Issues

All young people are deserving of a high quality education that prepares them to be successful in the workforce, in the community, and in life. Schools have a responsibility to develop the next generation of leaders, not test takers. Rhode Island needs a statewide school funding formula to ensure that all children have equitable access to high quality education.  Schools must support young people not only academically but also by being safe places for social emotional growth both during the school day and after school time.

First Term Legislative Impact

• Increased higher education funding by $4 million
• Serves on the Commission to Study the Affordability and Accessibility of Public Higher Education in Rhode Island 
• Co-sponsored the Safe Schools Act to direct RIDE to create and implement statewide policy on cyberbullying prevention
• Passed legislation to create the RI Family Engagement Advisory Council.  The Council, composed of teachers, parents and administrators, will make recommendations on developing policies to make families more active in the life of their children’s schools 

Like the federal investment in our national parks, Rhode Island must invest in our green space. Maria supports policies fostering and maintaining bicycle paths and walking trails throughout our state. In addition, Maria believes that public transportation is an area for growth and can revitalize our community.

State policy should encourage energy efficiency in building regulations and encourage Rhode Island to be a hub of Green Architecture and experimentation. This work will care for our state’s precious natural resources, make utilities more affordable for our people, and provide valued jobs as we continue our development in the 21^st century.

First Term Legislative Impact

• Passed legislation to mandate recycling waste cooking oil by commercial operations, such as restaurants
• Created a program that will help low-income Rhode Islanders pay what they can afford to prevent shut-offs and pay down utility debts with the Henry Shelton Act
• Passed legislation extending the renewable energy fund, which is expected to increase renewable energy production and create green jobs
• Enacted a new law increasing penalties for animal abusers 

Access to living/fair wage jobs is crucial to the prosperity of all Rhode Islanders, particularly now. The State has an obligation to foster job creation and a diverse economy through its economic policy. The General Assembly must play its part.

Small business owners, non-profits, and local entrepreneurs can and should be encouraged to employ Rhode Islanders first. Tax policy should be designed to benefit the daily life of the average Rhode Islander, not the shareholders of out of state corporations. In negotiating our state budget, we should look to make decisions which will improve the long term economic opportunities of our people, not simply cut vital programs.

Work should pay for all Rhode Islanders.

First Term Legislative Impact

• Sponsored legislation, with the support of the Dept. of Labor and Training, to expand entrepreneurial training opportunities and eliminate waiting period for receipt of temorary disability insurance (TDI) benefits 
• Passed legislation to speed up the issuance of building permits for residential dwellings and smaller commercial building projects
• Legislation was passed to advance workforce development training by connecting education leaders with business and industry leaders