ReFED’s Policy Finder Tool Launch and the Latest on State Policy

Emily Broad Leib is a Clinical Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic; the nation’s first law school clinic devoted to providing legal and policy solutions to the health, economic, and environmental challenges facing our food system. Working directly with clients and communities, Broad Leib champions community-led food system change, reduction in food waste, access to healthy foods, and equity and sustainability in food production. Her scholarly work has been published in the California Law Review, Wisconsin Law Review, the Harvard Law & Policy Review, the Food & Drug Law Journal, and the Journal of Food Law & Policy, among others.

Lauren Carson (D) was first elected to the House of Representatives in November 2014 to represent District 75 in Newport. She was named a Deputy Majority Leader in January 2021. Representative Carson is the second vice chair of the House Innovation, Internet and Technology Committee and she serves on the House Oversight Committee, while chairing that committee’s Tourism, Arts and Recreation Subcommittee. She is also a member of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Small Business Committee.

Representative Carson has been particularly active on issues related to the environment, small business, tourism and government transparency. In 2021, Representative Carson was the sponsor of the Act on Climate (opens in a new tab), which updates Rhode Island’s climate-emission reduction goals, makes them enforceable and prepares Rhode Island for a global economy that will be shifting to adapt to clean technology. The act has been heralded as one of the most important steps toward addressing climate change the state has taken in decades. 

Sally is a Professional Engineer 2 in the Division of Materials Management of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. She works in the organics reduction and recycling program. Sally has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and a Masters and PhD in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a licensed professional engineer in New York State.

Horacio Tablada currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment. Prior to this appointment in April 2015, he served as Director of the Land and Materials Administration for 11 years and as its Deputy Director for six years. Mr. Tablada (HT) has been with the State’s environmental programs since 1985 and has served in various management and technical capacities, including program manager of the oil pollution and discharge permit programs. Prior to serving in State government, he worked in the private sector for five years in solid waste management. Mr. Tablada holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Divinity from Capital Seminary and Graduate School.