Dear Neighbor,
As you may have heard, as a result of the once-a-decade redistricting, your home will soon be part of Rhode Island House of Representatives District 72. Welcome! My name is Terri Cortvriend, and I would like to introduce myself as District 72’s representative, serving Middletown and Portsmouth. I am a mother, a grandmother, a small business owner and a public servant for the past 14 years. I served 10 years as a member of the Portsmouth School Committee (with the last four years as the Chair) in the House, where I am a member of the committees on Small Business; Environment and Natural Resources; Oversight; and Innovation, Internet and Technology. Since last summer, I have also chaired a special legislative commission studying issues related to Rhode Islanders’ constitutional right to shoreline access. I care deeply about our community, local small businesses, protecting our open space, shoreline access and our watershed, supporting our seniors aging in place, advocating for vulnerable populations, and securing future investments in education for our children. I am asking for your support and vote in re-electing me as your state representative on November 8. I have built a strong foundation for our district and Aquidneck Island, developing relationships with federal, state and local leaders, as well as the many local organizations that serve our community. I am honored to have been recognized in 2020 as the #1 legislator in Rhode Island for constituent outreach and the #1 representative overall by RI Ranks. I have met both privately with hundreds of individuals and held more than 30 monthly “Talks with Terri” public constituent meetings. COVID-19 has put unprecedented stress on our healthcare system, our economy, and our day to day lives as well as putting the brakes on the typical legislative session. I used this time to serve constituents on a one-to-one basis, assisting with unemployment issues, delayed services with state agencies, and helping local small businesses navigate federal and state COVID grant and loan programs. During this time, I have also delivered over 150 donated meals to the people of the Anthony House, clients of Newport Mental Health and to the homeless shelters on Aquidneck Island. If you have a question or want to reach me you can contact me by email Rep-Cortvriend@rilegislature.gov or call (401) 472-4789. I invite you to follow me on Twitter at @TerriCortvriend, on Facebook at @TerriCortvriendforStateRep, and on Instagram at @TerriCortvriend
Sincerely
Accessible Representation at the State House for District 72
I will continue work tirelessly to champion good legislation, good policy, through the state process to passage. Legislation that will positively change our lives on the Island and throughout the State.
I will continue advocate tirelessly for state funding for education, for career, tech and vocational education, business training programs, for improved infrastructure, for access to affordable quality healthcare, for a sustainable green economy that produces good paying jobs, for our seniors, for our veterans and for fiscally responsible, transparent, accessible state government.
Education
Having served on the Portsmouth School Committee for over nine years, Terri understands the importance of education. She believes that our students should be provided with real-world experiences through project-based learning, career tech training, and internship opportunities. She is committed to making sure our school facilities adequately prepare our students for the 21st century. Terri has supported legislation to make college more affordable for all Rhode Islanders to increase access for all students and provide them with opportunities so that they can build their own futures – and the future of Rhode Island. We should be investing in them so that Rhode Island can compete on the world stage as we work to grow our economy – pulling everyone up together.
Healthcare
Terri believes that no one should be forced into bankruptcy because they get sick. The current system of employer-based health insurance places a large burden on small businesses and entrepreneurs. Terri knows firsthand how critical health insurance is; she said, “Had we not been insured when my late husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I could have been one of the statistics we have all read about.”
Terri believes that reproductive health care should remain a private matter between a patient and their doctor like every other medical procedure. She helped to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act which codified Roe v. Wade into state law.
Another challenge to our community is how to address the toll that the opioid crisis takes on our communities. Terri worked with other community leaders to create community forum, which allowed the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition, parents, teachers, administrators, and first responders to refine their strategies for communicating and cooperating to facilitate prevention, rescue, treatment, and recovery.
Community Challenges
Terri believes that Rhode Island should be a safe, healthy place for our children to grow up and for our community to live and work together. That’s why she has worked to support mental health efforts such as the Nathan Bruno/Jason Flatt Act regarding suicide prevention in schools as well as various other mental health initiatives.
The growing threat of gun violence is out of control. Terri believes that to fix it we need sensible gun laws, support for mental health initiatives, implementation of restorative justice practices, and general investment in the well-being of our children and families as well as truly effective training for law enforcement. She has passed common sense gun laws during her time at the State House.
Environmental Efforts
The environment has been a cornerstone of Terri’s legislative efforts. She supported legislation that made RI the first state in the country to commit to 100% renewable energy by 2033, she co-sponsored the landmark Act on Climate, and spearheaded legislation banning PFAS “forever chemicals” from food packaging as well as preventing PFAS from entering the watershed. District 72 runs along the Sakonnet River and contains many critical drinking and coastal watersheds. Terri is committed to protecting these waters, protecting open space, controlling polluted stormwater, and implementing strategies to improve the resiliency of our vulnerable areas.
Seniors
Terri understands that our senior citizen population is growing as more seniors choose to retire on Aquidneck Island. She believes that state and local governments should be addressing the infrastructure improvements needed to allow seniors to safely age in our community – including appropriate transportation options, senior centers, housing initiatives that allow people to remain in their homes, and home-based healthcare services. Terri works to support the planning efforts for this growing demographic.
Small Business
Terri believes that our local economy should provide access to good-paying jobs for Rhode Islanders, especially on Aquidneck Island. As the blue economy, tourism, and defense spending grow – we should be investing in the infrastructure of tomorrow to ensure that our small business environment is set up for success. Terri understands the demands and challenges of running a small business because she has run her own small business for almost 30 years. She understands Rhode Island’s business environment and works to strike a balance between protecting workers and not overburdening employers.
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