Press Releases

David N. Cicilline Strengthening the Laws to Address Monopoly Power March 18, 2021 Remarks as Prepared for Delivery In 1950, Congress enacted the Celler-Kefauver Anti-Merger Act, one of the last major amendments to the antitrust laws. This landmark statute expanded the Clayton Act’s prohibition on illegal mergers to include stock acquisitions and non-horizontal transactions, reflecting the sense of Congress that unchecked monopoly power poses a threat to our economy—as well as to our democracy.

WASHINGTON – In order to make the federal funding process more responsive to the needs of the American people, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee will accept requests this year from Members of Congress for Community Project Funding to support specific, worthwhile projects in the districts they represent. Applications from local and state governments, as well as 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, will be submitted from individual Congressional offices to the Appropriations Committee to be considered for FY2022. U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), who has fought for the Community Project Funding initiative in recent years as a way to ensure more federal funding is invested in Rhode Island, announced today that his office is in the process of collecting applications from eligible entities to submit to the Appropriations Committee.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) released the following statement after the House voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark 1994 law that protects women from violence and holds abusers accountable: “The Violence Against Women Act was one of the most effective laws ever written to keep women safe and prosecute violent criminals. It is shameful that Republicans allowed this bill to expire two years ago. Today, we are taking the first step towards ensuring that victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking can get the help they need. This bill will make our communities not only safer, but more compassionate towards victims of the most heinous crimes imaginable.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke on the House floor today in support of extending the deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the Constitution. A video of Cicilline’s speech can be viewed by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below. David N. Cicilline Equal Rights Amendment March 17, 2021 Remarks As Delivered Madam Speaker, Every person, regardless of sex, must be treated equally under the law. House Resolution 17 reaffirms this core American value. It makes clear that the arbitrary deadline in the Equal Rights Amendment may not stand in the way of achieving full equality for women.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee today during a hearing on the Equality Act, his legislation to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. A video of Cicilline’s opening remarks can be viewed by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below. David N. Cicilline Statement to Senate Judiciary Committee March 17, 2021 Remarks As Delivered Thank you very much to Senator Whitehouse for that warm introduction. Thank you to Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Grassley for inviting me to speak today.

WASHINGTON – Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline’s (RI-01) opening remarks for today’s hearing, Reviving Competition Part 2: Saving the Free and Diverse Press, are embedded below. David N. Cicilline Journalism Protection Hearing Opening Statement March 12, 2021 A free and diverse press is the backbone of a vibrant democracy. Indeed, our democracy is strongest when we have a free and diverse press that informs citizens, holds power to account, and exposes corruption and wrongdoing. But in recent years, the local news that is delivered through newspapers, online, and in local broadcasts has been in a state of economic freefall.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced the Assault Weapons Ban, an updated bill to ban the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. “Assault weapons are designed for a single purpose – to kill as many people as possible in as short an amount of time as possible. That’s why they are the weapon of choice for mass shooters and domestic terrorists. They are weapons of war and do not belong in our communities,” said Congressman Cicilline. “Banning these weapons will make our cities and towns safer and more secure and help to reduce gun deaths.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke on the House floor today in support of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill that the House is slated to vote on today. A video of Cicilline’s remarks can be viewed by clicking the image below. The full text of his remarks, as delivered, is embedded at the end of this email. David N. CicillineFloor Remarks on the American Rescue PlanMarch 10, 2021 Mr. Speaker, people often wonder: “does government understand what's happening in my life and my family's life?”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke on the House floor today on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 842). A video of Cicilline’s remarks can be viewed by clicking the image below. The full text of his remarks, as delivered, is embedded at the end of this email. David N. Cicilline Floor Remarks on H.R. 842 March 9, 2021 Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the PRO Act. Union membership is at historic lows, while inequality is at historic highs. The tremendous income inequality in our country is due, in large part, to anti-union policies that have stripped workers of the freedom to negotiate collectively for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.