2022 -- H 8283

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LC006010

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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 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT

OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE BABY FOOD AND INFANT FORMULA THROUGH

THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND OTHER MEANS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McLaughlin, Hull, Corvese, Vella-Wilkinson, Azzinaro,
Biah, J Lombardi, Fenton-Fung, Filippi, and Quattrocchi

     Date Introduced: May 25, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, In the past few years, there have been several well-documented and well-

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publicized cases of shortages of various goods and services; and

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     WHEREAS, There has recently been a critical shortage in the availability of baby food

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and infant formula, due to a combination of factors, which purportedly may include, but are not

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limited to, supply-chain issues, product recalls, and the on-going war in Ukraine; and

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     WHEREAS, While other shortages have produced varying effects ranging from

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inconvenience to substantial hardship, the shortage in the availability of baby food and infant

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formula directly impacts infants who are a vulnerable population, who are unable to advocate for

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themselves, and who cannot afford to wait or put off the purchase of the product; now therefore

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be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2022-2023, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000)

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to the Department of Human Services to fund and assist in the procurement and distribution of

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baby food and infant formula; and this money may be used and distributed both through the

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and also directly by the Department to assist in the

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procurement and distribution of baby food and infant formula to all persons and households in

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need of such assistance, regardless of income; and the state controller is hereby authorized and

 

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directed to his/her draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much

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thereof as may from time to time be 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 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT

OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE BABY FOOD AND INFANT FORMULA THROUGH

THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND OTHER MEANS

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of five million dollars

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($5,000,000) to the department of human services to fund and assist in the procurement of baby

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food and infant formula.

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LC006010

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