WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following after the House voted to extend the deadline for adding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution:
“A century after it was drafted, the ERA is still not part of our Constitution, despite having passed both chambers of Congress with a supermajority and 38 states having ratified it. All because of an arbitrary deadline that never should have been set in the first place. Today, the House took the first step towards righting this wrong. I hope the Senate will soon do the same.”
Press Releases
2021/03/17
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke on the House floor today in support of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark 1994 law that Republicans allowed to expire two years ago.
A video of Cicilline’s speech can be viewed by clicking the image below. A transcript is embedded below.
David N. Cicilline
Violence Against Women Act
March 17, 2021
Remarks As Delivered
Madam Speaker,
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, once again, the vital importance of the Violence Against Women Act.
With the nation under stay-at-home orders, many women were unable to escape their abusers or find help in their communities.
2021/03/15
PROVIDENCE – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha held a press conference this afternoon at Family Service of Rhode Island with gun violence prevention advocates to discuss legislation the U.S. House sent to the Senate last week to require background checks on all gun sales in the United States.
2021/03/12
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.
2021/03/11
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.”
2021/03/11
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement today after voting to pass legislation that will require background checks on all gun sales in the United States:
“Background checks work. In fact, more than 3.5 million times, our background check system has prevented a gun from ending up in the hands of someone who is legally prohibited from owning one. But right now 22 percent of guns are acquired without a background check – in large part because the gun lobby has spent whatever it takes to preserve these loopholes so they can sell more guns.”
2021/03/10
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke moments ago on the House floor during debate on The For The People Act (H.R.1), the most sweeping federal ethics reform package in a half century, which includes legislation he has authored to implement automatic voter registration, require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, and bring secret corporate spending on elections out of the shadows.
Click the following image to watch Cicilline’s speech. A transcript of his remarks, as delivered, is embedded at the end of this email.
David N. Cicilline
Floor Remarks on H.R. 1
March 2, 2021
Madam Speaker,
2021/03/10
WASHINGTON – House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), House Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (CO-04), Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, legislation that will allow small news outlets to band together to negotiate with large online platforms like Google and Facebook.
2021/03/10
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke on the House floor tonight during debate over the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (H.R. 1280).
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. 1280
March 3, 2021
Mr. Speaker, George Floyd died under the knee of a police officer 302 days ago.
In the time since then, 797 people, more than two and a half every day, have died during encounters of law enforcement.
Black Americans are two and a half times as likely as white Americans to be killed by the police.
2021/03/10
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement today:
“The American Rescue Plan delivers immediate relief for the working people who need it most right now. This bill, which now heads to President Biden’s desk, will help crush the virus, get kids back to school, speed up vaccine delivery, put people back to work, and get middle class families the help they need.”
2021/03/10
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) joined House Democrats today in passing the For The People Act (H.R.1), a sweeping reform package that returns power in Washington to the American people. The legislation, which now heads to the U.S. Senate, includes three provisions Cicilline has proposed in recent years – The Automatic Voter Registration Act, The Presidential Tax Disclosure Act, and the DISCLOSE Act.
2021/03/10
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?”
2021/03/10
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.
2021/03/08
WASHINGTON. – The Congressional LGBT+ Equality Caucus released this statement in response to the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent Executive Orders.
“We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for recognizing International Women’s Day and using this moment to advance important policy steps that will protect all women, including those who face discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Congressional Equality Caucus Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01). “While opponents of equality seek to further harm our community, in particular the transgender community, the Biden-Harris Administration is once again showing what true leadership looks like. We are grateful that they are standing up for all Americans. We look forward to working with this Council to achieve its important goals.”
2021/03/02
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement today:
“I congratulate Secretary Raimondo on her confirmation today. I look forward to continuing to work with her to grow Rhode Island’s economy and create greater opportunities for the folks who live here.”
“I spoke with Governor McKee after our press conference yesterday. I offered to do whatever I can to help him succeed as he begins his stewardship of our state.”
2021/03/02
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) spoke moments ago on the House floor during debate on The For The People Act (H.R.1), the most sweeping federal ethics reform package in a half century, which includes legislation he has authored to implement automatic voter registration, require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, and bring secret corporate spending on elections out of the shadows.
Click the following image to watch Cicilline’s speech. A transcript of his remarks, as delivered, is embedded at the end of this email.
David N. Cicilline
Floor Remarks on H.R. 1
March 2, 2021
Madam Speaker,
2021/03/02
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline’s (RI-01) office is now accepting submissions for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District.
“I encourage all young artists in the First District to take part in this competition,” said Cicilline, a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus. “As I’ve said many times, our state’s arts community is second to none. This competition offers young Rhode Island artists the opportunity to display their skills and earn recognition for their hard work. I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s submissions.”
2021/03/01
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement this morning after the House passed President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
“We promised to deliver the relief the American people need. Today, we are making good on that promise.”
“Once it is passed by the Senate, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will put money in the pockets of working people and help end this pandemic as soon as possible.”
2021/03/01
PROVIDENCE – Federal, state, and local leaders held a press conference at the Dunkin’ Donuts Arena today and outlined ways Rhode Island is slated to benefit from the COVID relief package that the U.S. House passed early Saturday morning. The legislation includes $1,400 survival checks to put money in the pockets of working people, expanded unemployment benefits, a pay raise for nearly 30 million people, and nearly $1.7 billion in relief for Rhode Island state and local government.
2021/02/26
WASHINGTON – Today, Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led 197 colleagues in both houses of Congress in introducing the DISCLOSE Act to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The bill would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, allowing the American people to see who is attempting to sway their elections and gain control over their government.
“The only way we can fix what’s broken in Washington is if we first get secret corporate spending out of our elections,” said Cicilline. “The DISCLOSE Act will bring this money out of the shadows by requiring dark money groups to disclose their donors. I’m proud to once again join Senator Whitehouse in introducing this bill today.”