M. TERESA PAIVA WEED

President of the Senate

 

 


M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D – District 13, Jamestown , Newport ) was first elected to the Rhode Island Senate in 1992. In January 2009, Senator Paiva Weed was elected by her colleagues to serve as President of the Senate. Senator Paiva Weed is the first woman in Rhode Island 's history to serve in this capacity.

 

Before becoming Senate President, Senator Paiva Weed served as Rhode Island 's first female Senate Majority Leader, a position she held for four years. She had previously served as Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee from 2002 through January 2004. From 2000 to 2002, she served as Deputy Chair of the Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Environment. From 1997 through 2000, she served as the Senate's first woman Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Prior to her election to the Senate, Ms. Paiva Weed was Chairwoman of the Newport Affordable Housing Commission, and she has served as a member of the Newport Democratic City Committee since 1988.

 

In her second Senate term, Senator Paiva Weed led the legislative effort to reform the Rhode Island welfare system. During her tenure as Chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, she was instrumental in the passage of legislation that changed the manner in which judges are selected to a merit-based process. As Vice Chairwoman of the Finance Committee, she was involved in sensitive state budget negotiations. In addition, she has won passage of many landmark bills, such as the Family Independence Act, and legislation restructuring the Victim's Compensation Fund.

 

 

 

President Paiva Weed has served on the Senate Commission on Judicial Selection, the Senate Oil Spill Commission, the Rhode Island Trust and  Investment Commission, the Rhode Island Blue Ribbon Task Force, the Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline, the Supreme  Task Force to Examine the Administrative Adjudication Court, the Governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force, and the Senate Select Commission on  Quasi Public Agencies.

 

Senate President Paiva Weed has been recognized by the Governor's Council on Disabilities, the Governor's Council on Tourism, the National  Association of Social Workers, the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, the Newport County National Association for the Advancement of  Colored People (NAACP), United Way, the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Centers, the Rhode Island Ambassador of  Hospitality and Tourism, and the Newport and Jamestown Business and Professional Women's Club.

 

Senate President Paiva Weed is an attorney from Newport.

 

  CONTACT INFORMATION:



  Office of the President of the Senate         
  318 State House             
  Providence , Rhode Island 02903  
       
Phone : (401) 222-3310
Fax : (401) 222-1306
Email : sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us

 

  Experience   


 

 

2009-Present    President of the Senate

2004-Present    Ex Officio member of All Senate Committees

2004-2009   Senate Majority Leader

2002-2004    Vice Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Finance

2002-2004    Deputy Chair, Senate Finance Subco m mittee on Public Safety and the Environment

1997-2000    Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Judiciary

1993-2004    Member, Senate Committee on Labor
1992-Present    Senator, Rhode Island Dist. 13, Newport , Jamestown
1988-Present    Member, Newport De mocratic City Committee

1986–1987   Chairwoman, Newport Affordable Housing Commission
1985–2009  Attorney, Moore, Virgadamo, & Lynch

 

 

  Education


 

 

1981-1984    Catholic University Law School, Washington , DC

1977-1981    Providence College, Providence , RI

1973-1977    Rogers High School, Newport , RI

 

  AWARDS


 

 

 

 

2009    Rhode Island Commission on Women
     Woman of the Year

2009     Extraordinary Woman Award Committee

     Extraordinary Woman Award

2009     Rhode Island Human Resource Management

     Public Servant Award

2009     Rhode Island State Council of SHRM

     Outstanding Public Servant Award

2008     Justice Assistance Award
     Chairman's Award for Legislative Excellence

2008      Atria Aquidneck Place

     Enhancing Lives, Exceeding Expectations Award

2008      D.A.R.E. of Rhode Island

     Award for legislative leadership in the Rhode Island State Senate

2008      Dorcas Place Government Service Award

     Award for legislative leadership in the Rhode Island State Senate

2007      Clean Water Action/Ocean State Action and Environment           
     Earth Day Champion Award for Leadership in Environmental Protection

2007      The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

     Award for Dedicated Service in Fight to End Domestic Violence

2007      The Rhode Island Public Health Association

     Award for Dedicated Leadership Toward Improving Public Health in RI

2007      RIcares

     Award in Recognition of Continued Support

2007      CCRI Foundation's Changing Lives Celebration

     Community Servant Award

2006      The National Guard Association's Charles Dick Medal of Merit

     Award in Recognition of Legislative Efforts to Benefit Members of the Military

2006      The Alliance for Better Long Term Care

     2006 Legislative Champion Award

2006      The Environmental Council of Rhode Island

     Energy Star Award

2006      NRI Community Service, Inc.

     Award for Outstanding Community Service

2006      RI Dept. of Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

     Certificate of Appreciation

2006      Audubon Society of Rhode Island

     Legislative Leadership Award

2006      Rhode Island Health Care Association

     2006 Dr. John J. Cunningham Award

2005      Rhode Island Business & Professional Women

     The Rhode Island BPW Women of Achievement Award

2005      The Governor's Commission on Disabilities

     John E. Fogarty Memorial Award

2005      Members & Pastors of New Beginnings Praise & Worship Center

     Award for Sincere Appreciation of Untiring & Devoted Efforts

2005      Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care

     Legislator of the Year

2005      The Clothing Collaborative

     Certificate of Appreciation

2005      Community Provider Network of Rhode Island

     Spotlight on Leadership Award

2005      WAVES National

     Annual Award of Appreciation

2005      Newport Artillery Company

     Molly Pitcher Award

2005      Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly (RIPAE)

     Senior Agenda Consortium's Support Award

2005      The Portuguese American Citizens Committee of Rhode Island

     Person of the Year

2005      Club Juventude Lusitana

     Woman of the Year

2005      Community Provider Network of Rhode Island

     Spotlight on Leadership Award

2004      AARP

     Visionary Award

2004      American Heart Association

     Rhode Island Heart on the Hill

2004      Rhode Island Covering Kids & Families

     Annual Award of Recognition

2000     Newport County NAACP

     President's Award

1999      Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy

     Community Leadership Award

1999      Newport and Jamestown Business and Professional Women's Club

     Woman of the Year

1998      The Governor's Commission on Disabilities

     John E. Fogarty Award

1998      Portuguese American Women's Association

     Woman of the Year

1997      National Association of Social Workers, Rhode Island Chapter

     Legislator of the Year

1996      United Way

     Recognition for work on the Family Independence Act

1996      Rhode Island Association, Ambassador of Hospitality and Tourism

     Recognition for work on tip credit and minimum wage increase

1995      Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Centers

     Legislator of the Year

1994     United Way

     Legislator of the Year

 

  PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & APPOINTMENTS  


 

 

2008            Delegate, Democratic National Convention

2000-2001   Senate Select Commission on Quasi-Public Agendas

1996-2000   Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline

1994-1996   Rhode Island Trust and Investment Commission

 

Member, Save the Bay

Advisory Board Member , Fort Adams Trust

Honorary Chairperson, Martin Luther King, Jr. Charitable Scholarship Fund

Honorary Member, Rhode Island Women in Higher Education (State chapter of the ACE Network)

Former Chairperson, Newport County Convention and Visitors' Bureau

Past Board Member, Newport 's Edward King House Senior Center

Past Member, Senate Committee on Judicial Selection

Past Member, Senate Oil Spill Commission

Past Member, Rhode Island Blue Ribbon Task Force (Providence/Warwick Convention Bureau)

Past Member, Supreme Court Task Force