We must all recognize that we are all interdependent upon one another and that good ideas can come from many unexpected sources. I am of the firm belief that working together to understand others’ points of view can lead to new forms of integrative thinking, leading to synergies and new collaboration based on fresh perspectives. This is a key to finding solutions to our state’s most vexing problems.
My most successful legislative programs have been those that have spanned several years in time and have involved hundreds of participants from multiple stakeholder groups. I am proud of my forming the Legislative Commission on Aquaculture, which has led to much greater commercialization of aquaculture as a ‘green’ industry in our state and possible supplementary income source for fishers and allied support industries and suppliers. Aquaculture is now the fastest growing segment of our important seafood industry, growing at 12-13% per year since I began my efforts in 1994. In both the Bay Trust and the Aquaculture Commissions, I brought together stakeholders and officials from Rhode Island and Southern New England to weave together ideas so that we could work together to solve some of our most complex problems.
The following links to special house commissions which I chair reflect the value of integrative thinking:
H 7130—RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS. This act would require fuel cells be considered an energy efficient technology in renewable energy programs.
H 7140—RELATING TO EDUCATION - - UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND. This act would promote the capability of the University of Rhode Island in the areas of environmental and agricultural research and extension education by authorizing the appropriation of additional state funds to match annual federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, without reduction in the University’s general operating budget.
H 7157—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN. This resolution would extend the reporting date of the special house commission to promote and develop a comprehensive system of education for the visually impaired children from March 18, 2004 to March 18, 2005.
H 7163—RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR POLLUTION. This act would create the “Rhode Island Pollution Prevention Act of 2004” for the purpose of preventing or reducing pollution at the source, whenever feasible.
This act would also create a small business technical and environmental assistance center for the purpose of development and implementation of a strategy to promote source reduction.
H 7246—RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND CARBON FUEL REDUCTION AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ACT. This act would create a new chapter in the general laws directing DEM to develop plans for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas reduction and would exempt from taxation certain alternative energy equipment.
H 7518—RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- HEALTH CARE FOR WORKING PEOPLE FOR WORKING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. This act would authorize the department of human services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program pursuant to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
H 7527—RESPECTFULLY URGING THE MERCURY REDUCTION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION TO PREVENT MERCURY POLLUTION FROM ELECTRONIC WASTE. This act would require that producers of electronic waste be financially and environmentally responsible for this waste and its disposal.
H 7577—RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. This act would provide that the liability of a defendant for damages would be several only and not be joint where the defendant's act or omission constituted no more than 25% of the causes of damages sustained by the plaintiff.
H 8192—RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STROKE TASK FORCE. This act would direct the director of the department of health to establish and maintain a comprehensive statewide stroke task force.
H 8300—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE, DEVELOP AND ARTICULATE A PUBLIC SCIENCE SCHOOL FOR GRADES 6-12 ALIGNED WITH HIGHER EDUCATION. This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative commission whose purpose it would be to review current science education and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than March 17, 2005.
H 8359—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BAYS AND WATERSHEDS COORDINATION TEAM. This act would establish the Rhode Island Bays and Watersheds Coordination Team to promote multi-state and multi-agency coordination in the management, restoration, protection and development of the state's bays and watersheds. The act would also provide for the establishment of several committees to assist the coordination team in the performance of its duties.
H 8398—PROCLAIMING APRIL, 2004 TO BE "EARTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. RESOLVED, That this House of Representative of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April, 2004 to be "Earth Month" in Rhode Island and calls upon its citizens to observe this month with programs, ceremonies and activities that celebrate this remarkable and vital endeavor to save our planet.
H 8424—PROCLAIMING MAY 7, 2004 "URI COMMERCIAL FISHERIES DAY". RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in celebration of over a century of cooperation between the University of Rhode Island and the state’s oldest industry, commercial fishing, hereby proclaims Friday, May 7, 2004 to be “URI Commercial Fisheries Day” in the state of Rhode Island.
H 8440—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND RIVERS COUNCIL. This act would refine the powers and duties relating to the Rhode Island Rivers Council.
H 8641—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION. This act would create the Comprehensive Watershed and Marine Monitoring Act of 2004.
H 8642—RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION. This act would authorize the director of the department of environmental management to coordinate various governmental agencies and private organizations to insure that watershed management and preservation are optimized. It would also make the Rhode Island Rivers Council an arm of the Water Resources Board instead of the department of administration,division of planning.
H 8692—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE STATUS OF THE STATE'S POLICY FORMULATION FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES. This resolution would create a 20 member special House commission whose purpose it would be to study the status of the state's policy formulation for sustainable fisheries, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than March 11, 2005.
H 8703—CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF AQUACULTURE AND SEAFOOD COMMERCE. This resolution would create a sixteen (16) member special House commission, whose purpose it would be to develop, promote and stimulate a comprehensive system of aquaculture and seafood commerce, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than May 31, 2005.