Jobs & The Economy

Rhode Island's workforce is aging, and we need to attract, recruit, and retain professionals in all sectors. We must invest in housing, workforce training, innovative career paths, and jobs that pay a thriving wage. People who work hard, including small business owners, deserve the chance to succeed. When families have more to spend, communities grow stronger.

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My work on jobs and the economy:

• Created additional licensure pathways for health care providers and lowered costs for practicing pharmacists to keep them here in Rhode island

• Helped restaurants and bars recover from the pandemic by protecting their investments in outdoor dining

• Expanded the Wavemaker tax incentive program to include social workers and mental health counselors, proposed innovative student loan repayment programs

• Supported infrastruture investments in Quonset and the Port of Galillee to attract and retain employers in a variety of industries

• Created a pathway for home food entrepreneurs to start businesses with minimal red tape and strong safety standards

• Expanded access to subsidized child care for working families, child care educator opportunities and benefits, and supported investments in attainable housing

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Healthcare

Healthy communities depend on affordable access to the right levels of care, in the right places, at the right time. No one should go broke because of illness or be forced to go without care based on cost. Rhode Island must invest in short, medium, and long-term solutions to build a sustainable health care system that meets our needs at every stage of life.

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My work on healthcare:

• Served on the Commission to investigate the feasibility of a public medical school at the University of Rhode Island

• Removed barriers to access community-based, emergency mental health care and avoid unncessary hospitalizations

• Expanded healthcare coverage for pregnancy, children, and people with cancer

• Streamlined pathways for social workers and mental health professionals so people can access care faster

• Sustained innovative resource consultation programs to support primary care providers and pediatricians

• Partnered with community nonprofits to expand training opportunities for health care providers working with young children

• Eased administrative burdens for providers by streamlining prior authorizations and prescription refills

• Supported protections for reproductive health care, access to health care for the trans community, and for health care providers

Rights & Equality

Our country was founded on the ideal of fundamental equality, and as Senator I work to codify protections that promote equality into law so everyone has the freedom to live their lives. This includes:

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• Supporting studies and legislative action that examine and address racial, disability, and other biases in our institutions – such as law enforcement, education, and child welfare – to help us move toward that founding ideal of equality

• Cosponsoring legislation that creates equal opportunity for women-owned and minority-owned businesses

• Promoting and defending policies that protect and uplift our LGBTQ friends and neighbors

• Addressing the needs of our senior and veteran populations to access essential services including transportation, healthcare, and housing

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My work on rights and equality:

• Successfully funded a study for RIPTA to design and implement a statewide paratransit system to meet the work, health care, and community access needs of people with disabilities and seniors

• Preserved Section 504 protections in state law, ensuring access to educational. housing, workplace, and transportation accommodations

• Passed legislation to incorporate standards in police training for interactions involving people with cognitive and communication-based disabilities 

Environment

Protecting our natural resources is a top priority. We must expand affordable renewable energy, protect air and water quality, and prepare our communities for climate change. Our beaches, parks, and public lands are central to Rhode Island’s health and economy and must remain accessible to all.

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My work on the environment:

• Passed legislation allowing coastal communities to plan for climate-resilient development

• Enacted legislation balancing solar development with forest preservation, and created incentives for developing solar on parking lots, rooftops, and other preferred sites

• Partnered with North Kingstown and Narragansett to create Municipal Resilience Plans and unlock climate infrastructure funding

• Passed legislation protecting farmland and water supplies from PFAS contamination

• Supported the Act on Climate, the 100% Renewable Energy Standard, and the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act

• Advanced efforts to expand energy efficiency programs for renters and landlords

• Passed legislation to increase textile recycling and extend the life of the landfill

• Sponsored shoreline access legislation to preserve public access to Rhode Island’s coast

Education & Child Welfare

We cannot succeed if we fail to protect and educate our most vulnerable residents. The pandemic exposed deep inequities in our schools and child welfare system, and we must build stronger, evidence-based supports for children and families.

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My work on education and child welfare:

• Required DCYF to report child sexual abuse cases to children’s advocacy centers so victims receive support and abusers are held accountable

• Expanded protections for child victims through recorded forensic interviews

• Established a military family advocacy program addressing child abuse and neglect

• Expanded access to high-quality child care and accelerated pathways to public pre-K

• Secured funding for psychiatric residential treatment facilities for youth in state care

• Supported funding for new school construction across Rhode Island

Livable Rhode Island for All

Rhode Island should support residents at every stage of life, from early childhood through healthy aging. Strong families and safe homes create strong communities.

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My work on livability:

• Created a statewide plan for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Wellness

• Expanded Paid Family Leave for caregivers

• Eliminated taxes on military pensions and increased the Circuit Breaker tax credit for seniors

• Increased funding for home safety modifications so seniors can age safely in place

Protection of Voting Access & Civic Engagement

Our state works best when everyone can use their voice. This means expanding voter access while strengthening election security and trust in our democratic process.

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My work on voting and civic engagement:

• Supported the Let Rhode Island Vote Act to expand mail ballots and early in-person voting

• Strengthened post-election security measures for General Assembly races

• Advanced Same Day Voter Registration for state and local elections

• Worked to improve transparency and make public testimony more accessible by reducing time, cost, and childcare barriers