Comcast supports cspan is a Public Service along with these other Television Providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. In his state of the state address, rhode island governor dan mckee remarked on his states decline in and upon, boosted tourism and increased film production. He also listed as a Top Priorities improving education, raising income and investing in transportation infrastructure. [applause] thank you. Thank you all. Thank you so much. We have got a lot to show tonight so lets get down to business. Mr. Speaker, mr. President , members of the legislature, congressman seth magaziner, thank you for being here. General officers, chief justice and members of the judiciary, municipal leaders, members of my cabinet, and my fellow Rhode Islanders who are watching at home, including my mom willa,g and i want to thank everyone for always asking how my mom is doing. Good evening. When i started thinking about this years state of the state address, i thought back to the first inaugural speech i made in march of 2021. Rhode island was in a time of significant change. We were faced with many w challenges and what felt like endless unknowns. At that time, i asked my fellow Rhode Islanders to join me to come together as one team and meet that moment head on. On that day, i shared something i used to tell the players i coached in basketball. The team i coached was called the rhode island shooting stars. They were a group of young men from all different walks of life, family situations, ands, backgrounds, and no one thought they could succeed. They were underestimated as a team and as individuals. But through hard work and dedication, they did compete, and they did succeed. Ill have more to share about their success later. But throughout the teamscc journey, i always reminded them, talented individuals do thei best. But the best teams, the very best teams, are built when talented individuals use their skills to help others do their very best. When i became governor, i believed that rhode island couli be better than just a good team. I knew we could be one of the very best. Over the last three years, weve risen to that challenge. Weve shown that its our turn. That we can compete. That we will compete. And that if we work together, all we can do is succeed. Tonight, im here to cheer on our home team and share our game plan for Rhode Islands future. I have never been more confident that the state of our state is strong and getting stronger every single day because of thee team thats doing the work in all 39 cities and towns. [applause] in the end its about the work that we get done. And although i dont have as much time to be on the Basketball Court these days, im enjoying my new role as coach of Team Rhode Island. And why wouldnt i be . Together, as one team, weve made so much progress over the last few years. Heres some quick hits from our record, a record and share wih her speaker and members of the General Assembly. We reached the lowest Unemployment Rate in rhode Island History. [applause] 98 of our schools have improved attendance this year. 13,000 fewer students are chronically absent this year. [applause] we have a Record Number of jobs at quonset. Our states fiscal outlook was upgraded. Were ranked second best in the nation for Young Workers seeking a job. And were ranked in the top 10 best states for raising a family. [applause] theres more work ahead, but tonight is about the people who are doing the work to make all this progress happen. Last year, we set a challenge for rhode island to reach massachusetts studento achievement levels by 2030. Were doing this by improving 3i main areas, ricas scores, student attendance, and fafsa completion. When we set that goal, i told a story about a painter who wanted to paint the pfect sunrise. Every day, the painter would get ready to start, then hed think, this sunrise is beautiful, but maybe tomorrow will be better. Long story short, he never got it done. Last year, i said, when it comew to improving Rhode Islandsde education system, we cant be like that painter. We cant wait. And the good news is we havent. 38 out of 39 cities and towns have joined this effort that were calling learn365ri. [applause] its a commitment to prioritize learning in our communities. A simple concept, every homes. Every day learning matters. Weve built a remarkable statewide team whos doing the work on education. And within our administration, we have experienced staffio leading the way. Education commissioner angelica infantegreen, who was recentlyw appointed by the Biden Administration to serve on their National Assessment governing board. Ti thank you, commissioner. [applause] postsecondary commissioner shannon gilkey, who has over 15 years of service in education, with 10 of those in higher ed. And he is reimagining our state schools. Thank you, shannon. [applause] and jeremy chiappetta, our new Senior Advisor on education with my office who has firsthand experience as an educator, a principal, and a certified superintendent. [applause] and theyre not alone in this effort. Last year, under the leadershi of bob walsh, a nonprofit callea always learning rhode island was formed to support our learn365ri efforts. To provide guidance to the leaders. To date, theyve raised over half a Million Dollars with the help of the local Business Community and civic leaders. Im proud that my wife susan, a retired teacher, is joining thei team as an honorary chair of b that board. [applause] we know that students who attend school regularly perform, on average, about 20 points better on reading and math than those who are chronically absent, thats why attendance matters. This school year, our work to dramatically improve attendance is already having a positive impact. Si i want to recognize alejandro, a second grader from Webster Elementary School in providence, who is here with us tonight. In kindergarten and first grade, he was chronically absent, however, he turned things around and just received his first perfect attendance award. Alejandro, keep up the great work. [applause] wonderful. L. And bella is here tonight. Shes a student at nowell academy. Is because of circumstances beyond her control, last year, bella was chronically absent. However, she made the commitment to improve her attendance and this year, shes on track and no longer chronically absent. Bella, rhode island is proud of you. Please stand up and let us recognize you as well. [applause] and that story keeps on going. With with us tonight is alondra, a senior at Central Falls high school and a member of our chronic absenteeism workinger group. Big way, bella. Thank you so much. We appreciate your leadership. [applause] look, were serious about improving ricas scores and closing the gap between rhode island and massachusetts by 2030. Rhode island began to move the began to move the needle this year and we want to ensure that progress will continue. Thats why my budget will propose 15 million for math and english Language Arts coaching for students in professional development for teachers to help us meet the goal ahead of us. Lets get this done for our students. [applause] when it comes when it comes to education we are moving ahead as one team with strong educational leaders in the General Assembly, like representative joe mcmara. Joe is here, and lawson, and that Team Includes our municipal leaders, our teachers, superintendents, principals, local aft and any Union Leaders like frank flynn and mary barton who are with us tonight. Thank you for being on Team Rhode Island. [applause] now, were asking all rhode island families, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians to join our team and get in the game because it matters that in every home, every day learning matters. This is my third state of the state address as governor. But my first as a grandfather. And while my granddaughter, mabel james, isnt quite old to be here tonight and just like general callaghans new grandchild, by the way, congratulations, general. [applause] so, mabel james is not here with us here tonight and she remind me why im here. She reminds me of why youre here. She reminds me why everyone thats listening in the state of rhode island is on board. Because we all want a rhode island thats better for our kids, for our grandkids, for the next generation and the one after that. We want to ensure rhode island is a place they want to call home and a place they can afford to call home. And last years state of the state we set a goal on education. This year, were going to set a goal to raise per capita income by a minimum of 20,000 by the year 2030. [applause] just think, just think how much housing insecurity and Food Insecurity we could address as a state if we doubled down and worked to raise per capita income across rhode island helping every family in our state. And just like we did with our education goals, within the next 100 days, we all roll out a game plan for raising incomes with the help of the executive interest of legions, cities and towns and ed, an economist and professor at bryant university. Later this week ill be submitting my budget for the General Assembly. The budget will prioritize programs and initiatives that will help us raise the incomes of our fellow Rhode Islanders while controlling recurring costs. Well continue the fiscal discipline we have shown over the past two years using one time funds for one Time Investments and budgeting within our means. So, we wont be forced to revise our budgets as other states are and make disruptive mid year cuts. [applause] our budget our budget will make key investments in education, Small Business and Rhode IslandsHealth Care Systems without raising any broadbased taxes. [applause] i happen to think thats worth applause. The good news, we dont have to start from scratch. Thanks to President Biden and our congressional delegation led by senator jack reed, rhode island has secured historic amounts of federal funds. Congressman, on behalf of rhode island, thank you, to you and your colleagues for securing these funds. Congressman langavin, those dollars are put together for unprecedented pipelines and projects that will put people to work in good paying jobs and help raise the incomes across our state. The impact, an impact that will be felt for decades to come. In addition to good paying jobs, we must assure that rhode island is an affordable place to live and we must ensure that our young families can purchase their first homes and there are nurses and Public Safety workers, our laborers, our teachers can give in the community that they work in. For far too long, rhode island has had one of the lowest Housing Production rates in the nation. Thats why our administration proposal, and im grateful for the General Assembly for approving over a quarter billion dollars in investments and housing in 2022. And additional [applause] and an additional 71 Million Dollars in housing in the last years budget. In sum, since ive been governor, weve allocated nearly a half a billion dollars to housing. And while building doesnt happen overnight, we continue to see signs of progress. Under our leadership of housing stephen prior we already have 1600 homes in the pipeline with more on their way and thanks to our down payment assistance program, were helping over 1500 firsttime home buyers, like the cruz family, who are with us tonight. [applause] i like it. Juan and emlynn and their two sons moved into their first home in warwick using our down payment system. I was there to welcome them. Their son gave me a little sea shell. That meant something to him that he was walking into the first home. And he gave me another little gift tonight so thank you so much. I want to congratulate them on their new home and for choosing rhode island. Its important that we recognize that Home Ownership is a key to creating generational wealth. In addition to new housing tools passed last year, the budget ill propose will call for 100 million Housing Production bond on the ballot. This would be the largest Housing Production bond in our states history. And were going to ensure that, if approved by the voters, these dollars will create more inventory and help put more young people on a path to Home Ownership in our state. [applause] because we know that Home Ownership for everyone in this room is one of the top ways to build generational wealth, so lets get that done. We know that states across the country are dealing with issues in their Health Care Systems, hospitals are facing Financial Difficulties and shortages of primary care doctors are creating challenges for patients. Under the leadership of health and Human Service secretary, our administration is educated to strengthening dedicated to strengthening the States Health care system and rick is no stranger to this works. He is a former ceo of Landmark Medical Center where he led a significant turnaround, bringing the hospital out of receivership and when i recruited him to state government, thanks, rick, for accepting. Where are you, by the way . Youre hanging around here somewhere. Thank you for accepting and taking my call, he immediately went to fix the longstanding challenges we inherited at elinore slater hospital and improvement in Patient Safety and staff morale and thank you for the dollars to fix that hospital. [applause] the budget, the budget i proposed last year that the General Assembly passed included new state directed payments to hospitals. These new payments combined other changes, resulted in 110 Million Dollars in new medicaid funding to our state hospital. The budget ill propose this year will once again include crucial funding. Additionally, our budget will propose over 135 Million Dollars in investments to increase Health Care Provider rates and support the Behavioral Health needs of Rhode Islanders. Some provider rates have not been increased in over 10 years. We know how important Early Intervention is for our children and families. This Crucial Program promotes development of infants and toddlers who have a Developmental Disability or delay. In addition to the federal funding that we directed to Early Intervention providers to strengthen the work force, the budget ill propose to the General Assembly will fully fund Early Intervention rate increases recommended by the office of Health Insurance commissioner in our eohhs office. [applause] finally, in collaboration with secretary in the coming weeks, ill be signing an executive order focused on improving Rhode IslandsHealth Care System and planning work 5. To ensure we have access to a efficient and Effective Health care Delivery System aligned with our states needs. The working group created as part of this executive order will be comprised of members from my health cabinet, professionals, with broad input from a wide array of the work. Under the leadership of the department of health, dr. Bandy, director dr. Bandy, were building a new state health lab which my partners up here had a great deal to do with. This Publicprivate Partnership will also have much needed wet lab space will be essential to growing Rhode Islands life science industry. [applause] for a decade leaders have stepped up to the microphone, just like that painter that never got that sunset painted, and talked about how massachusetts is a leader in life science and that rhode island could be as well. Instead of dreaming of that possibility, thanks to the leadership of the speaker, were making it a reality. [applause] our administration worked with the speaker and the General Assembly to propose a quasi Public Agency dedicated to our states life science strategy and we included 45 million in last years budget to support this sector. Mia steinberg, i think shes here with us tonight, shell be leading. And i want to thank the assembly for an appointment ea