Wide Range of Health and Children’s Advocates Rally for Sugary Drink Tax at State House
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
A wide range of public health leaders, elected representatives, children’s health experts, grocery industry executives, and other advocates from the Nourish Rhode Island Coalition gathered at the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday to voice their support for proposed bills that would improve children’s health and alleviate hunger in Rhode Island through a “sugary drinks tax.”
The legislation is opposed by the national beverage industry.
Currently, pending before the Rhode Island House and Senate Finance Committees is H5715 and S0327 that include a proposed 1.5 cent per ounce tax on unhealthy sugary drinks.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe revenue from the tax – estimated at roughly $45 million per year – would be used to create a Retail SNAP Incentive Program that would provide a 50% discount on fresh fruits and vegetables in grocery store settings for the more than 144,000 Rhode Island families and children who receive SNAP benefits.
The press event was led by State Senator Valarie Lawson, State Representative Jean Philippe Barros, and Dr. Amy Nunn, Executive Director, Rhode Island Public Health Institute.
Also speaking at the event was:
Dr. Karen Aspry, Rhode Island Board President, American Heart Association
Mario Bueno, Executive Director, Progreso Latino
Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Executive Director, Rhode Island Kids Count
John Santos, General Manager, Urban Green Co-Op Market
Eliza Dexter Cohen, Organic Program Director, Tourtellot
Dr. Philip Chan, Chief Medical Officer, Open Door Health & Associate Professor of Medicine, Brown University
Coalition members include:
Rhode Island Public Health Institute, American Heart Association, Rhode Island Foundation, Amos House, Crossroads Rhode Island, Progreso Latino, Oasis International, Family Services of Rhode Island, Urban Greens Co-Op Grocery Store, Tourtellot Produce Distributors, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island Academy of Physicians Assistants, Rhode Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, Washington County Health Equity Zone, Central Falls & Pawtucket Health Equity Zone, City of Pawtucket, City of Providence, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Yale-New Haven Health Westerly Hospital, Second Nature Nutrition, and All Foods Nutrition.
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