HONORING DOMINICK RUGGERIO

On 2025-04-30, Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING DOMINICK RUGGERIO" in the House.

HONORING DOMINICK RUGGERIO

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [House] [Page H1732] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING DOMINICK RUGGERIO (Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true Rhode Island public servant, State Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. President Ruggerio dedicated his life to making Rhode Island a better place, devoting 40 years to service in the Rhode Island State Senate, culminating in his leadership as senate president. Through it all, he was a tireless advocate for working people, a skilled legislator, and a kind and gracious presence to everyone he met. President Ruggerio made his career in the labor movement, working with the Laborers' International Union of North America before retiring when he assumed the Office of the President of the Rhode Island Senate. During his tenure in the senate, he championed raising the minimum wage, protecting workers' pensions, and rebuilding infrastructure, among many other causes. When I was State treasurer, I was proud to work alongside him on the 2018 statewide school construction initiative, where we made historic investments in repairing or replacing hundreds of Rhode Island public school buildings. I saw on that occasion and throughout my time in the statehouse that his commitment to the future of our State was unwavering. My thoughts are with Dominick Ruggerio's family on his passing this past week, particularly with his children, Charlie and Amanda, and his four grandchildren, and with all in Rhode Island who had the privilege to know and work with him. Edesia Nutrition Funding Must Be Restored Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the second time to call for funding for global emergency food aid to be restored. Plumpy'Nut is a nutrient-dense paste used to save the lives of millions of children around the world. On every box manufactured at the Edesia Nutrition factory in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, are printed the words: ``From the American people.'' It is not just a slogan. This product is made with peanuts from Georgia, milk from Wisconsin, soy from Iowa, and ingredients from a total of 27 States. It is 100 percent manufactured in the United States, and then it travels on American trucks to American ships to children around the world who are caught in the middle of humanitarian crises. Plumpy'Nut is a lifesaving necessity for millions of children around the world struggling with malnutrition, and it is from the American people. At Edesia Nutrition, the organization in my district that manufactures Plumpy'Nut, more than 25 million children have been treated by their product. That is American patriotism that we can all take pride in, but this work is at risk. The Trump administration has halted all new orders, stranding shipments and slowing production. That hurts farmers, American workers, and children most of all. This funding must be restored. To be clear, Secretary Rubio, Elon Musk, and others in the administration have said that they intend to restore this funding. We need them to do it. We are not asking the administration to change their policy. We are asking them to execute on their stated policy to save lives while also supporting American farmers and workers. This food is from the American people. It is a promise, and we urge the administration to ensure that this promise is kept. ____________________