legislative priorities

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 Millions of Americans, including Rhode Islanders, live with rare, chronic, invisible, and often debilitating physical and mental health conditions. These underserved and

invalidated individuals should not have to be further burdened by health plan coverage barriers. I understand first-hand the difficult task of navigating through the health insurance system, as I am both a patient and caregiver. I firmly believe health plans should work for, and not against, a family or individual.

Fellow Scituate and Cranston taxpayers should not have their health outcomes

compromised by unfair insurance practices. Non-medical switching, lack of health coverage for non-prescription therapies, and overall cost for medical appointments, procedures and medicine are just some of the many areas needing to be addressed at the state house. 

 While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helped reduce some of the barriers experienced by individuals living with disabilities, there is still much work to be done. Simple, inclusive measures during new housing construction projects, modifying existing public venues, and the expansion of our state’s transportation to better service individuals with mobility challenges are some of the areas Rhode Island’s legislature can afford to focus its energies on. Constituents deserve to live in a state where it values enhancing its taxpayers’ quality of life.

 Scituate and Cranston’s Hazard Mitigation Plans include similar vulnerabilities and concerns, including flooding, hurricanes, infrastructure, and winter storms. Our communities are already experiencing the impact of climate change and, while local emergency management directors, government officials and volunteer environmental groups within District 41 have diligently crafted preparedness, recovery and mitigation plans, additional climate adaptations should be taken into consideration to promote the longevity of our flourishing municipalities. As state representative, I will look for legislative ways that can proactively support both Scituate and Cranston’s climate adaptation efforts, along with their respective hazard mitigation plans. It’s also imperative that measures be taken to ensure that the Act on Climate meets its goals timely, and that we, as a district, are doing our part to ensure Rhode Island hits its target of reducing climate emissions to net-zero by 2050.

 Our learners are our future. Children in Cranston and Scituate deserve a safe space to grow, be heard, and have their educational needs met. I will work to protect educational funding for the district, while also working alongside legislators whose bills promote innovative ways to better meet the needs of our students. With enrollment numbers and classroom closures on the minds of concerned parents within the district, my goal as your state representative would include introducing and/or supporting legislation aimed at re-examining Rhode Island’s maximum class sizes, taking into account those schools who qualify for Title 1, Part A funds.  

  The Constitution of the state of Rhode Island indicates that every city and town shall have the power to adopt a charter, yet Scituate remains the only town without a Home Rule or Legislative Charter. Residents are continuing to garner the signatures required to have the question, “shall a commission be appointed to frame a charter?” placed to the electors. This is an incredible undertaking by a small group of determined taxpayers, and I applaud their efforts. Scituate deserves a blueprint plan so that our local government can run as efficiently as possible for its citizens. Understanding the unanimous vote of the acting town council to oppose a legislative charter, as state representative I will continue following this effort closely, listening to the will of the people. Should taxpayers find they’d prefer a Legislative Charter be introduced to work in tandem with the Home Rule Charter efforts, I would certainly entertain that option; I welcome those on-the-ground and working to re-establish a charter commission to share their thoughts and concerns surrounding town charter options for Scituate.