State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
JOURNAL
-OF THE-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the second day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and one.
Volume 128, No. 65
Wednesday, September 19, 2001
Sixty-fifth Day
one.
The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Wednesday, September 19, 2001, and is called to order at 5:12 o'clock P.M., by the Honorable John B. Harwood, Speaker.
The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 90 members present and 10 members absent as follows:
The Honorable Speaker presents Majority Leader Martineau, who delivers the invocation; and Minority Leader Watson, who leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
(For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.)
ANNOUNCEMENT
Representative Cambio will be out of town and unable to attend session today, September 19, 2001.
The Honorable Speaker addresses the members of the House.
(For Address, see Appendix, this Journal.)
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Honorable Speaker appoints the following Committee to escort His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, Charles J. Fogarty and the Honorable Senate to the House Chamber to meet with the House of Representatives in Joint Session for the purpose of expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks against the United States:
Majority Leader Martineau, Minority Leader Watson, and Representatives Callahan, Sherlock, Henseler, Trillo and Winfield.
NEW BUSINESS
Representatives Martineau, Watson, Henseler, Menard, Benson and several other members of the House introduce (01-H 6581) House Resolution expressing our deepest sympathies on the passing of Representative Barbara Burlingame, Town Administrator Richard Kiley, Representative Mary Levesque, Representative Robert Lynch, Representative Roger Pearson and Representative Gaetano D. "Kelly" Parella.
Representative Martineau requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on motion of Representative
Martineau, seconded by the entire House of Representatives, and by unanimous consent, on a rising vote.
Representatives Martineau and Watson introduce (01-H 6582) Joint Resolution inviting His Honor, the Presiding Officer of the Senate and the Honorable Senate to joint the House of Representatives in Joint Session for the purpose of expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.
Representative Martineau requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on motion of Representative Martineau, seconded by Representative Watson and the entire House of Representatives, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.
TRANSMITTAL
By unanimous consent, all matters on the Clerk's desk are ordered to be transmitted to the Honorable Secretary of State or to the Honorable Senate, forthwith.
ADJOURNMENT
At 5:25 o'clock P.M. on motion of Majority Leader Martineau, seconded by Minority Leader Watson, and pursuant to (01-S 1024) Joint Resolution declaring and consenting to a recess of the General Assembly, the House adjourns, on a voice vote.
LINDA McELROY
Recording Clerk
Appendix
INVOCATION
MAJORITY LEADER GERARD M. MARTINEAU
Dear God,
As we gather here today, please give us the strength to guide the state through this unchartered territory of raw emotion and profound sorrow. Watch over the family members, friends and colleagues we have lost in the recent weeks and months.
Help us to carry on the work of our beloved colleagues who worked so selflessly for the people of Rhode Island: Barbara Burlingame, Dickey Kiley, Robert Lynch, Mary Levesque and Kelly Parella. It was an honor to have known and worked beside them.
And help us keep the spirit of those Rhode Islanders lost in last week's terrorist attacks alive: Carol Bouchard, James Edward Hayden, Amy Jarret, Shawn Nassaney and Renee Newell. We will always remember these innocent lives that were taken away from us too soon.
Guide us in this time of sorrow and rebuilding. Help us emerge from this period of mourning a stronger more cohesive nation, and let us do what is right for this great country and this great state.
Give us the courage to face the long road ahead of us, the wisdom to make difficult decisions, and the humility to serve the citizens of our state to the best of our ability.
Amen.
Appendix
HOUSE ADDRESS
THE HONORABLE JOHN B. HARWOOD, SPEAKER
Last Friday, the New York fire department began burying the first of its dead comrades, who perished September 11 when terrorists struck at the World Trade Center.
Because the news of last Tuesday's tragedy has so dominated our attention, many in Rhode Island probably didn't notice that one of our comrades died last Friday as well.
She was Mary Levesque of Jamestown, with whom many of us served with in this House Chamber. Joe Baker, who covers the General Assembly for The Newport Daily News, captured the contribution she made here during the eight years she served.
She was a "strong woman", as Joe wrote, who "consistently represented her constituents with grace, conscience, and class."
She was buried just one month after another woman comrade, Barbara Burlingame, died also of cancer on August
14.
She was also a "strong" woman who made her mark in this chamber, especially her passionate efforts to prevent domestic violence and aid its victims. Barbara was elected in 1987 only a year before District 98 voters sent Mary Levesque to the State House. But like Mary she also represented her District 62 with "grace, conscience, and class."
It seems that in recent months we have gone to too many funerals of colleagues or former colleagues - Robert Lynch, Richard Kiley, Kelly Parella - those whom we have served with over the years.
I signal out Mary Levesque and Barbara Burlingame, because they are the most recent. And because as Joe Baker, said in his article: "We can't afford to lose two such women in the space of a few weeks."
We may disagree on many things and on many issues that occupy us in our work as members of the House, but we are a family in many ways.
When trouble hits - sickness, difficulty, problems we forget our differences and pull together as we have seen the New York FIrefighters pull together as they search for their fallen comrades.
Whether we have been here twenty years or two, each of us recognizes that we belong to a special group. There are only 100 of us in any given year and next session there will only be 76 of us.
Like the firefighters make New York and New Yorkers proud. These two women legislators had done us and the institution we serve "very proud indeed".
I ask you to join me in a moment of silence to remember Mary Levesque and Barbara Burlingame.
Thank you.
PROCEEDINGS IN GRAND COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2001
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, Charles J. Fogarty, in the Chair.
CALLED TO ORDER
The Joint Session is called to order at 5:50
o'clock P.M.
GUESTS
Joint Session attends while the State University
and College Presidents enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while the Mayors, Town Administrators and Local City and Town Officials enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while the members of the Judiciary enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while State and Local Public Safety Officials enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while members of the Religious Communities enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while the Honorable Edward S. Inman, Secretary of State, the Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, Attorney General, and the Honorable Paul J. Tavares, General Treasurer, enter the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while the Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, member of Congress, enters the Chamber.
Upon suggestion of His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, and by unanimous consent, the reading of the Resolution (01-H 6582) of invitation is dispensed with.
ROLL CALL
The roll of the Senate and the roll of the House of Representatives is called and a quorum is declared present with 41 Senators present and 9 Senators absent and 85 Representatives present and 14 Representatives absent as follows;
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, announces the Posting of Colors by the Rhode Island National Guard.
The Colors are posted,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, leads the Grand Committee in the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, by unanimous consent, introduces Fr. John Unsworth, Pastor of St. Brendan's Church in East Providence and Rev. Sharon Key, Interim Director of the RI Council of Churches, for the invocation.
INTRODUCTIONS
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, introduces students from the University of Rhode Island for several musical selections.
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, announces the retiring of the colors.
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, introduces the Honorable John B. Harwood, Speaker of the House of Representatives, for special remarks.
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, introduces the Honorable William V. Irons, Senate Majority Leader, for special remarks.
NEW BUSINESS
Speaker John B. Harwood and Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons present (01-GC 0001) Joint Resolution expressing condolences.
Representative Martineau requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
Unanimous consent for immediate consideration is granted.
Upon motion of Representative Martineau, seconded by Senator Algiere, and by unanimous consent, read and passed, under suspension of the rules, upon a rising vote.
Speaker John Harwood and Senate Majority Leader William V. Irons present (01-GC 0002) Joint Resolution condemning the actions of the terrorists in their attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.
Representative Martineau and Senator Montalbano request unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
Unanimous consent for immediate consideration is granted.
Upon motion of Representative Martineau and Senator Montalbano, seconded by Senator Algiere and Representative Watson, and by unanimous consent, read and passed, under suspension of the rules, upon a roll call vote with 41 Senators voting in the affirmative and 0 Senators voting in the negative, and with 82 Representatives voting in the affirmative and 0 Representatives voting in the negative as follows;
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, calls on Major General Reginald Centracchio to escort His Excellency, the Governor, Lincoln Almond, to the Chamber.
Joint Session attends while His Excellency, the Governor, Lincoln Almond, enters the Chamber.
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, presents His Excellency, the Governor, Lincoln Almond, to the Joint Session. The Governor delivers his remarks and signs the Joint Resolution condemning the actions of the terrorists in their attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.
BENEDICTION
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, introduces Imam Farid Ansari of the Muslim American Dawah Center of Rhode Island, for Benediction.
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, introduces students from Rhode Island College for a musical selection.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion of Speaker Harwood, seconded by Senate Majority Leader Irons, and by unanimous consent, Joint Session adjourns and the two Houses separate at 7:09 o'clock P.M.
RAYMOND T. HOYAS, JR. Secretary of the Senate
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