Jobs & The economy

The COVID19 crisis has exacerbated our issues with unemployment and income inequality. We have to invest in initiatives to address the growing housing crisis, get Rhode Islanders back to work, and create jobs that pay a thriving wage. We must expand vocational and professional training programs that meet the needs of growing industries, and offer debt free college solutions. People who work hard should be able to thrive in our state, and that includes local business owners. When people have more money to spend, communities flourish.

My work on jobs and income inequality:

Passed a bill that put a moratorium on zoning enforcement for restaurants and bars who made emergency modifications like take-out windows and outdoor dining during the pandemic. Our local establishments kept their outdoor dining, which helped keep their doors open
Successfully advocated to have additional sectors of our workforce like social workers and mental health counselors qualify for the Wavemaker tax incentive program to keep these professionals working in Rhode Island
Created a pathway for home food entrepreneurs to start their businesses with as little overhead costs and red tape as possible while maintaining safety standards
Worked to expand eligibility for subsidized child care so more of our essential workforce could return to their jobs
Supported investments in creating attainable housing in the budget

Healthcare

No one should go broke because of an illness, experience the stress of insurance coverage issues in the face of a health crisis, or have to make care decisions based on financial ability. With health insurance organizations and for-profit healthcare providers putting millions of dollars in their CEOs’ pockets each year, we should not constantly pay more in premiums to get less coverage. Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and I support legislation that moves us toward healthcare for all. This pandemic has shown us what happens when jobs disappear and people lose their health insurance, and we must take action to address this.

My work on healthcare:

Passed a bill to prohibit insurers from charging copays for COVID treatments was signed into law by the governor. The legislation mandates that all COVID-19 testing or vaccination is free during and upon the expiration of the state of emergency order.
Passed a package of bills streamlining pathways for social workers and mental health professionals to enter the field in a broader variety of work settings, which means people can connect with the mental health care they need, faster
Successfully supported expanding health care coverage for pregnancy and the postpartum period, all children, and people with cancer
Successfully supported legislation capping out of pocket costs for insulin and related supplies
Supports full access to reproductive healthcare, regardless of income or insurance type

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:

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
Passing legislation that addresses the wage gap for women, and particularly women of color, for comparable work
Promoting and defending policies that protect and uplift our LGBTQ friends and neighbors, because no one should be made to feel inferior based on who they are and whom they love
Our senior population must be able to access essential services including transportation, healthcare, and housing, and our veterans should have adequate programs and services that assist with housing, healthcare, and job training

We can’t be afraid to confront our blind spots in our quest to make Rhode Island a place that works for everyone.

My work on rights and equality:

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

Environment

Protecting our natural resources is a top priority. I support legislation that incentivizes renewable energy use and helps break our reliance on imported fossil fuels while protecting ratepayers from high costs. Preserving air and water quality is a public health issue, and we must take whatever steps we can to combat the factors that lead to climate change. Our beaches, parks, and public lands are a big part of what draws tourists to the Ocean State, and they must be preserved and made accessible for all to enjoy.

My work on the environment:

Passed a bill that allows the 21 coastal communities to adopt the CRMC’s coastal hazard application process, which means property owners can make smart decisions about building and renovations with the effects of climate change in mind
Worked with the Town of North Kingstown to develop a Municipal Resilience Plan with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, unlocking access to grants to fund infrastructure projects to address climate change. I also worked with the Town of Narragansett to apply for the 2022 Class with the Infrastructure Bank, and I look forward to participating in that planning process as well
Supported the Act on Climate and the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act
Worked to gather information to figure out how to help renters access home energy efficiency programs and encourage landlords to participate, looking forward to continuing this work in 2023
Sponsored the Shoreline Access bill in 2021 that led to the Study Commission, will support a Shoreline Access bill in the 2023 session

Education & Child Welfare

We can’t succeed as a state if we fail to educate, protect, and serve the most vulnerable among us. Our schools need our full support as they implement new policies and procedures as we recover from the COVID 19 pandemic, and we need to take this opportunity to look at the educational inequities highlighted by this crisis and find ways to address them in a sustainable way. Our child welfare system cannot be run like a business. We have seen the deadly results of that approach, so we have to prioritize evidence-based models to rework our foster care system to protect children and fully support their foster parents while providing needed services to their biological parents. We also must create a child welfare system that trains and retains dedicated professionals to do this essential work.

My work on education and child welfare:

Passed legislation that requires the Department of Children, Youth and Families to report all suspected cases of child sexual abuse to the children’s advocacy center. This ensures that victims and families get the support they need and abusers are held accountable
Passed legislation allowing child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse to use a recorded forensic interview as testimony for a grand jury up to age 16, providing protection for the victims and increasing the ability to pursue accountability for the abuser
Passed legislation in cooperation with the Department of Defense that establishes a military family advocacy program to address the unique needs of child abuse and neglect occurring in military families
Expanded eligibility for access to high quality child care and an accelerated pathway to public pre-K for all 3 and 4 year olds in Rhode Island
Secured funding in the budget to create psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Rhode island for our adolescent children in state care who are currently housed elsewhere across the country
Supported funding for new school construction across Rhode Island

livable rhode island for all

Rhode Island should be a place that meets the needs of all of its residents through the lifespan. We should be investing in getting babies off to the best possible start in life while supporting seniors aging safely in their homes, and all the stages in between.

Passed legislation creating a plan to address Infant and Early Childhood Mental Wellness as a part of our Early Intervention system
Supported expanded Paid Family Leave for people taking time from work to care for children or adult relatives
Supported eliminating the tax on Military Pensions and increasing the “Circuit Breaker” tax for seniors
Supported the increase to the Livable Home Modification Program to provide reimbursements for home safety modifications for seniors

Protection of Voting Access and Civic Engagement

Our state works for all of us when we use our voices. This means voting in local, state, and federal elections, and understanding how each level of government impacts us. I have supported expanding voter access to modernize and secure our voting process, including:

Supporting the Let Rhode Island Vote Act to allow for easier Mail Ballot Requests and Early, In Person Voting
Supporting legislation to expand post-election security measures to General Assembly races to increase confidence in the outcome of close races
Supporting legislation to move us toward Same Day Voter Registration for State and Local Races so people registering on election day can vote for a full ballot and not just for President

In addition, I seek to improve transparency and reach of communications regarding the work of the General Assembly. I am also investigating ways to make the legislative process, including public comment and testimony, more accessible to more Rhode Islanders, being respectful of time, cost, and childcare barriers that keep many people from having their voices heard at the State House.