Defend it with everything we have. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE KEN HARBAUGH.

A lot of folks take Labor Day as their opportunity to relax, spend time with family, and enjoy one last picnic before summertime is over. But it’s important for us to remember the reason for this day.

The labor movement is a strong backbone of our community and I’ll defend it with everything I have.

Had it not been for the perseverance of those in the organized labor movement generations ago (and those currently fighting today!), we wouldn’t have a chance to celebrate days like today.

We would not have weekends, overtime pay, safety standards, retirement security, and many other worker protections that have built a foundation for the American middle class.

That’s why I am proud to stand with my brothers and sisters in Labor to keep good-paying jobs in Ohio, to protect our access to health care, and to ensure that hardworking Ohioans receive the pensions they’ve earned.

Have a wonderful Labor Day, everyone.

In service,

Ken

News: ICE Deports Mauritanians Back to Slavery. Katina French, Freedom United

ICE is Deporting Mauritanians Back to Modern-Day Slavery August 27, 2018 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deported dozens of undocumented black Mauritanians, sending them back to a country where race-based chattel slavery is rampant. READ NOW North Korean Women Sold into Marriage Struggle to Bring Chinese Children ‘Home’ August 29, 2018 The stories of North Korean defectors sold into marriage with Chinese men are complicated. Those that eventually make it to South Korea must endure the torment of leaving behind their children born to their Chinese husbands. READ NOW Opinion: "Prison Labor is Modern Slavery. I've Been Sent to Solitary for Speaking Out" August 23, 2018 “At the end of the civil war in 1865 the 13th amendment of the US constitution was introduced. Under its terms, slavery was not abolished, it was merely reformed,” writes inmate Kevin Rashid Johnson. READ NOW Theresa May: UK Will Support Nigeria's Modern Slavery Victims As the Prime Minister visited Nigeria, she unveiled new measures to support “victims who have suffered enormous trauma and are at high risk of being re-trafficked.” Read Now >> Scrapping China’s Two-Child Policy May Help Curb Bride Trafficking As China considers ending the policy, the country may actually end up curbing forced marriage. The lack of women in China has fueled bride trafficking from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Read Now >> As US Strikes, Are New Zealand's Prisons Exploiting Inmates Too? Inmates in New Zealand — who are disproportionately Maori — face almost identical conditions of abusive prison labor in the US, and those who refuse to work may even be denied parole. Read Now >> When Coming Out as Gay or Lesbian Leads to Forced Marriage British NGO Karma Nirvana, which operates a hotline for victims of forced marriage, has seen an increase in calls from LGBT people, some of whom went through family-sanctioned exorcisms. Read Now >> UNHCR Cancels Chin Refugee Protections: Will it Fuel Human Trafficking? The UN says the 30,140 ethnic Chin refugees in Malaysia can return home safely, but community leaders warn that those who lose their refugee status may be trafficked if they try to return to Myanmar. Read Now >> MORE NEWS Our team relies on donations from supporters...to continue the work that is so crucial.

Never a dull moment. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE MAURA SULLIVAN.

Hey David - Happy Labor Day weekend! We hope you are relaxing with family and friends this weekend.

We wanted to share another update with you before the September 11th Primary. There is never a dull moment on the campaign trail, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Check out everything Team Maura has been up to over the past two weeks. We have been able to accomplish so much lately because of your support!

Our supporters showed off some spunk this Thursday at the Manchester Congressional Candidates forum!

A heat wave couldn’t stop our Portsmouth house party from being a huge success! Great to see so many people out & engaged.

Maura met with Veterans & military families over coffee to discuss national security, Veterans’ health care, and why we need more Veterans in Congress.

Marua showed off her on-the-court skills while taking a break from making calls & knocking doors. The scorching heat couldn’t stop this crew from having a blast!

Tasty & inspiring -- Potter's House Bakery & Café in Rochester is doing great things for the community! Maura loved her tour of the bakery and having a chance to meet staff.

Even weekends are jam-packed on the campaign trail! Maura had a great time breaking a sweat in Odiorne State Park with Marc. She followed up with breakfast at The Golden Egg & talking with voters - perfect post-run weekend activity.

Swung by Pop’s Clam Shell in Alton after knocking doors. National security and health care were hot topics during Maura’s chat with Wayne, Martha, Richard & Sheri.

From pie to dancing to talking to Veterans, the team had so many reasons to smile at Gilford Old Homes Day.

What’s the best way to start off a beautiful Saturday morning? With a full house for our canvass kick-off in Exeter!

Great visit to White Mountain Community Health Center in Conway last week. They're doing incredible work providing healthcare to low income families in the area.

Maura looking wide awake and ready for a great morning debate in North Conway!

Had a great lunch at the Gibson Center, talking with a lively group of seniors about caring for our Veterans, affordability of health care, and what to do about polarization in Washington.

Thanks for keeping this campaign going strong!

-- Team Maura

AN AMERICAN HERO. U.S. Representative David Cicilline.

Dear David, 

John McCain dedicated his entire life to our country. His commitment to public service and the founding values of our country were unparalleled and, like all Rhode Islanders, I was very sad to learn of his passing.

As the son and grandson of four-star admirals, Senator McCain learned early in his life the responsibility that all Americans have to put our country before ourselves.

America first learned his name during the five and a half years he spent as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He was beaten and tortured for days on end, leaving him with scars and permanent physical injuries. Still, he maintained his resolve and refused to accept an offer of early release so he wouldn’t give his captors a propaganda victory.

In Congress, Senator McCain remained true to his convictions. He led the fight for campaign finance reform, brought Republicans and Democrats together to try and fix our broken immigration system, and never hesitated to stand up to bullies and demagogues on either side of the aisle. In an era defined by partisanship, Senator McCain broke ranks with his own party to oppose the use of torture by the Bush administration, to expose the corrupt activities of Jack Abramoff, and to cast the deciding vote that preserved the Affordable Care Act last year.

He is an American hero and a man of incredible, unbreakable courage. And he is an example to all of what it means to be a statesman, not a politician, because he always put our country first.

Last Sunday, I joined CNN’s State of the Union panel with Jake Tapper to reflect on the life and legacy of Senator John McCain. You can watch the segment on my Facebook page by clicking here .

RENEGOTIATING NAFTA 

On Monday, President Trump announced that the United States and Mexico had reached an agreement to revise portions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While waiting for Canada to jump on board, he also suggested the trade pact would be finalized within days.

Bad trade deals and Republican tax cuts for the wealthy have shipped jobs overseas and held down American wages for decades. As President Trump works on a new trade deal with our neighboring countries, it is critical that he fix these problems.

Any new agreement needs to give working Americans a raise, eliminate incentives that ship American jobs to other countries, and put working men and women first, ahead of corporate special interests.

I look forward to reviewing this agreement in full once the administration submits it to Congress.

ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY 

As your Representative, bringing federal funding back to Rhode Island is one of my top priorities in Congress. That is why I am so excited to share with you that more than $3.8 million in federal funding has been awarded to our state to enhance local fire departments’ abilities to meet recommended staffing, response, equipment, and operational standards.

The Cumberland, Saylesville, Smithfield, and Woonsocket Fire Departments will use these grants to hire and train new firefighters. These federal funds are being awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program to help local fire departments comply with the standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.

These critical resources will help Rhode Island firefighters effectively respond to emergencies and allow the brave men and women in these departments to help keep our communities safe.

PROTECT STUDENTS, NOT FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS 

Once again, we’re seeing the Trump administration put special interests ahead of hardworking Rhode Islanders. Since 1993, students who have been misled by their institution of higher education have had a legal right, legislated by Congress, to relief from their federal student loans.

Last month, however, the U.S. Department of Education proposed a new rule to reduce loan relief for defrauded students by $12.7 billion over 10 years and make it nearly impossible for students to have their loans discharged. No one who’s been a victim of fraud should be told to fend for themselves.

Student loan debt is a bigger problem today than either credit card or auto debt. According to recent reports, Rhode Island is the 7th-worst state to live in for folks paying off student debt. Seven in ten American college graduates have student loan debt today and one out of every five owes more than $100,000 on the loans they took out to earn their degree.

This is also not the first time Secretary DeVos has taken the side of fraudulent universities over students. It’s ridiculous that she wants to make it even more difficult for students to recover money that’s been stolen from them by shady for-profit institutions. I wrote to Secretary DeVos strongly opposing these measures and urging her to revise the proposal and provide all students the relief to which they are entitled.

You can read that letter on my website by clicking here .

REPUBLICAN SABOTAGE OF THE ACA 

I joined representatives from HealthSourceRI and members of my Congressional Women’s Advisory Council on Monday to discuss how Republicans are sabotaging the Affordable Care Act by driving up the cost of health care and threatening care for some of our most vulnerable Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions. During our panel, I also laid out the House Democrats' plan to protect affordable health care and lower costs for more Americans. You can watch the event by clicking here . 

As always, if you or someone you know has any questions or concerns, please call my office at 729-5600 or send me an email at David.Cicilline@mail.house.gov.

You can also click here to follow my work on Twitter. 

Warm Regards,
 
David Cicilline
Member of Congress