ISSUES

Healthcare

Comprehensive, affordable healthcare is a basic human right. As a healthcare provider, I know that high prescription costs, exorbitant deductibles and inadequate access to quality medical and mental health services can dramatically impact the wellness of the individual and their family. The substance abuse crisis was exacerbated by COVID and requires expanded, local and timely recovery services rather than a focus on criminalizing a medical emergency. We must: limit out of pocket expenses for prescriptions and copays/deductibles; increase access to quality, comprehensive and accountable primary, specialty and mental health services; and incentivize our healthcare workforce to stay and care for Rhode Islanders.

Education

Every child deserves an effective and equitable public education that meets their unique social and emotional needs. Teachers and staff require resources and supports to meet these goals.
Education, from Pre-K through college/career training must be affordable and accessible for all Rhode Islanders. School funding must be fair, and resources need to be prioritized for social workers and counselors. As the wife of a teacher, I saw first-hand the learning losses inflicted by COVID-19, and I believe that students and teachers must be supported as they work to recover from these losses and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Gun Violence Prevention

Gun violence is a preventable tragedy and its continued prevalence in American society makes everyone unsafe. Guns are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents and students continue to be traumatized by repetitive stories of school shootings, active-shooter drills and losing friends to accidental, violent, or self-inflicted gun deaths.
As a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America for more than eight years, I have proudly advocated for laws that protect victims of domestic abuse, ban ghost guns, prohibit guns in schools, limit high-capacity magazines, prohibit open carry of loaded long guns and increase the age to own a gun to 21. We must continue to work to pass legislation that ensures safe gun storage and bans assault weapons. Weapons of war do not belong in our communities.

Environment

Rhode Island is a special place, in large part because of our wonderful beaches, parks and open spaces. Our economy is dependent on the tourism that brings visitors to enjoy our natural environment alongside Rhode Islanders. The East Bay is incredibly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and sea level rise, and they are happening now. We must be bold and brisk as we move to lower carbon emissions, invest in the green economy, and help boost our community’s resiliency and adaptation efforts to cope with the changes happening now.  We must support policies that help to meet the goals in the 2020 Act on Climate legislation, while we also protect our open spaces and drinking water.

Rights and Equality

Rhode Island was founded on principles of preserving liberty. Equality, equity and justice are ideals we must continue to work towards and resist any efforts to erode. We must recognize and remove the inequities for individuals of color and with disabilities. Woman’s rights, including income parity, and access to safe, affordable reproductive services, in including abortion care and adequate and safe childcare must be top priorities. We must support and protect the rights of our LGTBQ+ neighbors at school, work and in healthcare.

Seniors and Affordable Housing

Every individual deserves safe, affordable housing.
Seniors should be supported to age safely in their homes for as long as possible. Accessible and affordable transportation and in-home health services are essential.
I have been formally working on the issues of affordable housing for almost two years. Housing insecurity has only worsened with COVID-19 and we need to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to clean and affordable housing in all our communities.