Latest news with #JackReed
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New R.I. Air National Guard headquarters in Quonset ‘improves our readiness'
Plans to finally replace the complex moved forward after US Senator Jack Reed Advertisement 'We stepped up from an 84-year-old building, which was showing a little wear and tear, to the most modern facility that we have,' Reed said at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'This building is going to improve professionalism,' the Democratic senator added. 'It's going to inspire, I think, the air men and air women that work here, because they're working in the best facilities.' The new, 43,000-square-foot headquarters – with offices, medical facilities, and a dining and multi-purpose area – will serve as central command for 143d Airlift Wing, and as an emergency operations center for Rhode Island in the event of a natural disaster or other crisis, according to officials. The Rhode Island Air National Guard employs approximately 1,100 military and civilian personnel, including pilots, maintenance, operation, and support personnel, officials said. Advertisement Major General Andrew J. Chevalier, 'In an ever-increasing, challenging, strategic environment with an increasing role of the National Guard in both our state and federal missions, it is imperative that we take a long look into the future to ensure that we are ready and equipped to deploy and win when called,' Chevalier said. 'This building is an investment to help us do that.' From left, US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, US Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island Governor Dan McGee, and Colonel Adam Wiggins, commander of the 143rd Airlift Wing, listen to guest speakers during a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Dating back to 1915, the 143d Airlift Wing operates a fleet of C-130J Super Hercules, aircraft that is 'capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas,' according to its During the Global War on Terror, 143d Airlift Wing has provided 'a bridge to and from' combat theaters, the website states. US Representative Seth Magaziner touted on Friday how the unit was 'famously one of the most deployed to Afghanistan in the entire country.' The 143d is also called upon for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions across the United States and around the world, he said. 'If you all keep showing up for our country and doing your job, we will keep showing up for you,' Magaziner, a Democrat, told service members. Next week, Magaziner plans to file a bill with US Representative Trent Kelly, a Mississippi Republican, that, if approved, will fix 'a glitch' in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for members of the National Guard and US Army Reserve, he said. Advertisement Currently, those members can only count time spent on active duty toward qualifying for loan forgiveness – not time spent on temporary assignments and completing other duties, including training, according to Magaziner. The bill, which came from a suggestion by a veteran of the Rhode Island National Guard, would change that, Magaziner said. 'That is one small example of a way that we can take your feedback to make sure that you are given what you are owed and what you have earned,' he told service members on Friday. Members of the Rhode Island 143rd Airlift Wing listen to guest speakers during a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday, celebrating the opening of a new, $46 million facility that will serve as a state-of-the-art command center at the Quonset Air National Guard Base. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
As local farmers ‘do more with less' after federal funding cuts, bipartisan bill aims to restore support
In the months since the Trump administration abruptly Advertisement In Rhode Island, Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up In New England, Massachusetts lost the most, with $18.5 million canceled, followed by Connecticut at $9.3 million, Maine at $4 million, New Hampshire at $2.7 million, and Vermont, at $1.7 million. Now a bill aimed at restoring federal support for the programs is being co-sponsored by US Senator Jack Reed, Advertisement The Strengthening Local Food Security Act was 'You're providing good nutrition for people who need it, particularly children, and you're also supporting one of our most important local industries: farming and fishing," said US Senator Jack Reed. Rod Lamkey/Associated Press Reed told the Globe on Wednesday there was no problem finding bipartisan support. Justice and his staff were very enthusiastic. West Virginia had lost $6 million in grant cuts. 'Senator Justice pointed out this is going to be very beneficial to his farmers and his fishing people,' Reed said. 'He sees the real benefit to supporting local industry and providing for people who are suffering from food shortages.' West Virginia has a higher percentage of households that are food insecure: 13.7 percent, among the highest in the nation, compared to 9.7 percent of households in Rhode Island, according to the US Department of Agriculture. . Reed said the canceled grant programs, which were started under the Biden administration, were 'a very, very smart' way to tackle hunger while supporting local farmers and fisheries, and strengthening the local food system overall. Just in Rhode Island, about 68,000 people benefited from the food, as well as thousands of schoolchildren, he said. 'So, it's a win-win,' Reed said. 'You're providing good nutrition for people who need it, particularly children, and you're also supporting one of our most important local industries: farming and fishing.' The legislation is supported by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Farmers Union, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and the Farm Credit Council. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council are also in support. Advertisement 'This new bill by Jack Reed will actually get fresh healthy affordable food grown by low-income farmers into their communities,' DeVos said. 'When people have control of the food system, they make sure their communities are fed. Jack Reed's bill makes sure people will get fed.' The legislation gives her hope. But in the meantime, DeVos said, she is bracing to lose about $500,000 in grants from the US Department of Agriculture that are used to support the small farmers. 'You get used to the chaos of it,' DeVos said. 'We're just trying to manage inside the unreliability of it all and not being surprised when something is unreliable.' Ben Torpey, manager at Urban Edge Farm, left, Margaret DeVos, executive director of the Southside Community Land Trust, center, and Kakeena Castro, food program coordinator, stand in their packing room surrounded by storage bins. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Southside Community Land Trust owns Urban Edge Farm in Cranston, where about 35 farmers pay a fee to use farm equipment, greenhouses, and supplies. DeVos said that sharing the infrastructure gives these micro-farms a foothold. 'We are trying to make it possible for them to grow food, and that's what the USDA does to support farmers and lower their operating costs,' she said. But now, the federal office that supplied the grants supporting that program is gone. So are the staff who worked on the grants. It's unclear if those grants still exist. 'We needed to tighten the belt to see what to do to survive long-term,' said Jesse Rye, the executive director at Farm Fresh RI, the nonprofit that managed the USDA grants in Rhode Island. Farm Fresh laid off 15 people from its staff of 50, including members from the AmeriCorps program. This year's budget is $6.5 million, down from $8 million. Advertisement They are 'doing more with less,' Rye said, though, 'the ability to do the work at a larger scale has been hindered.' T Blia Moua, a Hmong immigrant from Providence, waters seedlings in a greenhouse at Urban Edge Farm in Cranston, R.I., in March. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Local philanthropic organizations have stepped in to help, including the Rhode Island Foundation and the The Department of Health also gave funding for Farm Fresh to work with early childhood centers, by filling boxes with produce for snacks at the centers or for the families, Rye said. Without the federal funding, there are half as many schools — 23 so far — that are signed on to buy local food for their cafeterias. 'The numbers are smaller than they were, but there are schools that care about this and given opportunities could make a big impact,' Rye said. Rye called Reed's legislation 'a bright spot.' 'Seeing people in red states and blue states get behind local farmers and local schools … it feels like such a win," he said. Amanda Milkovits can be reached at
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Top elected officials in Rhode Island are struggling in new poll
Related : The online and text message survey of 804 voters was conducted June 16 to June 22 by Embold Research. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. You can read the full survey It's ranked from highest approval to lowest. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Note: With the exception of Trump, every politician had at least 10 percent 'not sure' when voters were asked about their approval. Advertisement US Senator Jack Reed Approve: 50 percent Disapprove: 39 percent US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Approve: 45 percent Disapprove: 44 percent US Representative Gabe Amo Approve: 44 percent Disapprove: 33 percent President Donald Trump Approve: 40 percent Disapprove: 58 percent US Representative Seth Magaziner Approve: 40 percent Disapprove: 44 percent Attorney General Peter Neronha Approve: 38 percent Disapprove: 37 percent State Treasurer James Diossa Approve: 29 percent Disapprove: 28 percent Secretary of State Gregg Amore Approve: 29 percent Disapprove: 30 percent Advertisement Governor Dan McKee Approve: 25 percent Disapprove: 64 percent Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos Approve: 22 percent Disapprove: 46 percent This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
US military expected to announce two new zones where service members can detain migrants on southern border, officials say
The US Departments of the Navy and Air Force are expected to announce the establishment of two additional military zones along the US southern border this week, three US officials told CNN. The zones, which are known as National Defense Areas, will be attached to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, the officials said. The NDA around Joint Base San Antonio will include roughly 250 miles of the Rio Grande River, two of the officials added. The NDA near MCAS Yuma will extend over 100 miles along the border, the third official said. The new zones will bring the total count up to four, after the establishment of the Texas National Defense Area attached to Fort Bliss, Texas, in May, and the New Mexico National Defense Area attached to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in April. 'The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,' US Northern Command commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said after the establishment of the Texas National Defense Area. 'This is the second area in which Joint Task Force – Southern Border service members who are already detecting and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols nearby can now temporarily detain trespassers until they are transferred to an appropriate law enforcement entity.' US troops are prohibited from conducting law enforcement activities by the Posse Comitatus Act. But the defense areas are treated as extensions of military installations, allowing service members to temporarily detain migrants who are trespassing before handing them off to law enforcement, conduct cursory searches of trespassers, and conduct crowd-control measures. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the defense areas as a way to side-step the act. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senates Armed Services Committee, said last month that the NDAs 'evade the long-standing protections of the Posse Comitatus Act by allowing military forces to act as de facto border police, detaining migrants until they can be transferred to Customs and Border Protection.' 'In the Administration's telling, this approach permits military involvement in immigration control without invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807,' Reed said. 'This is both unprecedented and a legal fiction. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also raised concerns to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last month that the Trump administration is 'bypassing due process for individuals who either intentionally or unintentionally enter this newly restricted area.' Service members began directly detaining migrants in June. The Department of Justice only just got its first convictions related to trespassing in the NDAs this month. According to the Justice Department, two individuals pleaded guilty to charges including trespassing into the New Mexico National Defense Area. In both cases, the individuals were apprehended by Border Patrol agents. Dozens of national security charges against migrants were dropped by a judge in New Mexico earlier this month after they found little evidence that the migrants knew about the defense areas. The establishment of the new defense areas comes as over 4,000 National Guard troops and roughly 700 active duty Marines are currently mobilized in the Los Angeles area, in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
Boston Globe
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes and wins praise from Republicans
The instant divisions in the U.S. Congress reflected an already swirling debate over the president's ability to conduct such a consequential action without authorization from the House and Senate on the use of military force. While Trump is hardly the first U.S. president to go it alone, his expansive use of presidential power raised immediate questions about what comes next, and whether he is exceeding the limits of his authority. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'This was a massive gamble by President Trump, and nobody knows yet whether it will pay off,' said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Advertisement Democrats, and a few Republicans, said the strikes were unconstitutional, and demanded more information in a classified setting. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that he received only a 'perfunctory notification' without any details, according to a spokesperson. 'No president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy,' Schumer said in a statement. 'Confronting Iran's ruthless campaign of terror, nuclear ambitions, and regional aggression demands strength, resolve, and strategic clarity.' Advertisement House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump 'misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.' The quick GOP endorsements of stepped up U.S. involvement in Iran came after Trump publicly considered the strikes for days and many congressional Republicans had cautiously said they thought he would make the right decision. The party's schism over Iran could complicate the GOP's efforts to boost Pentagon spending as part of a $350 billion national security package in Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax breaks bill, which is speeding toward votes next week. 'We now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies,' Wicker posted on X. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune both were briefed ahead of the strikes on Saturday, according to people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. Thune said Saturday evening that 'as we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm's way.' Johnson said in a statement that the military operations 'should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.' House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., said he had also been in touch with the White House and 'I am grateful to the U.S. servicemembers who carried out these precise and successful strikes.' Advertisement Breaking from many of his Democratic colleagues, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, an outspoken supporter of Israel, also praised the attacks on Iran. 'As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS,' he posted. 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.' Both parties have seen splits in recent days over the prospect of striking Iran, including some of Trump's most ardent supporters who share his criticism of America's 'forever wars.' Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio posted that 'while President Trump's decision may prove just, it's hard to conceive a rationale that's Constitutional.' Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a longtime opponent of U.S. involvement in foreign wars, also posted on X that 'This is not Constitutional.' 'This is not our fight,' said Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Most Democrats have maintained that Congress should have a say, even as presidents in both parties have ignored the legislative branch's constitutional authority. The Senate was scheduled to vote soon on a resolution from Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine that would require congressional approval before the U.S. declares war on Iran or takes specific military action. Kaine said the bombings were 'horrible judgment.' 'I will push for all senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war,' Kaine said. Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also called on Congress to immediately pass a war powers resolution. He said politicians had always promised that 'new wars in the Middle East would be quick and easy.' 'Then they sent other people's children to fight and die endlessly,' Casar said. 'Enough.'
