{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3D363F14-5969-4CCD-8FBE-8BD890ABCBE6", "Rep. Lynch And MA Delegation Call For Explanation Of MBTA Cuts And Commitment To Restore Full Services", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Stephen Lynch", "L000562", "lynch.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Boston, MA \u2014Yesterday, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward Markey (D-MA), and U.S. Representatives Richard Neal (MA-1), James P. McGovern (MA-2), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and William Keating (MA-09), sent a letter to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak requesting a full explanation for the proposed short-term and long-term cuts to MBTA services.\n\n\u201cAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we worry that the proposed cuts will disproportionately impact riders from underserved communities. These riders likely have no other method of transportation and rely on MBTA services and expanded hours of service for their essential travel needs,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cMany of these riders\u2014and MBTA employees themselves\u2014are essential workers who have stepped up to help us face this public health crisis. The cuts could also add volume to each trip, further exacerbating public health risks for riders and workers alike. Reduce transit options for riders and employment opportunities for MBTA workers at this time is incongruous with the support and recognition they deserve for the risks taken to continue providing the essential services to the Commonwealth.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe consider public transit to be a public good and will continue to fight for federal funding for the Commonwealth\u2019s public transportation infrastructure,\u201d they continued. \u201cAs such, we request that the MBTA further evaluate this proposal and provide clear evidence demonstrating the need for this degree of service reduction before moving forward with implementation at this precarious time.\n\nIn addition to requesting evidence that demonstrates the need for the severity of the proposed service cuts, the Delegation Members expressed their expectation that any service cuts would be fully restored as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3D363F14-5969-4CCD-8FBE-8BD890ABCBE6"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6973728779703379, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}