Rhode Island's 2014 Policy Priorities

Rhode Island

2014 Public Policy Agenda

Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The American Heart Association / American Stroke Association supports and advocates for public policies that will help improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths by coronary heart disease and stroke by 20 percent by 2020.

• Access to Care and Quality – Require all birthing facilities to perform a pulse oximetry test on every newborn prior to discharge to screen for critical congenital heart defects.

• Obesity Prevention – Encourage school districts to share recreational facilities with the community to promote physical activity. Clarify liability rules for the use of school owned facilities by imposing liability for property damage and injury on the user as well as providing that the school not be held liable.

• Obesity Prevention – Impose a state excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in accordance with AHA criteria.

• Obesity Prevention – Establish Childhood Obesity Prevention Task Force charged with making policy recommendations to the General Assembly.

• Obesity Prevention – Ensure that Rhode Island school nutrition requirements are consistent with beverage and snack guidelines in the USDA Interim Final Rule Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in Schools.  Limit exemptions to the USDA standards by covering in-school fundraisers and celebrations. 

• Public Funding/CPR in Schools – Secure state funding to assist with implementation of the 2013 CPR in Schools Law that requires all high school students to receive hands-on CPR training and an overview of AED use prior to graduation as part of the health education curriculum.

• Tobacco Control – Increase state funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs that help smokers quit and prevent kids from ever starting this deadly habit.

• Tobacco Control – Support Tobacco Free Rhode Island efforts to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

Want to help?  There are many ways to get involved!  Take action on You're the Cure action alerts. Encourage family and friends to join our online grassroots community at www.yourethecure.org. Come to the State House to meet with your senator and representative.  Attend Rhode Island Lobby Day.  Share your personal story as a survivor, medical professional, caregiver or someone whose family has been impacted by heart disease or stroke.  Contact Megan Tucker at [email protected] or 401-330-1708 to learn more.