U.S. Senate · Rhode Island

• NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passage · H.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · 2026-01-30 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
• YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day.
• NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · 2025-11-10 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it.
• YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · 2025-11-06 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage.
• YesResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · 2025-10-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect.
• NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · H.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · 2025-07-01 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
• YesWar Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · 2025-06-27 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage.
• NoGENIUS Act — Senate passage · S. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · 2025-06-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress.
• YesResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · 2025-04-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote.
• NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passage · H.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · 2025-03-14 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
• NoConfirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary · PN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · 2025-02-13 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination.
• NoConfirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney General · PN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · 2025-02-04 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines.
• NoConfirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · PN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · 2025-01-24 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination.
• NoLaken Riley Act — Senate passage · S. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · 2025-01-20 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

• action2025 · For the 2025-2026 Congress, serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence.[2]
• action2023 · Chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch during the 2023-2024 Congress.[2]

• ✕OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[6][7][8]

• ✕OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

  Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30). Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30).[9][10]

• ✓SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[7][8]

• ✓SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8]

• ✓SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

  Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8]

• Born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1949. Earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1971), a Master of Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School (1973), and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1982).[2]
• Served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1979, and later worked as a professor and lawyer.[2]
• Served in the Rhode Island State Senate from 1985 to 1991, then in the U.S. House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 2nd District from 1991 to 1997.[2]

Raised $3.4M · spent $1.9M · $3.1M cash on hand (through 2026-08-20) FEC filing ↗

• ✓SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

  Says the country must secure its borders and enforce its laws.[3]

• Curbing federal government spending, which he says drives inflation and economic pressure on Rhode Islanders.[3]
• Securing the border and enforcing immigration law.[3]
• Strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and supporting veterans and the military.[3]

• Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 11, 1960; graduated from Hope High School.[3]
• Served in the U.S. Army from 1981 to 1992, working on electronic maintenance for the Pershing missile system in West Germany and later as a programmer at Fort Gordon; discharged at the rank of Sergeant.[3]
• Worked for 26 years as the network and telecommunications manager for the City of Warwick.[3]
• Served as president of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly for 10 years and has worked as a campaign manager on Rhode Island political campaigns.[3]

Raised $180K · spent $173K · $7,569 cash on hand (through 2026-08-20) FEC filing ↗

• ✕OpposesContinue U.S. military aid to Israel

  Calls the war in Gaza a tragedy and campaigns for peace rather than continued military involvement in the conflict.[5]

• Ending U.S. participation in what he calls "endless wars," saying it makes the world less safe rather than more.[5]
• Running as an independent so he can vote issue-by-issue without party loyalty.[5]
• Addressing the national debt, which he says has been driven up by career politicians.[5]

• Native Rhode Islander; career included work as a laborer, carpenter, construction executive and business owner.[5]
• Founded the nonprofit Fifty-Three: Five in 2014, which provides food and support to families and the homeless in Providence.[4][5]
• Earned two graduate degrees from Providence College: a Master of Theological Studies (2017) and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (2022).[4][5]
• Works as a theology instructor at Salve Regina University.[4]

Raised $5,050 · spent $2,844 · $2,206 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗