Leader Chippendale and House Republicans Ask for Public Input Regarding Washington Bridge Oversight Hearing

10/28/2025

Press Release | Printer Friendly View

State House, Providence – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale, on behalf of the House Republican Caucus, is requesting input from the public regarding questions they wish to have answered during the upcoming Joint Oversight Hearing on the Washington Bridge – a legislative response to a recent forensic report revealing a history of neglect. Unlike previous hearings, this meeting will include testimony taken under oath. The hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2025.

Leader Chippendale offers the following statement:

Now that the Speaker and Senate President have committed to “a thorough and rigorous examination” of the Washington Bridge failure and have empowered the Joint Oversight Committee to take testimony under oath, Rhode Islanders deserve answers without delay on this on-going administrative disaster.

The House Republican Caucus is inviting the public to submit the questions they want answered regarding this monumental safety failure. Your questions can be sent in writing to [email protected] and will be curated for presentation at the Oversight hearing.

We’ve yet to see the promised “day of reckoning”, but we are not stopping our efforts – and with your help the McKee Administration will be apprised of exactly what Rhode Islanders demand to know about this failure.

The Washington Bridge closure has become one of the most economically damaging events in modern Rhode Island history, disrupting businesses, schools, medical access, and daily life. Accountability is long overdue.

-30-

The 2025 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus is comprised of the following elected members: Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale, District 40 (Foster/Glocester/Coventry); Minority Whip David J. Place, District 47 (Burrillville/Glocester); Representative George Nardone, District 28 (Coventry); Representative Brian Newberry, District 48 (North Smithfield/Burrillville); Representative Robert Quattrocchi, District 41 (Scituate/Cranston); Representative Sherry Roberts, District 29 (Coventry/West Greenwich); Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston); Representative Marie Hopkins, District 21 (Warwick); Representative Chris Paplauskas, District 15 (Cranston); Representative Paul Santucci, District 53 (Smithfield/Glocester).

LIKE THIS PAGE? SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

About rhode island house republicans

In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.