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5/17/2021
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MEDIA ADVISORY: House Finance meets twice on Tuesday to vote on changes to unemployment and to continue hearing witness testimony from May 13; Subcommittees meet on Wednesday to hear department budgets
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STATE HOUSE – The House Finance Committee will be meeting twice on Tuesday to vote on a bill that changes unemployment to get people back to work and to continue hearing witness testimony from a previous meeting. Two subcommittees will meet on Wednesday to hear department budgets.
On Tuesday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will consider legislation (2021-S 0858aa) sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) which increases partial unemployment benefits by disregarding an amount of earnings when calculating the weekly benefit rate with an expiration date of 6/30/22.
Also on Tuesday, May 18 at the RISE of the House (approximately 5:30 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will continue hearing remaining witness testimony on five bills that were originally scheduled to be heard on May 13.
The following bills will be heard:
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2021-H 5628, sponsored by Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence), establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program which shall be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program."
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2021-H 5715, sponsored by Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), creates a tax on sugary drinks with the intent of discouraging excessive consumption of those beverages and would create a dedicated revenue source for programs designed to benefit public health.
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2021-H 5787, sponsored by Rep. Liana Cassar (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence), provides for abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and repeal the abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans.
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2021-H 5809, sponsored by Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence), creates the Percentage of Income Home Energy Affordability Program, an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.
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2021-H 6046, sponsored by Rep. Brianna E. Henries (D-Dist. 64, East Providence), is a House Resolution respectfully requesting the RI State Auditor General to conduct or oversee a study or audit on the privatization of RI’s Medicaid programs.
On Wednesday, May 19 at 3 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House, the Subcommittee on Human Services will hear testimony on the FY 2022 and FY 2021 revised budgets for the Office of Veterans Services. The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Alex D. Marszalkowski (D-Dist. 52, Cumberland).
Also on Wednesday, May 19 at the RISE of the House (approximately 5:30 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the Subcommittee on Environment and Transportation will hear testimony on the FY 2022 and FY 2021 revised budgets for Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council. The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Carlos E. Tobon (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket).
The State House remains closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing will be televised live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox on Channels 15 and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers. It will also be live-streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV. Media members wishing to arrange for in-person coverage are asked to contact Larry Berman at lberman@rilegislature.gov.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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