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2/9/2024
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Sen. DiMario named Clean Water Legislator of the Year
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 STATE HOUSE – The Rhode Island Clean Water Association has honored Senate Environment and Agriculture Chairwoman Alana M. DiMario as its 2024 Clean Water Legislator of the Year.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Senator DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham). “Lawmaking is a collaborative endeavor, and as the chair of the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee, my role has been to support the efforts of all my fellow legislators to successfully pass clean water legislation. I accept this award on behalf of all my colleagues who continue to work hard to ensure all our neighbors have access to clean, safe water.”
Senator DiMario was presented with the award Thursday at the 2024 Clean Water Legislative Summit by RICWA President Peter J. Connell.
“The Rhode Island Clean Water Association created the Clean Water Legislator of the Year award to recognize all the hard work involved in getting substantial, effective legislation enacted in support of the water environment,” said Connell. “The 2024 award recognizes Chairwoman Alana DiMario for her leadership of the Committee on Environment and Agriculture and her focus on stopping pollution at the source, such as the Rhode Island Comprehensive PFAS Ban Act, which we believe will soon become law with her capable stewardship.”
The Comprehensive PFAS Ban Act (2024-S 2152, 2024-H 7356), sponsored by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) and Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown), would ban so-called “forever chemicals” for sale or manufacture in Rhode Island. Senator DiMario is a co-sponsor of the bill, which has been assigned to the Senate Environment Committee.
The summit opened with remarks delivered via video from Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabriel Amo, who congratulated Senator DiMario, praised the progress Rhode Island has made on clean water issues and highlighted the important work still to do at the state and federal level. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) spoke next, highlighting recent legislative sessions as some of the best years of environmental policy ever, the compatibility of business and housing development with environmental goals and the continuing hard work of state legislators and environmental advocates.
A round table discussion on the Circular Water Economy moderated by Executive Director of Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association Janine Burke-Wells, followed, covering the successes and challenges of improving water quality and broader environmental quality in a sustainable manner. In addition to Senator DiMario the panel included House Deputy Majority Leader Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), Department of Environmental Management Director Terrence Gray, Bill Fazioli of the RI Infrastructure Bank and Laurie Horridge of the Narragansett Bay Commission.
Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), Reps. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence), Cortvriend, Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) and Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett) also attended the event as audience members and discussion participants. Reps. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick) and Camille F. J. Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) hosted the event.
IN PHOTO: From left, Janine Burke-Wells of NBRA, Sen. Alana DiMario and Peter Connell of RICWA.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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