Releases
WPRI: RI legislative leaders pledge action ‘in the near future’ to start spending ARPA cash
In a joint statement to 12 News, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio declined to lay out a specific timeline for when their chambers’ respective Finance Committees will schedule a vote on spending some of the money, but indicated it could happen soon. “The House and Senate Finance Committees are in the…
Read MoreBoston Globe Commentary: Housing is still a top priority for Rhode Island’s lawmakers
The Boston Globe In my first year as House Speaker, I’m proud of the way we worked together as a chamber to pass meaningful legislation aimed at improving the lives of all Rhode Islanders. We made historic progress on a top priority for many House members, including me: expanding access to affordable housing. When I…
Read MoreProvidence Journal Commentary by Gary Sasse and Joseph Paolino, Jr.: Deciding on how to spend $1 billion
In March of this year, Congress enacted the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This legislation secured $1.9 billion in coronavirus pandemic aid for Rhode Island and its localities. While decisions on where to spend this vast sum will be critical for Rhode Island’s future, prudent use of these funds will depend on the decision-making,…
Read MoreProvidence Journal: Why it’s ‘possible, but not probable’ the RI House will vote on two major issues in 2021
But Shekarchi argues that the past several months have vindicated the Assembly’s deliberative approach, pointing to the $81-million federal grant announced earlier in the week to build a new state health lab. In June, while the Assembly was still in session, McKee had proposed tapping another pool of federal dollars to build a lab. “Yesterday, the state…
Read MoreWarwick Beacon: Bally’s office to bring high-paying jobs of future to Warwick
Article from the Warwick Beacon: While sports betting, fantasy sports and iGaming are as close as our cell phones, iPads and computers, online gaming it is going to have an even greater presence in Rhode Island. Yesterday, Bally’s Corporation, with corporate headquarters in Providence and casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton, officially opened its Interactive…
Read MoreCranston delegation, Speaker Shekarchi kick off Knightsville revitalization with Mayor Hopkins
Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, joined by Representative Jacquelyn Baginski and members of the Cranston delegation, presented a House legislative grant to the City of Cranston to kick off revitalization efforts in the Knightsville area. Mayor Ken Hopkins, along with members of the Cranston City Council, accepted the check in front of the Knightsville Gazebo. “I…
Read MoreWarwick Beacon: Letter to the Editor by Speaker Joe Shekarchi
This letter to the editor was published in the Warwick Beacon: To the Editor: My friend and colleague, Rep. Teresa Tanzi, recently shared a story with me that highlights the exceptional caliber of Warwick’s public safety professionals. On Oct. 3, Rep. Tanzi and her husband were driving on West Shore Road when they witnessed…
Read MoreGeneral Assembly launches ARPA fund recommendation webpage to promote transparency
The General Assembly has launched an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Fund Recommendation Portal on its website. To maximize transparency, the General Assembly is committed to posting all ideas and proposals received regarding use of ARPA funds for public availability. This page will serve as a public, digital repository and is available for public review.…
Read MoreProvidence Journal: ‘Everybody wants money’: RI lawmakers overwhelmed with requests for share of federal aid
Days away from the start of State House hearings on the ways Gov. Dan McKee wants to spend the first big chunk of Rhode Island’s $1.1-billion federal windfall, state lawmakers have been barraged with competing requests. “Nursing homes want several hundred million dollars. URI wants a quarter of a billion dollars,” House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said…
Read MoreSpeaker Shekarchi Congratulates Warwick Recipients of RI CHARG Grants
Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi congratulates Warwick organizations named as recipients of awards from the RI Culture, Humanities and Arts Recovery Grant (RI CHARG) program, a historic collaborative partnership between the State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (Humanities Council). The Warwick Symphony Orchestra, Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum,…
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