Republican state Sen. Denise Ricciardi of Bedford – whose district includes Greenfield, Jaffrey, Lyndeborough, Sharon and Temple -- and Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) were recently named Legislators of the Year by the New Futures Foundation for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation in  sponsoring two bills for maternal and child health.

The bills, the Child Care for N.H. Working Families Act (SB 237) and the Momnibus (SB 175), were both passed unanimously by the state Senate. As a result of the new legislation, the State of New Hampshire is investing $15 million in child care work force, $4 million in family resource centers and $1.5 in post-partum care, along with other expenditures. 

“I’m incredibly honored to be recognized for this bipartisan work, particularly for  bills that benefit the health of New Hampshire women and children,” Ricciardi said. “What I want my constituents to know is that I represent everyone in my district, not just the Republicans. I want people to know that whatever their politics are,  they can look past that ‘R’ next to my name and reach out to me, because I represent them and I care about their issues.” 

At the New Futures annual awards celebration on Oct. 11, Michele D. Merritt, president of New Futures, praised Ricciardi and Whitley’s ability to reach across the aisle to provide additional health care funding for people in need.

“Because of their work together, families across the state now have better access to quality, affordable childcare, and new mothers will receive the services they need. Our state  as a whole will benefit for years to come because of the work Senator Whitley and Senator Ricciardi have done together,” Merritt said. 

New Futures, based in Concord, is a nonprofit organization which advocates for nonpartisan, evidence-based solutions for public health in the state.

“There has never been a greater need for the legislature to act in helping moms and their babies. That’s why I was so proud to co-sponsor this bill – and deliver,” Ricciardi said of the Momnibus. “This bill is pro-mom, pro-baby, pro-family, pro-workforce and pro-economy. We are a state once again that is family first.”