Health Policy

residents to develop healthy behaviors and shape policies to reduce institutional barriers to adopting healthier lifestyles. Rivera’s passion to improve health and healthcare led to his appointment as chair of the Senate’s Health Committee. As chair, Senator Rivera collaborates with colleagues, stakeholders, and constituents to improve health outcomes, increase access to coverage, and ensure a financially viable system for the 20 million New Yorkers he serves. As a member of the Senate Health Committee, he passed laws to ban smoking around schools, afterschools, and libraries. As ranking member of the Senate’s Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, he championed legislation to allow charitable organizations to post bail bonds for individuals who cannot afford to do so and facilitated development of a comprehensive reentry center. Senator Rivera champions and empowers Latino communities across the state and nation in a variety of ways, including service as a board member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and mentor for the Model State Senate program, “Somos El Futuro,” sponsored by CUNY, SUNY, the New York State Assembly, and the Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force. Prior to becoming an elected representative, Senator Rivera worked as a community organizer for local, state, and national candidates. After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, he moved to New York to pursue an advanced political science degree at the City University of New York.

where she has sponsored several bills that have become law. One bill expands on and aligns the existing Maine price transparency law with the federal No Surprises Act. This bipartisan bill’s success was achieved through Rep. Arford’s commitment to price transparency and leadership of a multi-stakeholder group collaboration. During her second term, Arford was named House chair of a legislative task force on healthcare facility fees which produced a report that led to the passage of a bill that increases the transparency of facility fees charged by hospitals and other healthcare establishments. Rep. Arford is also a champion for affordable, safe, and stable housing for the people of Maine. Keenly aware of the need for emergency housing she sponsored a bill that established and funded the Emergency Housing Matching Grant Program, a testament of her commitment to finding legislative and community-based solutions to ensure a home for all residents of Maine. She was awarded the 2023 Legislator of the Year award by the regional Independence Association based in Brunswick. Prior community service includes two terms on the Brunswick Town Council and a term on the Town of Brunswick’s Sustainability Committee. She is also a graduate of the Maine-based Hanley Health Leadership Development program. Rep. Arford has had the good fortune of calling Brunswick her home for over 35 years.