![]() This past week I declared my candidacy for a second term in the Rhode Island Senate, representing the newly-expanded District 36: North Kingstown (the eastern half), all of Narragansett, and New Shoreham (Block Island). Increasing the "Circuit Breaker" Tax Credit for low-income seniorsįunding for expanded enforcement for the Department of Environmental Managementįor many of these initiatives we have taken important first steps, and I am eager to get back to work next session to continue us on the path of economic recovery and growth! Historic investments in housing developmentĪddressing the risks to safety and property posed by high-risk dams Immediate elimination of the Car Tax and Taxes on Military PensionsĪ pilot program that increases the purchasing power of SNAP benefits spent on fresh fruits and vegetablesĬreation of a Mental Health Court Calendar to address the mental health needs of many people who encounter our criminal justice system This article from my colleagues and I back in December outlined the situation and explains why we have supported using available federal funds to solve this problem, and I am so glad this made it into the final budget.Ī long overdue comprehensive overhaul of the way we set rates for state contracted human servicesįunding the Unemployment Insurance system to relieve the burden COVID-19 put on small businesses with that increased expense The Wavemaker Fellowship was created as an incentive to keep needed professionals working right here in Rhode Island, and I successfully advocated to have these essential workers included in the list of professionals eligible for this credit.įunding to immediately expand residential care for adolescent girls currently in out of state placements, and adequate funding to build an appropriate, dedicated facility here in Rhode Island. Inclusion of Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Social Workers in the Wavemaker Fellowship. As the Co-Chair of the Child Care Commission I am proud of the progress we made on all of these fronts with this budget priority. Our industries from retail to health care need available workers to fill vacancies, but too often the calculation of child care expenses versus wages keeps these professionals out of the work force, not by choice. Professionals in this sector deserve wages that reflect their expertise and the importance of their work. Rhode Island's children benefit from a stable system of professional early childhood educators to help them get off to the best possible start in life. ![]() ![]() Working families need affordable, high quality child care. Both rely on solid infrastructure to operate and grow, and these investments in our ports will pay off for Rhode Island.Įxpanded Access to Child Care Subsidies, Increased Wages for Child Care Workers, and An Accelerated Pathway to Universal Pre-K for 3 and 4 Year Olds. The Port of Galilee, home to the largest fishing fleet in Rhode Island and the Block Island Ferry, creates business for dozens of associated industries. The Port of Davisville is also poised to become a crucial piece in the rapid expansion of offshore wind development that will benefit Rhode Island in the form of both jobs as well as energy generation. The ports in District 36 are huge economic engines for Rhode Island in many sectors. Significant Investments in the Port of Davisville in Quonset and the Port of Galilee in Narragansett. ![]() This opportunity for Rhode Island entrepreneurs to start their own business from home and scale up to a commercial kitchen when and if they want to is long overdue, and I am proud of the work I have done for the past two years to bring together people who want to start home food businesses and their advocates, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and partners in the Governor's office and the House of Representatives to reach a consensus on a plan that is both safe and accessible. With this study due back to the General Assembly in January, we can design and implement a plan, leveraging available federal funds to make it a reality.Ī pathway for Cottage Food makers to legally start a business from their home with minimal up front costs and barriers. Funding for the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority to conduct a study to develop a comprehensive, statewide plan to meet the transportation needs of people with disabilities and seniors. ![]()
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