The Rhode Island General Assembly is back from break and we have quite a week ahead of us. There are THREE big moments happening right away. We are including different ways to get involved below. As always, we all have a role to play, so whether you can make a call, send an email, attend a hearing to show support, or testify (or all of the above), there IS a way YOU can make a difference!
We are in this together to push for a more just Rhode Island. Let’s go!
STATE HOUSE – TUESDAY (floor vote): Get fired up for improving voter access! The “Let RI Vote Act” is up for a vote TOMORROW, Tuesday, April 26th. The Womxn Project is so proud to be part of the Let RI Vote Coalition.
Join us! You can meet up with fellow supporters at 3pm in the Senate Gallery. Click for details. Can’t be there in person? Send a quick message to Senators asking them to vote ‘YES’ on the bill.
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STATE HOUSE – WEDNESDAY (hearing on sexual education bill):
S2285 would ensure young people in Rhode Island who are in grades 6-12 receive comprehensive and compassionate sex ed to help them make informed decisions and build healthy, empowered communities. We should ensure students have the info they need. You can attend the hearing to voice your support, submit written testimony for public record to the clerk OR send an email of support for the bill to the Senate Education Committee.
Why is this bill important?
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Empowering young people and giving them accurate information to support healthy decisions.
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Trying to break cycles of dating violence and improve emotional, physical and sexual health.
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Giving young people the tools to understand and honor who they are and to feel confident to build strong, loving relationships and plan healthy, happy futures.
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Striving to build inclusive school communities so that young people will take those values out into the larger community and be part of creating a more just world.
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STATE HOUSE – Thursday (hearing on Raising RI bill): The Womxn Project is honored to be part of the Raising RI Coalition. We are working together to lift more than 5,000 children in Rhode Island out of extreme poverty!
There is legislation pending to increase the monthly RI Works benefit to a level that better supports basic living needs and support this increase with a permanent cost of living adjustment to maintain the value of the benefit, extend the lifetime benefit from 48 to 60 months, and provide an unrestricted two-year Community College of Rhode Island education. This would give parents who are struggling to make ends meet the knowledge and skills to be eligible for higher paying jobs (H 7789). It is being heard in House Finance on Thursday.
We would LOVE to encourage you to testify in person but if you can submit written testimony – just send it to the committee clerk and it will go into the record and/or send an email to committee members saying, “I am a Rhode Island voter writing to urge you to support H7789, a bill to strengthen the RI Works program to better support families in our state who are trying to get out of the cycle of poverty. Please, vote yes. Thank you.” Additional talking points may be found here.
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Campaign Website
www.StopAbortionBansRI.org
We are continuing to push for action on the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (H7442/S2549), which gets rid of the harmful bans on health coverage for abortion. Did you see our new campaign website? CHECK IT OUT!
Get involved today! For example, we are currently sending out 4k postcards with our volunteers. Click here to join!