.

 

“I am encouraged that the FRA has demonstrated a willingness to listen to Rhode Islanders during this process, and I am confident that we can move forward to find a mutually-beneficial solution that creates a globally competitive, resilient passenger rail service in the region,” Langevin said.

RIFuture: Earned Income Tax Credits benefit working families, if they ask…

By Steve Ahlquist

Rhode Island residents who make $54,000 a year or less may be entitled to an earned income tax credit as well as free tax preparation.

The Rhode Island Community Action Association (RICAA), Providence VITA Coalition, Citizens Bank, and the United Way of Rhode Island are partnering to launched a public awareness campaign  at the Rhode Island State House this morning to announce the campaign promoting free tax preparation.

The campaign will educate Rhode Islanders of the IRS’ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program and its benefits to individuals and married couples who are hard-working Rhode Islanders receiving tax credits for wages earned both at the federal and state levels.

Rachel Flum, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute spoke representing a coalition of 30 groups dedicated to increasing the state EITC to 20 percent, of the federal rate, up from its current 15 percent. Bills introduced by Rep Scott Slater in the House and Senator Gayle Goldin in the Senate aim to do just that. The rate is 27.5 percent in Connecticut and 23 percent in Massachusetts, “so we know that there is room to move,” said Flum. Combined with an increase in the minimum wage “this could really be a catalyst helping our lower income families.”

R.I. Sen. Reed calls Trump speech ‘harsh, belligerent, hyperbolic’

R.I. Sen. Reed calls Trump speech ‘harsh, belligerent, hyperbolic’

By Katherine Gregg,

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Most of the inaugural speeches that U.S. Sen. Jack Reed recalls hearing in the past were “conscious efforts to bring the country together and celebrate Democracy” after more-or-less bruising elections.

Not so on this Inauguration Day, according to Democrat Reed of Rhode Island who was there.

Reed said the campaign-like speech that new President Donald J. Trump gave after taking the oath of office lacked the “usual modesty and humility” of past speeches by newly inaugurated presidents facing “the incredible responsibilities of the office, and asking for the help of all Americans.”

He said it was, to his ears, “harsh in its terms…strident…belligerent…hyperbolic…[and] egocentric.”

As an example, Reed cited Trump’s “hyperbolic” statement: “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

“Rather extreme,” said Reed. “We have serious challenges…but we are coming off of over 70 months of strong job growth. We are beginning to see wage growth. There is a lot more to be done, but I think that was a little more hyperbole than was in order.”

Reed said he was also struck by Trump’s “two simple rules: buy American and hire American.”

“His investment career suggests that he didn’t do those things. He used foreign material to build casinos, and there’s I think verified reports of using people from overseas to do work. So, again, it seemed to be: do what I say not what I’ve done.”

Reed said Trump must also know that his repetition of the phrase “America First” – and the echoes it evokes of aviator Charles Lindbergh and U.S. isolationism – may be “interpreted by our allies as a departure from a policy that has given us a great deal of … leverage in the world…”

That phrase, he said complicates “our ability to help allies [and] deter as well as help defeat threats to the United States.”

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said: “Sadly, I think President Trump squandered an opportunity to reach out to the majority of Americans who didn’t vote for him last November with a strong message that would have helped to unite our country.
“Instead, he doubled down on divisive rhetoric, false bravado, and gaudy promises that have no basis in reality. The President painted an unnecessarily dark and negative picture of America.”

“I will continue working with members of both parties to deliver results for Rhode Island. I hope President Trump will do the same,” Cicilline said. But if he “continue(s) down the path he started today, dividing Americans and offering empty promises instead of real solutions, then I will continue to fight him every step of the way.”
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse added:
“As we observe the peaceful transfer of power, I’m grateful today to President Obama for his service to our country, and for the unfailing dignity and grace he and his family brought to the White House.”
“Leader Schumer today shared with our nation the noble words of Smithfield-born Sullivan Ballou, Major of the Second Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, made famous in Ken Burns’ PBS series, “The Civil War.” Major Ballou, who was killed in action shortly after writing that beautiful letter, described a love of country so strong that it justified great sacrifice to heal its deep divisions.”
“Our new President’s dark inaugural speech did little to inspire hope that he is ready to bring our nation together. I will work to find areas of common ground with the President where they serve the interests of Rhode Islanders, but I plan to hold him to his election night promise to be a “president for all Americans.”
“I will stand up at every turn for the freedoms and values secured by Americans like Sullivan Ballou. Those shared values are what have for centuries made our nation a beacon in the world.”

But Reed said he planned to vote, later Friday, in the U.S. Senate for two of Trump’s nominees who he views as good choices: retired General James N. Mattis as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense and retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Rep. James Langevin, meanwhile, chose to focus on Trump’s comments about “investments in infrastructure and the American workforce…I am hopeful that these are examples of issues on which we can find bipartisan cooperation. The devil is in the details, though, so it remains to be seen where we may find common ground.”

“The most important takeaway, for me, today, is that it’s time to get back to work. The promise of this nation is that all people are created and treated equally, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or identity, or disability. Ensuring equal opportunity for all is essential to our democracy, and I look forward to tomorrow’s Women’s March in Providence to hear from my constituents about their ideas for how best to preserve that promise.”

Warwick Beacon: RI Mentoring Partnership, groups kick off women in STEM initiative

Warwick Beacon: RI Mentoring Partnership, groups kick off women in STEM initiative

By Tessa Roy
Women aren’t as plentiful in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields as men, but The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership wants to help change that. On Thursday, the organization, along with Governor Gina Raimondo and other companies in the state, gathered at Amgen to celebrate Rhode Island’s participation in Million Women Mentors.

Million Women Mentors, a national initiative, seeks to support the engagement of one million mentors, both male and female, to help increase the interest and confidence of girls and women to persist and succeed in STEM programs and careers. Rhode Island’s participation is supported by the Rhode Island STEM Center at Rhode Island College, Amgen, and the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, plus the Million Women Mentors State Leadership Team that’s made up of individuals from organizations dedicated to promoting STEM initiatives.

“As a leading biotechnology company, Amgen is committed to making the study of science and technology exciting for young learners who might help us discover the medicines of tomorrow,” said Amgen Rhode Island Site Operations Vice President Tia Bush in a statement. “We continually support local community organizations such as RI Mentoring Partnership that have a strong commitment to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scientists.”

Rhode Island STEM Director Carol Giuriceo’s echoed her sentiments.

“We are so happy to have the support of Governor Raimondo, businesses like the RI Mentoring Partnership who understand the value of mentoring in addressing the gender gap in STEM,” she said.

Raimondo, who will serve as honorary chair of the leadership team, said the lack of girls and women in STEM fields may be due to a lack of role models and “nerd” stereotypes. Jo-Ann Schofield, President and CEO of the RI Mentoring Partnership, later joked that being a nerd isn’t so bad when the salary starts at $72,000.

Raimondo also acknowledged that STEM isn’t the only field in which women are underrepresented.

“I’m in a field where there’s still a barrier,” she said, prompting laughs. “In case you haven’t noticed, the 74 people who were governor before me all have one thing in common. They’re all men!”

Congressman Jim Langevin also attended the event to celebrate the initiative and emphasized the importance of getting women in the STEM workforce.

“I’m frustrated, like the Governor and others have said, that half the population is made up of women and they only make up less than 25 percent of the workforce in STEM fields,” he said.

Schofield expressed excitement for participating in Million Women Mentors and thanked Bush, Giuriceo, and Raimondo for being role models.

“You are all brilliant, intelligent women that just exude confidence and that’s what we want for all of our young ladies in Rhode Island,” she said.

The RI State Leadership team includes Candida Desjardins, Naval Undersea Warfare Center; Antonieta Falconi, Social Enterprise Greenhouse, Jen Giroux, Rhode Island College; Carol M. Giuriceo (chair), Rhode Island STEAM Center; Diane Guillemette, Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc.; JoAnn Johnson, Tech Collective; Ginger Lallo, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England; Amy Leidtke, Rhode Island School of Design; Ilona Miko, MikoArtScience; Demetria Moran, Rhode Island College; Deborah Perry; YWCA Rhode Island; Jo-Ann Schofield, Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership.

What’s Up NEWP: Governor Raimondo Kicks Off ‘Million Women Mentors’ Initiative

What’s Up NEWP: Governor Raimondo Kicks Off ‘Million Women Mentors’ Initiative

By Written by Ted Wells & Kayla Brown (STEMConnector)

Governor Gina M. Raimondo has officially kicked off Rhode Island’s participation in the national Million Women Mentors (MWM) initiative. The initiative seeks to support the engagement of one million Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) mentors (male and female) to increase the interest and confidence of girls and women to persist and succeed in STEM programs and careers.

Raimondo will serve as honorary chair of the MWM-Rhode Island State Leadership Team. “I am honored to serve as Honorary Chairwoman of the State Leadership Team for Million Women Mentors,” said Raimondo. “Students who concentrate on science, technology, engineering and math will be prepared to take their place in the high-growth, well-paying fields that increasingly drive the 21st century economy. It is critical that we provide Rhode Islanders with the skills they need to compete on an equal playing field. Through Million Women Mentors, we will ensure our girls get a fair shot.”

“STEM fields are growing quickly in Rhode Island and beyond, but women remain vastly underrepresented. It’s clear we need to encourage women of all ages to pursue educations and careers in the STEM disciplines – and in art and design where it intersects with STEM,” said Congressman Jim Langevin, who co-chairs the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. “Mentors inspire young people, and I am confident that the Million Women Mentors in Rhode Island will empower a new generation of women in the STEM workforce, which is a win for them and a win for our economy.”

The state’s initiative will be spearheaded by the Rhode Island STEAM Center at Rhode Island College and the MWM-RI State Leadership Team comprised of several organizations and businesses committed to mentoring and STEM careers. “We are so happy to have the support of Governor Raimondo, businesses like Amgen, and organizations like the RI Mentoring Partnership who understand the value of mentoring in addressing the gender gap in STEM,” said Carol Giuriceo, Ph.D., Director of the Rhode Island STEAM Center.

“As a leading biotechnology company, Amgen is committed to making the study of science and technology exciting for young learners who might help us discover the medicines of tomorrow,” said Tia Bush, Vice President, Site Operations, Amgen Rhode Island. “We continually support local community organizations such as RI Mentoring Partnership that have a strong commitment to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scientists.”
Since 2014, the Amgen Foundation has provided an annual grant to RI Mentoring Partnership to develop high quality trainings for mentor program coordinators to integrate STEM activities into the youth mentoring relationships. Funding from the 2016 grant enabled the creation of a STEM Mentoring toolkit that provides instructions and guides on conducting hands-on activities.

Additionally, Bush was presented with the MWM-RI Stand Up for STEM Award, a special honor given to one company, girl-serving organization, or individual that has had an exceptional impact on girls and women in STEM through mentoring. Bush served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State as well as the Amgen Senior Women’s Advisory Council, which provides leadership and mentorship opportunities for women leaders within our organization.
In addition to the kick-off Governor Raimondo signed a proclamation recognizing January as National Mentoring Month in Rhode Island. “Each January we celebrate National Mentoring Month, to raise awareness of the need for mentors in our community, the difference mentors make for young people and how easy it is to volunteer,” said Jo-Ann Schofield, President & CEO of the RI Mentoring Partnership. “We are happy to lend to Million Women Mentors – Rhode Island, our expertise in mentoring and our ability to connect people who want to mentor with the programs that need mentors.”

MWM-RI’s mission is to build a STEM Mentor network that connects education, industry, and government for the purpose of engaging and motivating girls and women to increase their STEM literacy and pursue careers in STEM. Individuals and companies interested in providing STEM mentors or organizations and schools needing STEM mentors should contact ristem(at)ric(dot)edu.

About Million Women Mentors
Million Women Mentors is an initiative of STEMconnector in collaboration with over 60+ partners reaching over 30 million girls and women, 60+ corporate sponsors, 60+ national partners, and 39+ state leadership teams. Through the engagement of one million mentors, our goals are to: 1) Increase the percentage of high school girls planning to pursue STEM careers; 2) Increase the percentage of young women pursuing undergraduate degrees in STEM fields; and 3) Increase the percentage of women staying and advancing in STEM careers through supporting workforce mentoring programs.

About Rhode Island STEAM Center
The Rhode Island STEAM Center serves as a central educational hub and statewide resource focused on building partnerships, advocating for increased STEAM literacy, and nurturing, promoting, and implementing research-based practices. Our mission is to provide leadership and advocacy for increasing science, technology, engineering, arts + design, mathematics (STEAM) literacy in Rhode Island through sustaining partnerships with higher education, K-12, business and industry, afterschool programs, non-profit organizations, community-based groups, and government agencies that are dedicated to building long-term interest and active engagement in STEAM among ALL Rhode Islanders through the continual sharing and exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences. For more information visit http://www.ristemcenter.net.

About RI Mentoring Partnership
Our mission is to ensure youth have access to the motivational and supportive relationships they need to grow into confident, successful adults. We envision a Rhode Island where all youth are connected to relationships with adults who inspire and support them. All youth will have role models who provide a road map for lifelong success and achievement. RIMP serves as an umbrella organization for dozens of mentoring programs around Rhode Island offering help with recruitment, training, and technical assistance. RIMP is also directly responsible for the coordination of the school-based mentoring programs in Warwick, Woonsocket, Newport, Middletown, & Cranston. For more information visit http://www.MentorRI.org

The Rhode Island Resistance

The Rhode Island Resistance

By John Taraborelli
To call Donald Trump unpredictable or inscrutable would be an understatement. Adding more of a challenge to politicians from a predominantly liberal state are the Republican controlled House and Senate. It all begs the question: how will the members of Rhode Island’s all-Democratic congressional delegation – Senators Reed and Whitehouse, and Representatives Cicilline and Langevin – prepare to reckon with a conservative DC and a president who continues to defy every prediction and expectation?

We caught up with each of them in the weeks leading up to the inauguration to find out their biggest concerns, their thoughts on the president’s appointments, and how will they work with or against the new administration. One thing’s for sure: our men in Washington have their work cut out for them.

Senator Jack Reed
The senior senator’s foremost concern is the battle over the Affordable Care Act, which began almost as soon as the 115th congress convened in January. “That could have devastating effects on not only health care, but the economy – particularly in Rhode Island, where our biggest employer is the health care system,” he says. “It’s one thing to say, ‘Repeal and replace.’ When they start translating campaign slogans into legislation, that’s where reality sets in.”

Several of the president’s cabinet picks also give Reed pause. “Many of them have either a lack of experience or records that indicate they’re not particularly supportive of basic norms established over many administrations. You have a Labor nominee opposed to basic protections for workers. An Education nominee who has a particular animus towards public education.” He does, however, approve of General James Mattis for Defense Secretary.

Reed does identify some potential areas of common ground between Democrats and the new president, including infrastructure spending and paid family leave, but ultimately he expects they will need to leverage the tools at their disposal, including the filibuster, to stop legislation that they find objectionable. He also sees the bully pulpit as the most important check on the president.

“We have been in minority before. We have used our institutional powers along with the ability to speak out. We’re going to have to do it again with renewed energy. Ultimately our strength as a nation is when people stand up, take a position and take it loudly.”

Representative James Langevin
Of the four members of Rhode Island’s delegation, Langevin seems the most optimistic. While he has been critical of Trump – he signed on to a letter urging him to rescind the White House appointment of Steve Bannon and sent another to House Speaker Paul Ryan urging him to appoint a select committee on Russian hacking – he also sees opportunity in what will undoubtedly be an unconventional Republican administration.

He points to partisan gridlock in the House as one example. “This is one of the areas where I’m hopeful because Trump is not beholden to the Republican establishment. Perhaps he has the flexibility to do things that are bipartisan, chart his own course, and break through logjam.”

However, Langevin’s cautious optimism on particular issues should not be interpreted as a sunny outlook overall. He has grave concerns about attempts to repeal Obamacare and gut the social safety net, as well as several cabinet appointments. While he calls Mattis and Homeland Security nominee General John Kelly “quality individuals,” he notes that Trump’s choice of “climate change deniers at both the Department of Energy and the EPA is not a good way to start out.”

Despite his reservations, Langevin says he’s focused on finding a way to make bipartisanship work. “The reality is the election is over and it’s not the outcome we were hoping for. Now we have to find a way to govern. Whenever possible, we’ll find common ground, but we’re not going to compromise on values or principles.”

Representative David Cicilline
As the newly minted co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, Cicilline will be taking an active role in articulating his caucus’ response to the Republican agenda. He acknowledges that this job is hampered by Trump’s unpredictability. “It will be difficult because he doesn’t really have positions. Ultimately the president will have to make a decision, but until that moment we won’t really know where he is on an issue.”

Like his colleagues, Cicilline is willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, but has been discouraged by the first test of his decision-making: presidential appointments. He wrote the letter that Langevin and 167 other Democrats signed, objecting to Bannon’s appointment. He also finds conflicting signals in some of the cabinet choices. “Trump said, ‘We’re not going to touch Medicare,’ then appoints someone to Health and Human Services who supports privatizing Social Security.”

While the power of the minority party in the House is limited, Cicilline expects that the more parliamentary nature of the Senate will be an important safeguard against a conservative agenda run amok. “It just won’t work if they pass a bill that only Republicans like.” Meanwhile, he believes that House Democrats need to speak out forcefully and communicate the true impact of Trump’s policies to the American people.

Cicilline remains a true believer in the power of government to improve lives and anticipates that Republican overreach will provide an opportunity to show the American people a better way. “In the end, people vote for someone they think is going to change their lives for the better. They ultimately decided Trump was going to do that, but to the extent that it doesn’t happen, people are going to be looking for an alternative.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
To say that Sheldon Whitehouse is suspicious of Trump’s cabinet appointments would be putting it mildly. “A man who ran for president on a promise to drain the swamp and disrupt the power structure in Washington appears to be filling his civilian agencies with people who represent the most pernicious special interest in that area,” he says. “Far from draining the swamp, he’s put the chief alligators in charge of it.”

He is equally blunt in his assessment of individual appointees. “Scott Pruitt has probably the worst conflicts of interest of any cabinet nominee in modern history. Jeff Sessions has a history of saying and doing things that may sell in Alabama, but scare an awful lot of people in Rhode Island.” And so on.

The EPA nomination touches a particular nerve for Whitehouse, who has been one of the foremost voices on climate change in the senate. He points out that in 2009, a full-page letter ran in The New York Times demanding urgent action on climate change from President Obama and congress; it was signed by dozens of business leaders, including Donald Trump and his three adult children. “At one point he seemed to understand this issue. We have to do what we can to revert him to that understanding.”

Whitehouse sees Senate Democrats as “the last emergency brake on the train,” and believes that if they can force their Republican colleagues to simply adhere to the norms and traditions that govern the upper house, they can operate as an effective check on the executive branch.

He also sees an important role for citizens in demanding accountability from the Trump administration, and urges people to fight on the issues that matter to them. “The hard work of being a citizen just got harder, but there’s no way to assert your values in a democracy if you’re just on the couch as a consumer of other people’s political output.”

Christian Science Monitor: Opinion: Why Washington needs more hackers

Christian Science Monitor: Opinion: Why Washington needs more hackers

By Jim Langevin

A dark room. A hooded figure hunched over a keyboard. Lines of code on a monitor barely illuminate his face. An expression of glee as thousands of dollars are siphoned out of a victim’s bank account, followed by a pained look as a voice calls out, “Son, come take out the trash.” 

The stereotypical image of the teenage hacker in his parents’ basement is everywhere, even in our presidential debates. And yet, it couldn’t be further from reality. Hackers are a diverse bunch: young and old, PhDs and high school dropouts, and, increasingly, women.

But the one thing that unites all of the hackers I have met is intense curiosity. They want to know how things work, and they find out by taking things apart. Unfortunately, this proclivity has led to a number of misconceptions about hackers. Americans celebrate creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs, so the act of deconstructing others’ works is often seen as malicious.

This attitude, while pervasive, is misplaced. There are bad actors out there, who aim to use their skills to steal, extort or corrupt. But the majority of hackers, or cybersecurity researchers as they are sometimes known, are interested in solving the puzzle of how something works, probing its flaws, and then helping to shore up the weaknesses. This last point is very important: not only are most researchers uninterested in nefariously exploiting the vulnerabilities they find, they actively want to help fix them.

That help is sorely needed. Every day, thousands of new software products come on the market, from apps to connected devices. A car, for example, can have over 100 million lines of code powering its systems. These immensely complex systems inevitably contain errors. While most errors are innocuous – a garbled webpage or a crashed app – some can pose major security risks if not patched. The breaches that fill the headlines, from the Democratic National Committee to the Ukrainian power grid, are often a result of these vulnerabilities.

Knowing these risks, companies are increasingly turning to hackers for help. Rather than threatening security researchers with legal action for disclosing code errors, forward-thinking businesses are providing clear avenues for hackers to report their findings.

These vulnerability handling processes respect the time and effort hackers put in to discovering bugs by keeping clear lines of communication open and, often, providing some sort of acknowledgement to the finder. Occasionally, that acknowledgement comes in the form of cash, a “bug bounty” based on the severity of the issue. Vulnerability disclosure policies leverage the power of the crowd to improve security and save companies money.

While vulnerability handling has exploded across industry in the past several years, the federal government has lagged behind. Despite operating tens of thousands of websites and myriad other software products, the government has not provided any clear avenue for patriotic-minded hackers to disclose security issues.

Thankfully, forward-thinking leaders in the government are beginning to change that. Last year, the Department of Defense hosted the first-ever federal bug bounty program, “Hack the Pentagon.” Over four weeks, 1,400 hackers discovered more than 125 security vulnerabilities at a fraction of the cost per bug of existing programs. The Pentagon has since begun an expansion of the program, and the Internal Revenue Service announced that it, too, would begin offering bug bounties on a limited basis.

More importantly, federal agencies are finally beginning to welcome public service-minded hackers with full-fledged vulnerability disclosure policies. The General Services Administration released a draft policy for comment in October, and, in November, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter unveiled a Pentagon-wide policy. I commend outgoing Secretary Carter and the other leaders in these agencies for their efforts to treat hackers not solely as adversaries but as valuable allies as well.

These policies are nascent and will inevitably need some tweaking. They also cover only a fraction of the services provided by the government. But they represent an inflection point in our thinking about the security research community, and I hope the new federal Chief Information Security Officer makes expanding these programs a priority.

Changing the image of hackers is tough. But I am glad the federal government is finally moving beyond stereotypes and embracing the potential for security researchers to improve our nation’s cybersecurity.

Congressman Jim Langevin (D) of Rhode Island is the cofounder and cochair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, and a senior member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.

ICIT: Congressman Jim Langevin Receives the ICIT Transcend Award

ICIT: Congressman Jim Langevin Receives the ICIT Transcend Award

Washington D.C. January 25, 2017 – The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), America’s Cybersecurity Think Tank™, presented Congressman Jim Langevin, from Rhode Island’s 2nd congressional district, with its Transcend Award at the Congressman’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building.

The Transcend Award is an honor given each year to a distinguished member of the critical infrastructure community who represents diversity and leadership in cybersecurity.  As one of the most active leaders in cybersecurity on Capitol Hill,  Congressman Langevin serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, and a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies.

Thanks in part to his leadership and his understanding of the complex threat landscape facing the critical infrastructure sectors of the United States, cybersecurity has become a top priority for the legislative community.

As the recipient of the Transcend award, ICIT Sr. Fellows James Scott and Parham Eftekhari presented Congressman Langevin with an heirloom-quality sterling silver Tiffany’s compass, which symbolizes his contributions in leading the cybersecurity and critical infrastructure community.

ICIT is proud to honor Congressman Langevin for his role in protecting our Nation’s critical infrastructures from cyber adversaries and to recognize him as an ally of the cybersecurity community.  The Institute’s Fellows and other stakeholders including federal agency, legislative and private sector leaders, look forward to working with him to ensure critical infrastructure resiliency and national security.

Reaction: Trump signs executive order on border wall

Reaction: Trump signs executive order on border wall

By Samantha Fenlon

President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to build the wall along the Mexican border. It’s a move that sparked immediate outrage from many people including members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation.

“Our President isn’t a King. We have a Congress that is required to both authorize those actions and appropriate money. The President can’t just by executive order spend what some people say will be up to $20 billion dollars,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

Congressman Cicilline firmly voicing his opposition hours after the announcement.

“When your own Secretary of Homeland Security says a wall won’t do the trick, this seems to me to me to be real folly. A lot of theater, a commitment to a campaign promise he made but not in the national security interest of the United States,” said Congressman Cicilline.

Congressman Jim Langevin calls the plan an outdated solution that will not accomplish what it is intended to.

“You’re talking about potentially billions of dollars that will be spent on a wall that is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem,” said Congressman Langevin.

The Congressman admits the immigration system is broken, but says there are better options.

“What we should do is be using technology more effectively whether it’s drones or sensors to alert border patrols that there might be someone that is trying to enter the country,” said Congressman Langevin.

As the dust settles on President Trump’s announcement, a local advocate for immigrants, Juan Garcia, says the news has created fear among many undocumented citizens here in Rhode Island. He’s now left trying to reassure them.

“I would say to the people don’t be scared. Stay calm,” said Garcia.

Warwick Beacon: Delegation vows fight to save best of Obamacare

Warwick Beacon: Delegation vows fight to save best of Obamacare

By John Howell

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse had people laughing at a rally to save the Affordable Care Act. The Republicans have already taken the first steps to dismantle it in the wake of Donald Trump’s election and their impending control of both the House and Senate.

Whitehouse wasn’t looking to offer comic relief Sunday afternoon as more than 340 people packed the Johnston Senior Center and another 100 were forced to stand outside because the center meeting room was at fire code capacity. The full Rhode Island congressional delegation that sponsored the rally spoke. Joining them to point out what repeal of Obamacare could mean to Rhode Islanders and how that might affect those on Medicare and Medicaid was Gov. Gina Raimondo and those on the frontlines of delivering and receiving health care.

Whitehouse likened what Republicans are doing to pushing someone out of an airplane and telling them as they are plummeting to the ground that somebody is working on building them a parachute.

“They say ‘trust us,’” he said of Republicans. “Well, no thank you.” Whitehouse wants to see a plan before gutting the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

A number of speakers spoke about popular features of the ACA, often called Obamacare, including the inclusion of children up to age 27 in their family health plan, banning insurance companies from placing lifetime and annual limits on health expenses and the denial of coverage on pre-existing conditions.

“Many of you are now coming into the office to seek preventive care and you give us an opportunity to diagnose and treat problems early because of health insurance,” said Dr. Nitin S. Damle, president of the American College of Physicians that represents 145,000 internal medicine physicians nationally and internationally. He said with repeal of the act, 22 million could become uninsured and 52 million people nationwide and 164,000 Rhode Islanders with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage.

To cheers and applause, he said, “affordable high quality health care should be a fundamental right of every American just as public education.”

Senator Jack Reed and Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline echoed that sentiment.

“It’s a right, not a fringe benefit,” said Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena who hosted the rally.

In his remarks Reed said the percentage of uninsured Rhode Islanders has dropped from 12 percent to 4.5 percent under the act. He said under the act, 100,000 Rhode Islanders who previously didn’t have health insurance are now covered and he fears changes in Medicare and Medicaid and that health insurance premiums “will skyrocket.”

Raimondo likewise was concerned for those who might lose coverage without the act. She said the state is “within a whisper” of universal healthcare coverage, adding, “We want it in Rhode Island and we’re not going backwards. If we make enough noise, they will listen.”

Raimondo urged those seeking to save the act to join with the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition and share their story. The email for the newly formed group is [email protected]. One of the coalition’s organizers, Linda Katz, co-founder and policy director of the Rhode Island Economic Progress Institute, said the group is not only looking to do what it can to save the act on a national level but also the program in the state.

Joanne McGunnagle, executive director of the Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP), found it difficult to imagine what might happen if the ACA is dismantled. McGunnagle was one of several community action program directors to attend the rally. CCAP operates four local clinics serving about 15,000 people.

“This is a basic human need,” McGunnagle said of the services provided by CCAP. Medicaid covers much of the cost of services, but McGunnagle is hearing, like others, that changes could be coming to that program as well as Medicare that would limit coverage.

Gina Rombly, a mother and owner of a small design and video company, told how she and her husband believed they had found affordable health care only to have the insurance company fail, leaving them short of their premiums and stuck with medical bills. It was at that point that the ACA was passed and Rombly who had been diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer couldn’t be denied coverage. Now considered cured, Rombly said, “we depend on this [health coverage].”

“Take away the bad parts [of the ACA]. But there’s so much good that it’s done…you can’t just take it away and not have something to replace it with.”

Langevin called the actions of the House and Senate Republicans to dismantle the ACA an “incredible low point” in his legislative career. He was critical of Republicans for not working to amend the legislation.

“We all know ACA isn’t perfect,” he said, “there’s so much we can do to make it better.”

Langevin talked about Evan Huddon of Warwick, who is battling spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He said the Huddons would have never been able to afford the $3 million in medical costs to help Evan without health care.

“It shouldn’t be for just those who can afford it,” he said.

Langevin vowed to save the good elements of ACA.

“This fight isn’t over, it’s just beginning,” he said.