keeping toxic Polluters out of our state

Last year, when an out-of-state investor wanted to open MedRecycler, a facility that would burn medical waste in our community, I fought back.

I introduced legislation to ban their polluting and unproven “waste-to-energy” process from our state.

They had powerful lobbyists, but I kept pushing and won passage of the bill, and their license was denied by the RI Department of Environmental Management.

I will never stop fighting to protect the health and safety of my constituents and working to stop dirty, climate-damaging industries from setting up shop in our beautiful state.

supporting our schools, teachers and students

From preschool to college and beyond, Rhode Islanders of every age deserve a public education that is affordable, effective and equitable. Students and teachers deserve to learn and work in safe, supportive environments with modern infrastructure.

Supporting our education system is always a priority for me and this year I joined with my colleagues to make thousands more public, high-quality pre-K seats available over the next few years. We are making sure that trauma-informed practices are put in place in our schools along with investing in more mental health supports for our students. And this fall, we’ve put another school building bond on the ballot so we can keep updating our school buildings and construct new ones when needed.

protecting Reproductive rights and Access to ABORTION

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, a devastating blow to bodily autonomy in our country. I’m proud that in my first year in the Senate, we passed the Reproductive Privacy Act, protecting the right to safe and legal abortion in RI. Now more than ever, we know it was critical to secure passage of that bill, but we must protect that victory and make sure everyone has access.

I will keep working to remove barriers to care, by passing the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, which will remove bans on health coverage of abortion for people on Medicaid and state plans, so everyone has access to the care they need.

ending gUN violence

Gun violence is a public health crisis and even one firearm death in our community is too many. Gun suicide, accidental shootings, intimate partner violence…so many of us have been touched by gun violence, but we don’t have to live this way. I am proud of the progress we’ve made as a state: passing a “Red Flag” law, limiting magazine capacity, raising the age to 21 to buy a gun, banning ghost guns, and prohibiting public carry of loaded shotguns and rifles. All these steps together keep our communities safer. And I will keep fighting for an assault weapons ban and stronger safe storage laws.

Addressing climate change

The effects of climate change are upon us. As a coastal state that is already seeing the devastating impact of rising sea levels and stronger storms, Rhode Island must continue to be a leader in renewable energy. And we must ensure that our cities and towns have the resources they need to build resiliency.

We passed the 2020 Act on Climate to get us to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and I’ve been working with my colleagues to make sure we implement policies to get us to that goal with a just transition for fossil fuel sector employees.

Investing in renewable energy infrastructure is a win-win, creating jobs and lessening our reliance on fossil fuels purchased from out-of-state. Let’s keep our energy dollars right here in Rhode Island.

Expanding access to quality health care

Over the past few years, we've made a lot of progress expanding access to affordable care—but too many people are paying more every year for worse coverage.

As the Vice Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, I have sponsored and helped pass legislation to cap prescription drug costs, make insurance companies cover more care, expand access to mental health services and invest in our health care workforce.

This year, I won passage of a bill to allow pregnant individuals to enroll in a new health plan at any point in their pregnancy instead of having to wait for an open enrollment period.

Healthcare is a human right. Patients shouldn't have to forgo the care they need because deductibles are too high or they can’t afford their medications. Access to quality care, delivered in ways that meet patients’ varied needs, is essential.

tackling plastic pollution and improving recycling

Single-use plastics are everywhere! They clog our waterways, litter our streets and are a major factor in our quickly filling central landfill. It’s unsustainable. That’s why I introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Act this year. This legislation holds manufacturers accountable for the plastic waste they produce and put out into the world, while incentivizing them to move to recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging over time. It will also provide much-needed funding to our cities and towns to manage costly recycling programs.

I have also introduced legislation to establish a comprehensive bottle deposit system in Rhode Island. Single Stream Recycling has been a disappointment in our state, with hundreds of thousands of pounds of recyclable material ending up landfilled each year. We can do better and I look forward to passing both of these bills in the 2023 legislative session.

empowering working families

Families are being squeezed as the cost of housing, groceries, and child care rise. I will always stand with working families and have championed polices to reduce child care costs, allow people to take paid sick time to care for themselves or loved ones, and reduce costs elsewhere.

This year, I am proud that we in the General Assembly approved a child tax credit to provide some relief to families. We also phased out the car tax early, so no one will be getting a car tax bill this year!

supporting seniors

Older Rhode Islanders should be able enjoy their retirement years and stay in their own homes for as long as they want. Seniors are valued members of our community and they must have access to the healthcare, affordable and accessible housing, and transportation they need to lead healthy, active lives.

This year, after much advocacy, RI is doubling funding for The Livable Home Modification Grant Program to $1 million so more seniors can stay in their own homes longer.

defending the LGBTQIA+ community

Every person in Rhode Island deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and all of us deserve equal treatment under the law. I will continue to fight back against attempts to roll back the progress we have made and I will keep standing with LGBTQIA+ folks for equality in our laws, workplaces, schools, and communities.