This past year brought a number of important victories that will improve public health and expand access to health care for Rhode Islanders. I’m especially proud that we ended long-standing barriers to essential care for Medicaid recipients and state workers with passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act. We also codified the consumer protections of the federal Affordable Care Act into state law to ensure that preexisting condition coverage, the ability of those under 26 to stay on parents’ coverage, and other important provisions remain in effect locally regardless of what happens in Washington.
Additionally, ending the threat of lead poisoning - a reality far too many Rhode Island families live with, especially in older communities like Newport and Jamestown - was a major focus during the past session. Working with the Attorney General’s office, we approved an important package of legislation to protect children and families from the risks of lead exposure by enhancing the rights of tenants and holding landlords accountable. Thanks to a separate new law, we have also put Rhode Island on track to replace all lead pipes in our state’s water systems within a decade.