“I hope you will join me in protecting this exceptional place we call home and work to make our community stronger and more resilient into the future.”
A Message to My Constituents
I want to continue to fight for families, our businesses and for seniors struggling to get by.
In these uncertain times we need our government to protect our access to affordable health care and our reprpoductive privacy. Our seniors deserve services that allow them to stay in their homes longer, and when they need specialized care, that care is in a well-funded facility with health workers that are well compensated.
A quality education should not be a matter of zip code. We must ensure that our schools are adequately funded by the state and the next funding formula for our public schools is fair and does not overburden local property owners. I agree with the recommendation of the RI Public Expenditure Council that we should be moving toward innovation that enables school districts to address the differences in student ability and needs. In the past we made the mistake of pushing all our students toward 2-4-year colleges that set so many of them up for failure. Not everyone wants or needs to go to college. Public schools should offer students career paths and certificate programs that lead to apprenticeships in lucrative trades or a head start in a professional career such as healthcare. Some school committees are already exploring or moving in this direction. Our State should be assisting in this endeavor. We must reform public education so it works for all students. Charter Schools alone aren’t the answer since they do not serve the wide range of needs students present. A quality education should not be limited to those families who win a lottery to attend a Charter School.
The statewide crisis in affordable housing is pushing seniors, young individuals, and families into substandard living situations. In 2021 the General Assembly established the state’s first permanent funding stream for affordable housing to help address the state’s critical housing shortage and in 2022 we passed a package of housing bills that were signed into law. It’s time to make affordable housing a reality across the state so future generations can live in the community they call home.
We must continue the work of reforming policies and regulations that are holding our small businesses hostage. Small businesses are vital to Rhode Island’s economy. We’ve made some progress but there’s much more to do.
After three years of negotiations with the business community and advocates, we passed my bill making pay equity for women and minorities the law. We must dismantle systems that hinder progress for Americans and make a more just world for everyone.
Supporting peaceful protest in our communities does not mean we oppose our law enforcement officers. Our Police Departments deserve the training, resources, and support necessary to protect our communities. Making these opportunities available is a priority.
We’ve made progress passing common sense gun legislation that protects citizens, as well as domestic violence victims and students in schools, but more can be done to keep citizens safe such as passing a ban on future purchases of military style assault rifles.
Science reveals that we are being impacted by sea level rise and intense, sustained rain events that lead to flash flooding. Rhode Islanders want their government to provide guidance using the latest scientific information, prepare for the problems and plan the solutions. The passage of Act On Climate sets our path in that direction but there is much work to do toward Rhode Island’s climate resiliency.
I hope you will join me in protecting this exceptional place we call home and work to make our community stronger and more resilient into the future.
