The strength of our economy and the quality of life in Rhode Island must be inextricably linked to stewardship of our environment. I am keenly interested in promoting excellent public policy in energy use and sustainable ecosystems management. I also support strong agricultural and fisheries policies to strengthen our critical RI-grown food and seafood industries. Quality of life in Rhode Island is dependent on maintaining our rural open space and clean coastal waters. Profitability of RI farms is the only real long-term solution to maintaining Rhode Island’s rural open space. Rhode Island’s seafood (fisheries and aquaculture) industry has historically been at the core of our state economy. We need to continue to support and nurture these industries, which are a lynchpin of a ‘green’ economic future.
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 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 7436—RELATING TO THE PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS. This act would rename the former DCYF Building on the Rhode Island College Campus the "Paul V. Sherlock Center for Disabilities" and appropriate $1.7 million for its renovation.
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 7531—CONGRATULATING DR. ROBERT BALLARD FOR ENGAGING AND INSPIRING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WITH JASON PROJECT 2004. This resolution commends Dr. Robert Ballard and his team of scientists and teacher and student Argonauts for providing every student in Rhode Island with the opportunity to be inspired and motivated by Jason Project 2004
H 8186—RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. This act would mandate that the land use actions of quasi-public agencies on property at the periphery of state airports develop a master plan subject to local approval.
H 8205—RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT. This act would provide that fifty dollars ($50.00) of child support paid by a noncustodial be provided to the family of children receiving cash assistance from the family independence program.
H 8206—RELATING TO AERONAUTICS - NOISE MONITORING. This act would require the Rhode Island Airport Corporation to procure and install a permanent airport noise monitoring system (NMS) to be fully integrated with the aircraft operator monitoring system (AOMS) to provide actual measurement of noise levels from air traffic in the community surrounding T.F. Green Airport.
H 8283—RELATING TO CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. This act would submit to the voters the question of authorizing the issuance of $20,000,000 general obligation bonds for the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency.
H 8284—RELATING TO CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. This act would submit to the voters the question authorizing the issuance of $20,000,000 general obligation bonds for the acquisition of open space.
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 8544—RELATING TO THE CITY OF WARWICK TO PLACE ON THE BALLOT A QUESTION AUTHORIZING $2,000,000 IN BONDS TO PURCHASE OPEN SPACE. This act would authorize the city of Warwick to place on the ballot a question authorizing $2,000,000 in bonds to purchase open space.
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.