R.I. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma was recently honored with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s 2024 Legislative Leadership Award, in recognition of his work championing environmental protection legislation.
DiPalma was presented with the award at the Audubon Society’s 127th annual meeting, held at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol on Oct. 20. The award specifically recognized DiPalma’s role in introducing legislation that added $16 million for land protection programs to the “green bond” proposal on the November ballot.
“It is a true honor to be recognized by the Audubon Society for amending this year’s ‘green bond’ to further protect Rhode Island’s cherished environment and I thank them for this award,” DiPalma said. “Land conservation and preservation is a truly smart investment, one that returns a lot of value to the public for the dollars we spend.”
The bill, sponsored by DiPalma, proposes amending the governor’s green bond proposal by adding $13 million to the bond voters will be asked to approve in November. If approved, the funds will be allocated to support farmland and open space preservation efforts, as well as forest and habitat management on state property.
“We all benefit from cleaner air and water that results from preserving green spaces, and we help ensure the survival of the wildlife, native species and beauty that are unique to our state,” DiPalma said. “These programs are absolutely worth funding, and we want to make sure they continue into the future.”
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
