2022 -- H 7975

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LC005485

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

ACT FUNDS TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS IN RECOGNITION OF THE

DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON CENTRAL FALLS

AND THE DISPROPORTIONATELY ARPA FUNDING TO THE CITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, McLaughlin, Alzate, and Potter

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, The funding provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

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"provides a unique opportunity for state and local governments to make strategic investments in

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long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance financial stability, and cover temporary operating

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shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize"; and

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     WHEREAS, Central Falls was hit disproportionally hard by COVID and yet received

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disproportionally less ARPA monies than lesser-hit municipalities because ARPA monies were

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distributed by population, not by necessity; for example, while Central Falls had the #1 per-capita

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rate of disease during the pandemic, eighteen cities and towns received more ARPA monies than

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Central Falls; and

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     WHEREAS, Central Falls consistently experienced the state’s highest rates of COVID-19

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infection and hospitalization, leaving countless families, many of whom are or consist of

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immigrant and/or low-income households, scrambling for help, and the city’s small businesses

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struggling to stay afloat; and

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     WHEREAS, While the American Rescue Plan Act was designed to spark a strong

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economic comeback, funds earmarked for Central Falls were determined without regard to the

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unique challenges presented by the City’s density, levels of infection, economic fallout, or other

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hurdles faced by the City’s marginalized community; and

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     WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts faced a similar problem with the

 

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small municipalities of Chelsea, Everett, Methuen and Randolph and, in order to “right this

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wrong,” Governor Baker chose to apportion $109 million in State ARPA monies directly to these

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municipalities stating that, “These four communities were disproportionately impacted by the

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virus, and this additional funding will support critical local COVID response and recovery

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efforts”; and

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     WHEREAS, It is vitally necessary to also “right this wrong” in Central Falls and

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appropriate the funds necessary to combat threats to the public health including, but not limited

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to, pandemic relief, public health outreach, the development of affordable housing, behavioral

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health supports, substance abuse support and resources for domestic violence; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money from the American

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Rescue Plan Act in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2022-2023, the sum

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of five million dollars ($5,000,000) to the City of Central Falls for recovery from the COVID-19

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pandemic; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the

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general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time

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required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

ACT FUNDS TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS IN RECOGNITION OF THE

DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON CENTRAL FALLS

AND THE DISPROPORTIONATELY ARPA FUNDING TO THE CITY

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     This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $5,000,000 to the

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City of Central Falls for relief in combating pandemic threats to the City's public health.

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