url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2338,Congresswoman Trahan Unveils 2021 End Of Year Report,2021-12-30,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) shared her “Year In Review: 2021” report with individuals across the Third District. The report summarizes the progress made over the past twelve months to secure critical pandemic relief for families and small businesses, funding for important infrastructure projects, and legislative victories that will improve the lives of every Third District resident. “Since my very first day in office, one thing has consistently driven my work: improving the lives of everyone who calls our Commonwealth home. Over the past year, that same mission has continued to guide my work in Washington and in our community,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote in a note to residents of the Third District. “However, we’re far from finished. There’s much more work ahead to build on the remarkable progress we made this year. I look forward to continuing our strong partnership with President Biden to deliver for working families like yours as we emerge from this pandemic and build back better than ever before.” The end of year report breaks down Congresswoman Trahan’s work during 2021, including specific details on how she and her team delivered for constituents and legislative victories broken down by issue area such as COVID-19 relief, infrastructure, clean drinking water, small business support, climate change, women’s rights, and more. The report can be accessed by clicking HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-passing-senator-harry-reid,Moulton Statement on the Passing of Senator Harry Reid,2021-12-29,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Salem, Mass. — Following the passing of Nevada Senator and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) released the following statement: “Senator Reid was a tireless public servant who dedicated his life to improving the lives of Nevadans and Americans alike. A master of the Senate, his leadership and prowess helped usher in critical legislation such as the Affordable Care Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Senator Reid was a unique, one-of-a-kind personality and a true fighter. I’ll never forget the time I was fortunate to spend with him at his home in Las Vegas where he was a mentor, entertainer, and statesman all in one—inspiring for me as a young Member of Congress. America has lost an incredible patriot. My thoughts are with his family.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-auchincloss-markey-lead-ma-delegation-letter-treasury-department,"RELEASE: Auchincloss, Markey Lead MA Delegation in Letter to Treasury Department",2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Auchincloss, Markey Lead MA Delegation in Letter to Treasury Department Letter urges Treasury Department to reconsider revenue loss to ensure MA cities and towns can build back better WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04), along with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), led the Massachusetts congressional delegation in a letter to Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Treasury Department to reconsider the way the agency is calculating pandemic-related revenue losses so that Massachusetts cities and towns are not unjustly penalized. Due to the unique way that Massachusetts funds public education, many Massachusetts cities and towns have reported that they are unable to claim general revenue loss, which is reimbursable under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). As a result, many Bay State communities could be unfairly barred from flexible funding that would allow them to build and upgrade critical infrastructure, expand health services, advance environmental remediation, and improve public safety. This is expected to disproportionately impact Gateway Cities, including Attleboro, Fall River, and Taunton, in Massachusetts’ 4th District. The letter calls on the Treasury to reconsider methods of calculation so that cities and towns in Massachusetts can use ARPA funds with the flexibility Congress intended. In the letter Congressman Auchincloss states, “??A fair and accurate accounting of lost revenue will provide cities and towns with the necessary flexibility to reinvest in government services impacted by the pandemic—in line with Congressional intent. We stand ready to work with you on a solution to ensure municipalities can weather the economic downturn, avert long-term austerity measures, and avoid devastating cuts to basic government services.” A full copy of the letter can be found below. The Honorable Janet Yellen Secretary Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20220 Dear Secretary Yellen: We write to urge you to address critical issues facing Massachusetts communities in the Department of Treasury’s (“Department’s”) final rule governing Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). Massachusetts cities and towns have a unique set of circumstances that need to be addressed in any final rule. Massachusetts has distinct systems for funding public education that have distorted cities’ and towns’ calculations of revenue loss for ARPA reimbursement. In 2021, the state began a six-year phased-in implementation of the Massachusetts Student Opportunity Act of 2019 (SOA), which aimed to close longstanding education funding gaps by dramatically increasing state aid to local school districts.[i] This legislation changed Massachusetts’ Chapter 70 education funding formula to direct more state aid to cities and towns, especially the lowest-income school districts and districts with high-need student populations.[ii] As a result, some low-income urban districts received up to a 16 percent increase in dedicated education funding, equivalent to a $30 million boost over the prior year.[iii] In accordance with the SOA, municipalities are required to provide detailed plans to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education detailing how SOA funding will be used to support learning opportunities and outcomes for students.[iv] If counted as part of COVID-19 related revenue losses, the once-in-a-generation investments in education will falsely offset COVID-19-related revenue losses reimbursable under ARPA. Massachusetts also provides cities and towns with grants through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to offset costs associated with the construction of public school facilities. MSBA awards are distributed to municipalities over time as costs are incurred for project construction under specified MSBA approved projects.[v] The SOA raised the cap for the annual state school-building grants to municipalities from $500 to $800 million beginning in 2020, resulting in significantly increased available grants for cities and towns to build new schools.[vi] Like increased Chapter 70 funding distributions, certain Massachusetts communities began to receive increased MSBA grant payments to reimburse associated school building costs after the Baseline Revenue Year and at the same time other revenues were in decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In these cases, the communities are reporting that their MSBA grant payments are obscuring COVID-19 revenue losses reimbursable under ARPA. Similar to concerns associated with increased education funding, municipalities have also reported distortions in revenue loss calculations associated with increased revenues from debt service exclusions. The Commonwealth enables municipalities to raise funds by assessing additional taxes in excess of their levy limit or levy ceiling for the payment of specified debt service costs associated with significant capital projects (e.g., construction of school, public safety, and library buildings). Debt exclusions are only added to the levy limit for the life of the debt.[vii] Municipal leaders in communities where debt exclusion revenue came online following the ARPA Baseline Revenue Year have expressed concerns that factoring in the debt exclusion revenue into calculations of revenue losses will falsely obscure losses in general revenue streams available for other critical municipal services. Many Massachusetts municipalities received increased earmarked revenue through Chapter 70, MSBA grants, and debt service exclusions after the ARPA Baseline Revenue Year. Those increases are expected to continue throughout the ARPA reimbursement period. During the same time period, municipalities are contending with downturns in revenue from traditional sources available for critical government services, including public safety and public works. Because of the timing of these long-needed, vital investments to correct the state’s underfunding of education or to support debt service payments for necessary capital projects, municipalities are reporting they cannot calculate any lost revenue for 2020 and future ARPA years if the additional funds are counted as “intergovernmental transfers” or Actual General Revenue as specified in Treasury’s Interim Final Rule. We urge you to clarify in the final rule that these earmarked funding streams should not be included in municipalities’ calculations of revenue loss. With these and other questions and concerns in mind, we respectfully request that the Department hold a public virtual event(s), in collaboration with the delegation, for Massachusetts municipal leaders to learn how to navigate the implementation of ARPA and to achieve ARPA’s full intended benefits at the local level. We hope a virtual event(s) following the release of the final rule will provide an opportunity for municipal leaders to learn from and to ask questions of the Department. The municipalities we represent face uncertain budgetary pressures in the months and years ahead, especially with the continued potential for COVID-19 related disruptions. A fair and accurate accounting of lost revenue will provide cities and towns with the necessary flexibility to reinvest in government services impacted by the pandemic—in line with Congressional intent. We stand ready to work with you on a solution to ensure municipalities can weather the economic downturn, avert long-term austerity measures, and avoid devastating cuts to basic government services. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue for Massachusetts. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=DA7D714F-96FD-48D1-A3CF-143C85D4AA6C,"Clark, Reed Lead Letter Urging HHS to Protect Families This Winter During Energy Crisis",2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) led a bicameral letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on families served by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The letter is co-led by Congresswomen Gwen S. Moore (D-WI-4) and Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29). The cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 30 percent this winter, which is a level that has not been seen since 2014 and would impact 61 million households that use natural gas for heat. As a consequence of these volatile prices, the purchasing power of appropriated LIHEAP funding could drop by as much as 30 percent. Specifically, the program’s value in available funding could decrease by $1.14 billion from $3.8 billion for regular appropriations and by $1.35 billion from $4.5 billion for stimulus funds. The Members’ letter requests information and timeline updates regarding implementation and eligibility for low-income families and funding needs for the Department to fulfill its obligations. “As the world economy recovers from the pandemic, global energy markets are struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and prolonged supply shortages,” the Members wrote. “For low-income families, these price increases are unsustainable and will force them to choose between heating their homes and other essentials like rent, food, or medicine. As state agencies and grantees prepare their winter programs, it is crucial that they have strong support from your department to assist low-income households.” The letter is signed by 89 Representatives and 19 Senators. Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below Dear Secretary Becerra: We thank the Department of Health and Human Services for its recent release of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s (LIHEAP) annual allocation that will augment relief funding provided by the American Rescue Plan. However, we remain concerned that the ongoing global energy crisis will adversely impact families who will rely on LIHEAP to stay warm this winter. As the world economy recovers from the pandemic, global energy markets are struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and prolonged supply shortages. Natural gas prices across Europe have increased sixfold compared to this time last year, while coal and natural gas deficits have plunged China into a power crisis that has forced Chinese factories and businesses to rely on diesel-fueled generators just to maintain operations. , To meet global demand, U.S. liquefied natural gas exports continue to grow faster than domestic natural gas production, depleting our natural gas inventories and raising prices on American families in the process. While we applaud President Biden’s focus on addressing high fuel costs, we are concerned that the ongoing volatility in global prices for fossil fuels like natural gas could exacerbate the anticipated spike in home heating costs as this energy crisis impacts the United States. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that the cost of home heating for households will increase by 30 percent this winter, which is a level that has not been seen since 2014, and would impact 61 million households that use natural gas for heating. The EIA expects even larger surges in home heating costs this winter for the 10 percent of American households relying on deliverable fuels like propane and heating oil. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average residential natural gas bill will increase from $572 to $746 and heating oil bills per household will rise from $1,272 to $1,734. As a consequence, the purchasing power of appropriated LIHEAP funding would drop by as much as 30 percent. That means that the program’s value in available funding would decrease by $1.14 billion from $3.8 billion for regular appropriations and by $1.35 billion from $4.5 billion for stimulus funds. For low-income families, these price increases are unsustainable and will force them to choose between heating their homes and other essentials like rent, food, or medicine. As state agencies and grantees prepare their winter programs, it is crucial that they have strong support from your department to assist low-income households. In consideration of these concerns, we respectfully request that you provide answers to the following questions: On November 18, 2021, the Biden administration unveiled recommendations on how American Rescue Plan funds should be used to protect households from rising home heating costs. Can you provide us with an update on your agency’s efforts to meet these recommendations and share your timeline for expediting assistance? Last year, LIHEAP funding reached about 16 percent of the eligible population. This winter season, what percentage of the eligible population does your Department expect to serve with the additional $4.5 billion for LIHEAP and emergency rental assistance from the American Rescue Plan? How has your Department made it easier for households to apply for LIHEAP assistance during this pandemic and ongoing energy crisis? What steps has the Department taken to increase outreach to non-traditional households, especially those who have recently become unemployed and/or do not know that they qualify for LIHEAP? Does the Department anticipate that current funding is sufficient to meet expected increases in energy prices or will additional resources be necessary? Thank you for your consideration and for your work for vulnerable families. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/12/21/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2369/,Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Applauds Historic Investments in Massachusetts Roadway Infrastructure,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington | Commonwealth set to receive $804.6 million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve roads, promote safety, and reduce pollution After enactment of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is now distributing $52.5 billion in its first tranche of funding for infrastructure projects that will improve the safety and performance of America’s highways. This investment is for Fiscal Year 2022, and Massachusetts will receive $804.6 million in this round of funding. These federal investments will go toward important projects, including highway performance improvements, bridge repair, and expanding pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure. The total funding also includes a dedicated $44.4 million for highway safety improvements, $69.1 million for congestion mitigation and air quality improvement, $18 million for carbon reduction efforts, and $20.5 million for strengthening the resiliency of transportation infrastructure. “This massive investment into Massachusetts roadways demonstrates the beginning of our physical infrastructure revolution, while starting to solve long-unaddressed safety challenges,” said Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). “With this funding, we can finally address all too preventable tragedies on our nation’s roads, expand transportation alternatives like biking and walking, reduce traffic congestion for Massachusetts commuters, and begin the process of making our streets cleaner and greener. I am proud of my colleagues and I for securing this investment in the Commonwealth, and I look forward to the opportunities that will be available as we continue to receive additional funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the years ahead.” “I’m delighted that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing over $800 million into our roads, bridges, and public transportation in Massachusetts. With this much-needed investment, we’ll repair our crumbling roads and bridges, fight climate change, and improve safety – all while creating good-paying union jobs,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “In MA-5 and across our state, we are no strangers to traffic and potholes. The funding from the infrastructure law will reverse decades of neglect and underinvestment and modernize our roads and bridges, decrease commute times, reduce emissions, create jobs and lower costs for families. And, by improving our roadways, we are helping to alleviate the on-going supply chain challenges,” said Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05). This is a critical piece of the Build Back Better agenda, and Massachusetts will continue to see the impact of President’s vision for a stronger, more sustainable future.” “The gradual decline in our federal infrastructure investment has resulted in an alarming number of crumbling roads,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means (MA-01). “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have the opportunity to make quality upgrades to our federal highway system. Drivers will benefit from the improvements and skilled workers will be back on the job to make it a reality.” “I am proud to have worked alongside Chairman Richie Neal and my Massachusetts Congressional colleagues to secure this critical transportation funding for the Commonwealth,” said Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08). “These funds are essential to creating a greener transportation system, expanding rail, improving passenger safety and strengthening the climate-change resiliency of our infrastructure. I am also pleased to see these projects will help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, an important benefit for our communities that struggle with high rates of asthma and respiratory disease. I look forward to seeing the transformation of our transportation system and the positive impact it will have on all Massachusetts residents.” “This welcome investment is long-overdue and will help improve connectivity, make our roads and highways safer, create jobs, and promote environmentally friendly alternatives to driving such as biking,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “I look forward to seeing this funding swiftly disbursed and continuing our work to deliver President Biden’s full Build Back Better agenda.” “If you have traveled through the South Shore or South Coast to get to Cape Cod during the summer, you know firsthand how vital congestion mitigation is,” said Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09). “This first wave of funding from President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan aims to address this issue head-on, and I am glad to see funds arriving so quickly to Massachusetts as we tackle the infrastructure challenges that lay ahead, including the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges.” “For decades, roads littered with potholes and in need of repair have made it difficult for Bay Staters to get around,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03). “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes that. By delivering billions in federal funding to make much-needed upgrades, this critical investment will create jobs, cut down our commute times, and modernize our infrastructure — benefiting every single person here in the Third District and across the Commonwealth.” “This substantial investment into our roadways will make driving safer; expand access to jobs and services; and help our climate through carbon reduction initiatives,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04). “Anyone who drives down a road or bridge here in Massachusetts will tell you that they are often jam packed and in pretty abysmal condition. These conditions cost drivers more than $600 every single year, which is why we must fix our existing roads first, not expand them endlessly,” said Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06). “How we invest the money from this bill will determine whether we combat climate change or contribute to it. Investments in roads must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to air quality from those who remain on the road and be paired with expansion of transit and rail which provide greater environmental gains.” “Thanks to the steadfast leadership of President Biden, we are finally—at long last—rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure,” said House Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern (MA-02). “Massachusetts residents are going to feel the major improvements these funds will make in the form of faster and safer commutes, less traffic, cleaner air, and less pollution. I’m proud of our delegation for playing a key role in the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and for securing these vital funds so we can invest in our future and build a better commonwealth for all.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2336,Trahan Leads Bipartisan Call for Action to Stop “Sanctioned Suicide” Website,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittees, led a bipartisan group of House members writing to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to request information on the Department’s ability to investigate Sanctioned Suicide, a website that according to a recent New York Times investigation, provides susceptible users with “explicit directions on how to die.” The lawmakers also requested information on the DOJ’s statutory authority – if any – to hold the website’s operators accountable. “Sanctioned Suicide hosts public forums, live chats, and private messaging around suicide. Users share their suicide plans with one another, promote poisons, and post ‘goodbye posts’ and real-time suicide attempts, which are the most-viewed posts on the site,” the lawmakers wrote. “The New York Times article states that only 5% of the posts on Sanctioned Suicide are on recovery and of the hundred most-viewed posts, 53 include instructions or discussions of methods to die by suicide, and 28 narrate attempts. This is deeply disturbing given that the website has 6 million average views per month, four times that of the national suicide prevention lifeline.” Sanctioned Suicide contains countless pages and threads compiled by anonymous users that focus on ways to die by suicide and encourage fellow members to take their own lives. According to the New York Times, members discuss various ways to die by suicide, including “hanging, poison, guns and gas,” and “participants routinely nudge one another along as they share suicide plans, posting reassuring messages, thumbs-up and heart emojis, and praise for those who follow through: ‘brave,’ ‘a legend,’ ‘a hero.’” “The owners of the site try to limit legal liability by encouraging anonymity, requiring users be over 18, and deleting accounts of users after they have posted ‘goodbye’ threads,” the lawmakers continued. “The New York Times identified three victims under 18 in their article. The website’s terms also prohibit users from assisting and encouraging suicide, but a simple visit to the website confirms that this policy is not enforced.” Despite efforts from some service providers and nations like Australia, Germany, and Italy, which have taken the site down or restricted access, Sanctioned Suicide continues to reemerge with new domain names and remains easily accessible via a simple search engine inquiry. Understanding that “there is no federal law criminalizing assisting or encouraging suicide,” the lawmakers requested the DOJ’s response to the following questions: Does the DOJ have the authority and discretion to investigate the Sanctioned Suicide website? Does the DOJ have the statutory authority to pursue a criminal case against Diego Joaquín Galante and Lamarcus Small, for their alleged role in operating or as members on the website? If not, why not? Does the DOJ have the technical expertise and human resources to identify these kinds of popular websites that promote suicide? Does the DOJ share information about websites that promote suicide with state and local law enforcement? Does the DOJ share information about websites that promote suicide with community-based organizations involved in suicide prevention and mental health care? What actions can Congress take to give the DOJ the authority necessary to prosecute the Sanctioned Suicide website owners and delist the site in the United States? Lawmakers who co-signed the letter include Representatives David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV-01), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29), and David N. Cicilline (D-RI-01). If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK)or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. If you are outside of the United States, please click HERE. The full text of the letter is embedded below. A digital copy can be accessed HERE. ------------------------------------- The Honorable Merrick Garland Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Dear Attorney General Garland: Last week, the New York Times published the results of their investigation into Sanctioned Suicide, a website which “provides explicit directions on how to die.” The New York Times lists 45 people who were active on the website and then died by suicide, 22 of whom were living in the United States. We write to you to explore avenues through which the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Congress can pursue justice for the families of these victims. Sanctioned Suicide hosts public forums, live chats, and private messaging around suicide. Users share their suicide plans with one another, promote poisons, and post “goodbye posts” and real-time suicide attempts, which are the most-viewed posts on the site. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and suicide rates have increased by roughly 33% between 1999 and 2019. The New York Times article states that only 5% of the posts on Sanctioned Suicide are on recovery and of the hundred most-viewed posts, 53 include instructions or discussions of methods to die by suicide, and 28 narrate attempts. This is deeply disturbing given that the website has 6 million average views per month, four times that of the national suicide prevention lifeline. Further, after extensive investigation, the article’s authors claim to have identified the two men running the website – Diego Joaquín Galante and Lamarcus Small, though both have denied these allegations. Several service providers have taken the site down, and Australia, Germany, and Italy have each restricted access in their countries. Nevertheless, the site continues to pop up with new domain names. The owners of the site try to limit legal liability by encouraging anonymity, requiring users be over 18, and deleting accounts of users after they have posted “goodbye” threads. The New York Times identified three victims under 18 in their article. The website’s terms also prohibit users from assisting and encouraging suicide, but a simple visit to the website confirms that this policy is not enforced. While it is our understanding that there is no federal law criminalizing assisting or encouraging suicide, we write to do our due diligence and confirm the DOJ’s options for pursuing a case against the owners of this website. Namely: Does the DOJ have the authority and discretion to investigate the Sanctioned Suicide website? Does the DOJ have the statutory authority to pursue a criminal case against Diego Joaquín Galante and Lamarcus Small, for their alleged role in operating or as members on the website? If not, why not? Does the DOJ have the technical expertise and human resources to identify these kinds of popular websites that promote suicide? Does the DOJ share information about websites that promote suicide with state and local law enforcement? Does the DOJ share information about websites that promote suicide with community-based organizations involved in suicide prevention and mental health care? What actions can Congress take to give the DOJ the authority necessary to prosecute the Sanctioned Suicide website owners and delist the site in the United States? Thank you for your attention into this pressing matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2337,Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Applauds Historic Investments in Massachusetts Roadway Infrastructure,2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – After enactment of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is now distributing $52.5 billion in its first tranche of funding for infrastructure projects that will improve the safety and performance of America’s highways. This investment is for Fiscal Year 2022, and Massachusetts will receive $804.6 million in this round of funding. These federal investments will go toward important projects, including highway performance improvements, bridge repair, and expanding pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure. The total funding also includes a dedicated $44.4 million for highway safety improvements, $69.1 million for congestion mitigation and air quality improvement, $18 million for carbon reduction efforts, and $20.5 million for strengthening the resiliency of transportation infrastructure. “For decades, roads littered with potholes and in need of repair have made it difficult for Bay Staters to get around,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03). “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changes that. By delivering billions in federal funding to make much-needed upgrades, this critical investment will create jobs, cut down our commute times, and modernize our infrastructure — benefiting every single person here in the Third District and across the Commonwealth.” “This massive investment into Massachusetts roadways demonstrates the beginning of our physical infrastructure revolution, while starting to solve long-unaddressed safety challenges,” said Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA). “With this funding, we can finally address all too preventable tragedies on our nation’s roads, expand transportation alternatives like biking and walking, reduce traffic congestion for Massachusetts commuters, and begin the process of making our streets cleaner and greener. I am proud of my colleagues and I for securing this investment in the Commonwealth, and I look forward to the opportunities that will be available as we continue to receive additional funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the years ahead.” “I’m delighted that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing over $800 million into our roads, bridges, and public transportation in Massachusetts. With this much-needed investment, we’ll repair our crumbling roads and bridges, fight climate change, and improve safety – all while creating good-paying union jobs,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “In MA-5 and across our state, we are no strangers to traffic and potholes. The funding from the infrastructure law will reverse decades of neglect and underinvestment and modernize our roads and bridges, decrease commute times, reduce emissions, create jobs and lower costs for families. And, by improving our roadways, we are helping to alleviate the on-going supply chain challenges,” said Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05). This is a critical piece of the Build Back Better agenda, and Massachusetts will continue to see the impact of President’s vision for a stronger, more sustainable future.” “The gradual decline in our federal infrastructure investment has resulted in an alarming number of crumbling roads,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means (MA-01). “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have the opportunity to make quality upgrades to our federal highway system. Drivers will benefit from the improvements and skilled workers will be back on the job to make it a reality.” “I am proud to have worked alongside Chairman Richie Neal and my Massachusetts Congressional colleagues to secure this critical transportation funding for the Commonwealth,” said Congressman Stephen Lynch (MA-08). “These funds are essential to creating a greener transportation system, expanding rail, improving passenger safety and strengthening the climate-change resiliency of our infrastructure. I am also pleased to see these projects will help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, an important benefit for our communities that struggle with high rates of asthma and respiratory disease. I look forward to seeing the transformation of our transportation system and the positive impact it will have on all Massachusetts residents.” “This welcome investment is long-overdue and will help improve connectivity, make our roads and highways safer, create jobs, and promote environmentally friendly alternatives to driving such as biking,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “I look forward to seeing this funding swiftly disbursed and continuing our work to deliver President Biden’s full Build Back Better agenda.” ""If you have traveled through the South Shore or South Coast to get to Cape Cod during the summer, you know firsthand how vital congestion mitigation is,"" said Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09). ""This first wave of funding from President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan aims to address this issue head-on, and I am glad to see funds arriving so quickly to Massachusetts as we tackle the infrastructure challenges that lay ahead, including the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges."" “This substantial investment into our roadways will make driving safer; expand access to jobs and services; and help our climate through carbon reduction initiatives,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04). “Anyone who drives down a road or bridge here in Massachusetts will tell you that they are often jam packed and in pretty abysmal condition. These conditions cost drivers more than $600 every single year, which is why we must fix our existing roads first, not expand them endlessly,” said Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06). “How we invest the money from this bill will determine whether we combat climate change or contribute to it. Investments in roads must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to air quality from those who remain on the road and be paired with expansion of transit and rail which provide greater environmental gains.” “Thanks to the steadfast leadership of President Biden, we are finally—at long last—rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure,” said House Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern (MA-02). “Massachusetts residents are going to feel the major improvements these funds will make in the form of faster and safer commutes, less traffic, cleaner air, and less pollution. I’m proud of our delegation for playing a key role in the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and for securing these vital funds so we can invest in our future and build a better commonwealth for all.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3EDB6F2D-9D1B-4BEE-8D3F-1410CA365C6D,"Clark, Pressley Tour Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, Call for Build Back Better Act Passage and Extension of the Child Tax Credit",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives toured the food pantry and met with staff, families supported by the Child Tax Credit CAMBRIDGE, MA – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) toured the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) to highlight the federal funding that has helped to reduce food insecurity, including the historic monthly Child Tax Credit payments. “Today, we heard about the families who come here to feed their families, find affordable housing, and sign up for the Child Tax Credit, which is the largest tax cut for working families in our nation’s history. Since July, the families of 61 million children in America have been receiving the child tax credit payments – including over 72,000 families in my district who, in total, have received $145 million,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Policies like the Child Tax Credit put American families front and center in Washington – where they belong. With these investments, our economy is turning a corner, but our work isn’t done until every child, every worker and every family has the resources they need to not just survive but to thrive.” “Today’s visit only reinforces our commitment and the urgency and need for us to advance the Build Back Better agenda. Each day that passes without it being signed into law, our most vulnerable communities are left hurting,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Today we heard from families about the incredible impact the Child Tax Credit has had in helping them weather this pandemic and make ends meet. The pandemic is not over, and families continue to struggle. We have to meet their needs and meet this moment accordingly. We have to legislate accordingly. We have to advance budgets and policies that go as far and as deep as the hurt. These payments have been game changers and failure is not an option.” CEOC offers free tax preparation to people with low or moderate incomes, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need help in preparing their own tax returns, including getting this critical tax cut. In March, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, which provided the largest Child Tax Credit for working families in history. The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. The last payment under the American Rescue Plan was sent to families on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Build Back Better Act would extend the enhanced CTC into 2022. If it’s not passed by the Senate and sent to the President’s desk before the end of the month, these extensions will expire, and families will stop receiving this vital tax cut. Photos of today’s event can be found HERE. Video of the press conference following the tour can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B4477AE8-9494-4A43-A422-B490F3155F4C,"Assistant Speaker Clark, Democratic Women’s Caucus Statement on Senator Joe Manchin’s Comments on Build Back Better",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) in a joint response to Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) comments that he would not vote for the Build Back Better Act. The letter is also led by DWC Co-Chairs Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Lois Frankel (FL-21), Vice Chairs Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Freshmen Representative Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53), DWC Whip Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Appropriations Chair Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “We are saddened and disappointed by Senator Manchin’s reluctance on the Build Back Better Act, which would lift the working women and families of this country,” said the Members. “The majority of Americans support this legislation because they understand how this bill will deliver for them. Fully paid for and helping people cope with inflation, the Build Back Better Act would ensure that women can return to and prosper in the workforce through investments in child care and pre-k, home care, paid leave, maternal health equity, and the Child Tax Credit. This is the legislation women and families need at this crucial moment. We cannot allow the door to close on this bill, and we remain hopeful that we will find a way to deliver the help that working families deserve.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/12/17/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2367/,Congressional Delegation Announces Over $48 Million in Airport Infrastructure Grants for Massachusetts,2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Boston, MA United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08), William Keating (D-MA-09), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-05), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), announced Massachusetts airports have been allocated over $48 million in federal grants under the Airport Infrastructure Grants under the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. “Massachusetts’ airports are critical to our regional economies and our communities. This significant FAA grant funding is just the start of investments in the Commonwealth from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act to fix our crumbling infrastructure and boost our economic recovery,” said Senator Warren. “I will continue fighting in Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act to invest in universal childcare, take a big whack at the fight against climate change, and ensure corporations stop cheating the system.” “This first tranche of airport funding will help airports across Massachusetts address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies. We will also boost our economy, create jobs, and strengthen the supply chain with these critical investments. Every region stands to benefit, and I will continue to fight for even more funding for our Commonwealth’s communities,” said Senator Markey. “Regional airports in western and central Massachusetts are poised to receive important funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “Whether the airports use the funds for terminal improvements, tarmac upgrades, or behind-the-scenes enhancements, passengers will benefit greatly. As more and more air travelers return to the sky, they can do so with the reassurance that their airports are modernized.” “We are already seeing dividends from our investment in the country’s infrastructure. Of the over $11 million going to Commonwealth airports, aside from Logan, more than half of that money has been awarded to Ninth District Airports. This is a testament to the importance of local airports to our communities and their economies,” said Congressman Keating. “The funding from the infrastructure law headed to our airports will help Massachusetts’ families travel for work and vacation and ensure that our supply chains run more smoothly, lowering costs for families and reducing congestion and emissions near airports,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “It will reverse decades of neglect and underinvestment and help bolster our economic recovery. This is a critical piece of the Build Back Better agenda, and Massachusetts will continue to see the impact of President’s vision for a stronger, more sustainable future.” “These critical resources are welcome news and will support long overdue investments in our workers, create jobs and make our airport infrastructure more resilient,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “It’s imperative that this money get disbursed as soon as possible and that we continue working to pass the Build Back Better Act to make additional and sorely-needed investments in our workers, families and communities.” “When we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we did so knowing it would improve the lives of every person across the Commonwealth,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Of course, that means better roads, safer bridges, and cleaner drinking water, but it also means improved travel through Massachusetts airports – large and small. I’m proud to see these substantial investments going to airports in Lawrence, Fitchburg, Gardner, and beyond.” “Upgrading our airports will improve Bay State competitiveness, spur job creation, and reduce our emissions, giving us the tools needed to strengthen our economic recovery,” said Congressman Auchincloss. The airports receiving funding include: General Edward Lawrence Logan International, Boston, MA – $37,648,526 Nantucket Memorial, Nantucket, MA – $1,568,544 Worcester Regional, Worcester, MA – $1,332,693 Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven, MA – $1,034,232 Barnstable Municipal-Boardman/Polando Field, Hyannis, MA – $1,015,864 Provincetown Municipal, Provincetown – $1,006,868 Laurence G Hansom Field, Bedford, MA – $1,006,637 Beverly Regional, Beverly, MA – $295,000 Fitchburg Municipal, Fitchburg, MA – $295,000 Lawrence Municipal, Lawrence – $295,000 Marshfield Municipal – George Harlow Field, Marshfield, MA – $295,000 New Bedford Regional, New Bedford, MA – $295,000 Norwood Memorial, Norwood, MA – $295,000 Pittsfield Municipal, Pittsfield, MA – $295,000 Plymouth Municipal, Plymouth, MA – $295,000 Westover ARB/Metropolitan, Springfield/Chicopee, MA – $295,000 Westfield-Barnes Regional, Westfield/Springfield, MA – $295,000 Chatham Municipal, Chatham, MA – $159,000 Mansfield Municipal, Mansfield, MA – $159,000 Turners Falls, Montague, MA – $159,000 Harriman-And-West, North Adams, MA – $159,000 Orange Municipal, Orange, MA – $159,000 Southbridge Municipal, Southbridge, MA – $159,000 Taunton Municipal – King Field, Taunton, MA – $159,000 Gardner Municipal, Gardner, MA – $110,000 ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2333,"Trahan, Warren, Markey Announce Announce $700,000 in Infrastructure Grants for Third District Airports",2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) announced airports in the Third District have been allocated $700,000 in federal grants under the first round of disbursements of Airport Infrastructure Grants under the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. “When we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we did so knowing it would improve the lives of every person across the Commonwealth,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Of course, that means better roads, safer bridges, and cleaner drinking water, but it also means improved travel through Massachusetts airports – large and small. I’m proud to see these substantial investments going to airports in Lawrence, Fitchburg, Gardner, and beyond.” “Massachusetts’ airports are critical to our regional economies and our communities. This significant FAA grant funding is just the start of investments in the Commonwealth from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act to fix our crumbling infrastructure and boost our economic recovery,” said Senator Warren. “I will continue fighting in Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act to invest in universal childcare, take a big whack at the fight against climate change, and ensure corporations stop cheating the system.” “This first tranche of airport funding will help airports across Massachusetts address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies. We will also boost our economy, create jobs, and strengthen the supply chain with these critical investments. Every region stands to benefit, and I will continue to fight for even more funding for our Commonwealth’s communities,” said Senator Markey. The airports receiving funding include: Lawrence Municipal, Lawrence - $295,000 Fitchburg Municipal, Fitchburg, MA - $295,000 Gardner Municipal, Gardner, MA - $110,000 “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has given us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build safer and more sustainable airports that connect individuals to jobs and communities to the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this new funding, urban, regional and rural airports across the country now can get to work on projects that have waited for years, modernizing their infrastructure and building a better America.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/memorandum-re-jake-auchincloss-first-year-office,Memorandum RE: Jake Auchincloss’ First Year in Office,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Memorandum RE: Jake Auchincloss’ First Year in Office To: Interested Parties From: Matt Corridoni Date: December 16, 2021 Congressman Auchincloss assumed office at a critical moment in our nation’s history. His first three weeks in Congress saw an insurrection, impeachment, and an inauguration. Throughout it all, Congressman Auchincloss was a cool head in a time of crisis and has proven how he is the right person at the right time to take on the historic tenure of representing the Fourth Congressional District. Be it securing wins in the American Rescue Plan and Build Back Better Agenda; delivering results through top notch constituent services; or becoming a leading voice in the next generation of Democratic leaders, Congressman Auchincloss has shown up and made an impact during these first twelve months of his term. His unique perspective as a millennial, new dad, veteran, and former local elected official have allowed him to make strides even during some of the most turbulent times in Washington. Legislative Victories and Representing Values Congressman Auchincloss was appointed to two coveted committees in his first term, Transportation and Infrastructure and Financial Services. Within his first year on the Committee, he has beennamed Vice Chairman of Financial Services. Congressman Auchincloss became one of the first Freshmen to see a bill successfully pass the House. His consumer protection legislation was introduced on the 100th day of Congress. In addition, Auchincloss’ “Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act,” which will ensure that Americans in banking deserts have access to affordable banking services, passed the Financial Services Committee with unanimous bipartisan support. He questioned SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, and other stakeholders to advocate for retail investors during a series of hearings on the GameStop trading halt. Following a letter to House and Senate leadership, Auchincloss was able to secure key wins in the American Rescue Plan Act, including funding for a vaccine rollout program, testing and contact tracing in schools and childcare, rental and homeowner assistance, and relief for public transportation agencies. Key Auchincloss priorities - including fundingfor member designated transportation projects - were included in passageof the INVEST in America Act and Auchincloss successfully advocatedfor Massachusetts appropriations priorities. The Build Back Better Act passed by the House in November included a provision led by Congressman Auchincloss to increase affordable housing supply through factory-built housing. In addition, following an Auchincloss-led letter urging House leadership to fund innovative, on-demand public transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the House-passed Build Back Better Act included a $4 billion Community Climate Incentive Grant Program to “reduce dependence on single-occupant vehicle trips” and advance carbon reduction strategies through transportation. Following a letterfrom Congressman Auchincloss to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the Treasury Department has announced it will provide maximum flexibility to states so that they may direct funds allocated in the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund towards a diverse set of essential priorities. This broad allowance will enable the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to invest in critically needed capital projects that support early childhood education and workforce training. Two of Congressman Auchincloss’ amendments were includedin passage of the historic and sweeping voting rights legislation - HR 1, the “For the People '' Act. One amendment would expand the requirements for states to receive grants for poll worker recruitment and training to ensure the state includes dedicated poll worker recruitment for youth and minors, including by recruiting at institutions of higher education and secondary education. The second amendment offered would help ensure that young voters are not discriminated against by voter challenges by adding “age” to the list of bases upon which voter challenges by persons other than election officials will be presumed as lacking a good faith factual basis. Congressman Auchinclossintroduced a resolution calling for a “Marshall Plan” for vaccines after laying out the vision for one in a national opedearlier in the year. Congressman Auchincloss also became a founding member and co-chair of the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus, which recently praised the Administration listening to their calls to invest billions in expanding U.S. coronavirus vaccine manufacturing to increase supply for poorer nations. Congressman Auchinclossled other Democratic members in a letter to PayPal urging the corporation to ban the use of its online payment system on websites that perpetuate COVID-19 vaccine and treatment disinformation. Specifically, the letter calls on PayPal to deactivate the accounts of the “Disinformation Dozen.” Congressman Auchincloss became the only Democratic veteran to vote against the NDAA after havingjoined co-chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, Representatives Mark Pocan (D, WI-02) and Barbara Lee (D, CA-13) in a letter to President Biden urging him to decrease the Pentagon’s budget. However, Auchincloss was able to secure the passage of two amendments to the NDAA, one to prevent US financial support for the Taliban and another to advance declassification of U.S. intelligence records of decisions pertaining to the War in Afghanistan. Congressman Auchinclossintroduced legislationto create a U.S.-Israel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Center to further bilateral cooperation in AI and contribute to the advancement of this critical field. Congressman Auchincloss responded to Ted Cruz’s “Border Bill '' that would move immigrant processing centers to New England by hand delivering a letter to the Senator’s office. The letter stated, in part, “We have no patience in Massachusetts for your crass attempt to denigrate immigrants by implying that new ports of entry in the Commonwealth would undermine our support for immigration. From Plymouth Rock to today, immigrants have been building new lives in Massachusetts for 400 years. We welcome them.” As Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman Auchincloss has chaired several hearings and questioned witnesses about future investments in offshore wind that follow in the footsteps of other Massachusetts programs like Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute and Vineyard Wind. As a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congressman Auchincloss, along with Representatives Joe Neguse (D, CO-02) and Robin Kelly (D, IL-02), unveiledthe End Gun Violence Act, legislation to restrict the sale of firearms to those convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes in the last five years. Congressman Auchincloss became one of the first members of Congress to call for the resignation of Marjorie Taylor Greeneafter she engaged with social media posts calling for violence against Democratic members and he was one of the first members of Congress to commit to not working with Republicans who refused to certify the results of the 2020 election. Delivering Results at Home By the end of the calendar year, Congressman Auchincloss will have visited all 34 cities and towns in the Fourth Congressional District at least once. The Joint Economic Committee has recently reported that$154.8 million in Child Tax Credit tax cuts were delivered for over 76,000 families in the Fourth District. Additionally, the district saw over $89,000,000 in restaurant grants for small business. Massachusetts receivedover $385,000,000 in shuttered venue grants; over $1,830,000,000 to help k-12 schools reopen safely; and over $146,000,000 for community health centers. Even with limitations in place due to COVID-19, Congressman Auchincloss hosted over 36 total events - including over 20 city and town-specific roundtables - during the course of more than 100 district visits. During this time, Congressman Auchincloss met with 225 organizations - meeting with constituents and stakeholders,engaging on issues of importance to the district, and being hands-on, visible, and transparent. Visits have been as diverse as the district itself from discussing agriculture in Lakeville toriding a bike through the streets of Brookline to promote micro mobility. Among some other events hosted by Congressman Auchincloss: bringing local leaders together in Franklinto discuss “Strong Towns”; a tour of Dighton with local leaders to discuss infrastructure, public safety, and economic development; a roundtable with Senator Cindy Creem focused on climate change where it was noted he “demonstrat[ed] a deep and nuanced understanding of the climate challenges we face.” By the end of the calendar year, Congressman Auchincloss will have hosted Five telephone town halls to connect with constituents even while in DC. Each telephone town hall reaches out to an estimated 75,000 constituents. Congressman Auchincloss has also successfully launched a newsletter program with over 26,000 current subscribers in addition to mass communication and paid communication his office has done through the House franking program - all in an effort to inform constituents about results he is delivering at home. Congressman Auchincloss’ office has responded to over 112,000 messages and has successfully closed out over 1,100 casework requests in every city and town in the district. Success stories include helping businesses navigate grant programsto keep their doors open; reuniting families and helping students secure visas; and prioritizing veterans issues. Congressman Auchincloss has partnered with local officials to simplify federal legislation including assisting with interpretation of the America Rescue Plan Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, ensuring our local governments not only secure federal dollars but maximize their potential. Effectively Communicating and Making a Name for Himself in the Next Generation of Democratic Leaders Congressman Auchincloss has had an aggressive “go everywhere” media strategy that was noticed from his first few weeksin office: “[Auchincloss has] wasted no time in starting to build a national media profile after just three weeks as a congressman...Auchincloss has already gotten a notable amount of press attention for a freshman Democrat hailing from a safe district...He’s blanketed local media, too — from big TV, radio and print outlets to hyperlocal ones..” Auchincloss has also already been hailed as a “media-savvy millennial politician.”During his first year in office he has made over 65 local and national television appearances, penned national opeds appearing in outlets such as The Washington Post, FOX,The Boston Globe, and CNN, and he’s taken his message everywhere - from local public access to new mediums like TikTokand Clubhouseto defending the administration on FOX News(something not all Democrats are willing or able to pull off). Congressman Auchincloss was a recipient of one of the awards in House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s 12th Annual Member Online All-Star Competition, receiving recognition for effectively promoting constituent services on social media during his district tour highlighting member designated transportation and infrastructure projects. Congressman Auchincloss was also a recipient of theDemocratic Policy and Communications Committee’s (DPCC) Thomas Paine Award. The DPCC's Thomas Paine Floor Speech Competition recognizes members for ""spreading the Democratic message."" It is presented on behalf of Co-Chairs Matt Cartwright (D, PA-09), Debbie Dingell (D, MI-12), Ted Lieu (D, CA-33), and Joe Neguse (D, CO-02). Tied for one of themost loyal votes in the party when it comes to advancing the Democratic agenda, Congressman Auchincloss has been called The White House’s “new favorite Democratic congressman,”having been the Administrations strongest defender on the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. As a young dad, Congressman Auchincloss also took a leading role in championing early childhood education and paid family leave policies in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda, including hosting Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in the districtfor a surrogacy event promoting the provisions. To quote one White House official, “Rep. Auchincloss brings a unique and badly needed perspective [to Washington]...We appreciate Rep. Auchincloss' leadership...and we look forward to continuing to partner with him in the future."" Looking to the future, Congressman Auchincloss will continue to be a strong and effective voice when it comes to representing the Fourth District. To quote former Fourth District Representative Barney Frank, “He's doing a very good job. It's a turbulent year… [and] he's part of that mainstream Democratic majority that's doing well with Nancy Pelosi's leadership.” Congressman Auchincloss’ ability to breakthrough and deliver results even during the toughest of times shows that we can expect even more in the year ahead. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2331,"Trahan, Gardner Officials Highlight Broadband Investments in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined with Gardner leaders and community partners to highlight the historic broadband investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The group discussed recent efforts to expand broadband in Gardner with the partnership of Comcast, as well as additional assistance to get families connected as a result of funding on the way from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “The transformative investments included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mean Bay Staters will not only benefit from safer roads and bridges, cleaner drinking water, and more accessible public transit, but they will also benefit from expanded access to high-speed internet,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The critical broadband funding included in the package will close coverage gaps, connecting the tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents who currently lack internet access that’s critical for their jobs, schoolwork, tele-health services, and more. I was proud to cast my vote for this once-in-a-generation package, and I look forward to working with our community partners to ensure these investments benefit every family across the Third District.” “In 2021, everyone should have access to broadband internet to keep up with modern world standards for employment and education. The funding included in the Infrastructure Law will help us close the final gaps in locations that are still lacking in internet speeds,” said Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson. “During the past year, we have seen how many companies now have their employees working permanently remote. Furthermore, we now have teachers who have adapted their lesson plans to a more modern internet-based curriculum with a broader research base. Gardner, and other locations across the Commonwealth, need to adapt to these changes in order to provide our residents with the resources they need to be successful. This bill gives us just that and the benefits will help more people than we could mention.” The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $65 billion to ensure that every American has access to high-speed internet. Massachusetts is set to receive no less than $100 million to close coverage gaps that see 137,000 Bay Staters currently lacking coverage — a hurdle that makes it difficult to connect to work and school. The infrastructure package also established the Affordable Connectivity Program to help low-income families access the internet. Across the Commonwealth, 1,340,000 people — or 1 in 5 individuals — will be eligible for assistance through the benefit. The benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households, connecting working families to jobs, critical health care services, virtual classrooms, and much more. During the roundtable, Trahan was joined by Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson, State Representative Jon Zlotnik (D-Gardner), Gardner City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, Gardner Public Schools Superintendent Mark Pellegrino, City of Gardner IT Director Robert O’Keefe, Retired Gardner Police Chief Neil Erickson. ""Improving internet access is an important factor in economic development and, more and more so in overall quality of life,” said State Representative Zlotnik. “Less densely populated areas have long struggled to attract the necessary infrastructure investment to make those opportunities a reality which is why these federal funds are so welcome."" “During the pandemic, students, staff, and parents were forced to rely more heavily on technology for communication and learning. Web-based programs brought about fundamental changes to our system that have positively impacted our entire community,” said Gardner Public Schools Superintendent Mark J. Pellegrino. “They have given our teachers new ways to connect with and educate our students; given parents more information on their child's progress and well-being; and motivated students to develop skills that will last them a lifetime. Truly, technology has become an essential part of our educational system — we simply cannot do without it. Ensuring that Gardner has high-speed connectivity will facilitate meaningful communication and learning, and help move our school system forward. In addition, the Affordable Connectivity Program will help our low-income families have access, supporting an equitable educational system for all. I thank Congresswoman Trahan and the other legislators who made this possible for our city.” Trahan supported passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk where he signed it into law. A preliminary breakdown of funding Massachusetts will receive for a number of initiatives can be accessed by clicking HERE. Since being elected to Congress, Trahan has consistently advocated for broadband expansion in the Third District and beyond, especially for communities like Gardner where some residents previously lacked dependable access. Last year, Trahan worked with Mayor Nicholson, City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, and Comcast to secure high-speed internet access for 47 Gardner households in the last existing large section of the city without this resource. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2332,Trahan Statement on President Biden Signing Congressional Gold Medal Legislation Honoring Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation she helped introduce to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in Afghanistan in August, including Lawrence native and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo: “Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo is a hero to her family, her friends, her community, and her country. Not a day goes by that her absence isn’t felt by those who had the honor of knowing her and many more who didn’t but remain deeply grateful for the sacrifices she made.” “The awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that Congress can bestow, is the least we can do to honor all Sergeant Rosario Pichardo did to save the lives of countless Americans and Afghan allies. It will serve as a reminder of the life of service she lived and the obligation each of us shares to carry on her legacy each day.” “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who were instrumental in passing this legislation and to President Biden for signing it into law. Sergeant Rosario Pichardo’s sacrifice will never – and must never – be forgotten.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-auchincloss-leads-democrats-letter-stop-vaccine-disinformation-profits,RELEASE:  Auchincloss Leads Democrats in Letter to Stop Vaccine Disinformation Profits,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Auchincloss Leads Democrats in Letter to Stop Vaccine Disinformation Profits Letter urges PayPal to ban users who disseminate vaccine disinformation WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) led other Democratic members in a letter to PayPal urging the corporation to ban the use of its online payment system on websites that perpetuate COVID-19 vaccine and treatment disinformation. Specifically, the letter calls on PayPal to deactivate the accounts of the “Disinformation Dozen.” In the letter Congressman Auchincloss states, “We write to express concern about PayPal’s role in the spread of COVID-19 disinformation. As you know, more than 800,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. The majority of these deaths have come after the approval of safe, free, and effective vaccines. Throughout this pandemic, it is our opinion that your company has played a role in financing vaccine disinformation spreaders. We believe PayPal should consider banning the use of its online payments system on websites that perpetuate dangerous lies about COVID-19 treatment and immunization.” A full copy of the letter can be found below. Dan Schulman President and CEO, PayPal 2211 N 1st St San Jose, CA 95131 Dear Mr. Schulman, We write to express concern about PayPal’s role in the spread of COVID-19 disinformation. As you know, more than 800,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. The majority of these deaths have come after the approval of safe, free, and effective vaccines. Throughout this pandemic, it is our opinion that your company has played a role in financing vaccine disinformation spreaders. We believe PayPal should consider banning the use of its online payments system on websites that perpetuate dangerous lies about COVID-19 treatment and immunization. President Biden has called upon social media platforms to take responsibility for any role they play in the spread of disinformation. The Center for Countering Digital Hate published its Disinformation Dozen report that cites the websites of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) (Barbara Loe Fisher, Joseph Mercola), Organic Consumers Association (OCA) (Joseph Mercola), and the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) (Del Bigtree) as leading contributors to COVID-19 disinformation. As of this writing, all of these websites process donations to their organizations through PayPal, as well as major credit cards. While PayPal is not the sole payment system for these websites and individuals, we believe the platforms would have fewer available funding mechanisms without access to PayPal technology to process donations. These websites promote recommendations that nonpartisan public health institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stated could result in severe disease and death. One Mercola article claimed that hydrogen peroxide—which the CDC says can cause gastrointestinal embolism and respiratory paralysis if ingested—can “successfully treat most viral respiratory illnesses, including coronavirus.” This article was shared on Facebook thousands of times. Moreover, ICAN and the NVIC have claimed the virus is a hoax and that the vaccines are deadlier than the disease itself. For reference, the CDC has yet to detect any patterns for deaths following immunization. We are concerned that PayPal funds this disinformation by providing a means by which the owners of these platforms can collect payments. PayPal and other leading financial technology companies have already banned payments to entities that spread disinformation. After the deadly insurrection on January 6, Stripe ceased processing donations to the Trump Campaign. PayPal deactivated the accounts of some groups that were coordinating payments to support the rioters’ actions on Capitol Hill. We believe that PayPal’s deactivation of the accounts of the “Disinformation Dozen” would not be an attempt to curb free speech, but rather a decision consistent with the company’s previous actions to protect public safety. We appreciate your full and fair consideration of our concerns.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1D438902-FCEE-4192-8278-5EDA4A7DEF34,Assistant Speak Clark Votes to Combat Global Islamophobia,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) voted to pass the Combating International Islamophobia Act, legislation to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide. The bill requires the State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia and include state sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights report. The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry. The legislation will also establish a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combating Islamophobia worldwide. “The frightening rise of Islamophobia can be seen around the world – and in the halls of Congress. If we are sincere in our fight for equality, religious freedom, and human rights, we must recognize Islamophobia and do all we can to eradicate it,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “With this legislation, we are taking a stand against Islamophobia and actively combating and tracking its escalation in order to work toward a more just and peaceful world.” Full text of the legislation is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/brandon-act-change-dod-mental-health-policy-pay-tribute-fallen-navy-sailor,"Brandon Act to Change DoD Mental Health Policy, Pay Tribute to Fallen Navy Sailor Brandon Caserta Passes in Senate; Heads to President’s Des",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) announced that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that included the Brandon Act, legislation named in honor of fallen United States Navy Petty Officer Third Class Brandon Caserta. The bill is now headed to President Biden’s desk. The Brandon Act is designed to protect service members who experience mental health emergencies and reduce the stigma around reporting. This bill will allow service members to seek mental health treatment, and require a mental health evaluation as soon as a service member self-reports. It will also allow Americans serving in uniform to seek help confidentially and, if necessary, outside of the chain of command. “We cannot be happier that The Brandon Act is in the NDAA. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for Rep. Seth Moulton, Sen. Mark Kelly and their entire staff for tirelessly advocating for our military servicemembers and for the guidance and support they gave Patrick and me through the entire complicated NDAA process,” his parents, Teri and Patrick Caserta said. “The Brandon Act will save military servicemember’s lives and it will give them the mental health care they rightfully deserve without retaliation. We would also like to thank all of the cosponsors who support The Brandon Act, LULAC, NAMI, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and all of the organizations who supported us and The Brandon Act. The tragic and untimely death of Brandon Caserta brought awareness to the suicide rates in our military. We cannot bring Brandon back, but The Brandon Act will honor our son in the way he would want. This is a military service member victory!” Representative Seth Moulton, the bill’s author, said: “America’s service members shouldn’t have to settle for a broken system that’s incapable of providing them with the mental health support they need, and today’s vote means they no longer have to. This bill is an important piece of Brandon’s legacy—one that will save the lives of so many great American heroes. I’m proud of his parents for fighting to make sure that families of other service members never have to share their experience, and I look forward to continuing to do this work alongside them.” Senator Mark Kelly said: “For months, I worked with Republicans and Democrats to get the language of the Brandon Act in the defense bill. Today, our hard work has paid off. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Teri and Patrick Caserta, and bipartisan support in Congress, our efforts will help us confront military suicide head on and save the lives of other young servicemembers.” Brandon Caserta died by suicide on June 25, 2018 on the flight line at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. After his death, his parents and friends discovered six notes in which Brandon attributed his suicide to persistent hazing and bullying from some members and leaders of his Navy helicopter squadron. The Brandon Act expands the existing law that regulates how service members are referred for mental health evaluations, in order to provide a confidential channel for service members to self-report mental health issues. The process would protect the confidentiality of service members, similar to the restricted reporting option that protects victims of sexual assault. Moulton first introduced the bill in 2020, and he secured passage of it as part of the House version of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act. But, the bill was removed during negotiations between the House and Senate. Moulton has made expanding mental health care and breaking the stigma around seeking help a top priority since disclosing in 2019 that he is managing post-traumatic stress from his service in Iraq as a United States Marine. In addition to The Brandon Act, Moulton successfully used the FY20 NDAA to secure mandatory mental health checkups for service members who served in combat within 21 days of their departure from the battlefield. Moulton also co-led the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which was signed into law last October. The new law means 9-8-8 will become the three-digit number for mental health emergencies nationwide by July 2022. The Brandon Act is supported by several original cosponsors, including: Representative Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Representative Kaiali?i Kahele (D-HI), Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA). Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is an original cosponsor of the companion bill in the Senate. The Veterans Crisis Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached by calling (800) 273-8255, press 1. Services also are available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Find more information about the Lifeline at suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call directly by dialing (800) 273-8255. You can also text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-announces-local-victories-2022-national-defense-authorization-act,Moulton Announces Local Victories in 2022 National Defense Authorization Act,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, Mass. – Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that authorizes the federal government to spend money on the nation’s defense. The bill includes a number of locally-important measures Moulton has championed as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. The bill is headed to President Biden’s desk. “Today, the United States faces challenges and threats from countries like China and Russia. We must confront these threats, and we will do it by out-innovating, out-competing and out-performing our adversaries. We must spend the nation’s precious resources differently, thinking not about what we’ve done in the past, but about what the next-generation will need in order to win,” Moulton said. “Since the day patriots built the Springfield Armory in 1777, Massachusetts has led the nation in defense innovation. I am proud to continue that legacy today by including investments in the NDAA that will grow our state’s economy and create great local jobs. I am also proud to see so many critical pieces of the Future of Defense Task Force included in this year’s authorization act.” The National Defense Authorization Act sets the funding levels, expenditures and authorizations for the Department of Defense. Every year, the House and Senate Armed Services Committee write their own versions of NDAA. The House and Senate versions are then negotiated into a final bill which is sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The bill passed today is the final version of the NDAA. Moulton worked to ensure this year’s National Defense Authorization Act included the following locally-important items: FUNDING FOR THE GE ITEP PROGRAM: The FY 2022 NDAA includes $315M in funding for General Electric’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), which makes a new generation of helicopter engines for the military’s Blackhawk and Apache helicopters. Moulton has worked hard to secure funding for the ITEP program since his first days in Congress because part of the program is based in Lynn. DEVELOPMENT FOR AI/AA ANALYTICS FOR MODERNIZATION AND READINESS: The FY 2022 NDAA includes funding for further development of Artificial Intelligence with Northeastern, in partnership with the Army. This funding will provide resources towards AI research and development to support national security goals, like improved situational awareness and imagery analysis. Moulton has consistently promoted investment in emerging technologies through his work on the Future of Defense Task Force and will continue that work here. DISTRIBUTED RADIO FREQUENCY SENSOR: The FY 2022 NDAA includes funding for research and development of new approaches for distributed radio frequency with Northeastern. This will enable critical technologies and capabilities like radar, passive sensing, and electronic warfare. Moulton has consistently promoted investment in emerging technologies through his work on the Future of Defense Task Force and will continue that work here. MISSION MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM: The FY 2022 NDAA includes $100M funding that will promote the rapid acquisition and fielding of innovative solutions from both traditional and nontraditional defense industries. These funds are in line with recommendations from the Future of Defense Task Force, and will help the many innovative companies within the district provide their solutions to the military. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-trahan-introduce-legislation-protect-servicemembers-stored-belongings,"Moulton, Trahan Introduce Legislation to Protect Servicemembers’ Stored Belongings",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Months after Air Force Technical Sergeant Charles Cornacchio was deployed to the Middle East, he found out that the items he stored away in a Massachusetts-based storage facility had been sold and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Today, Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) introduced a bill to raise the existing punishment for companies who sell service members’ belongings. If passed, this bill would hold storage facilities, towing companies or other offenders accountable for knowingly disposing the property of a servicemember without a court order by elevating the consequences to the level of a felony with fines and up to three years imprisonment. Currently, companies can be charged with a misdemeanor subject to fines and the possibility of up to one year imprisonment. “When servicemembers like Charles volunteer to leave everything behind and serve abroad, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether or not their belongings will be sold to the highest bidder,” said Congressman Moulton, the author of the bill. “Right now, companies like this one, consider the low risk of getting caught along with the fines and decide that the risks are worth it and that the fines are just a cost of doing business. This bill will raise the stakes to ensure that something like this never happens to our heroes again.” “While our servicemembers risk their lives to defend us, separated from their communities and their loved ones, the least we can do is ensure they are treated with the respect they deserve,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “What happened to Sergeant Cornacchio is unacceptable, and he’s not the only one who has been wronged like this. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Moulton to introduce this legislation to strengthen the penalties under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. We owe it to our men and women in uniform to do everything possible to prevent their belongings being sold out from underneath them while they’re risking their lives to protect our nation.” Specifically, this bill updates section 3958 of 50 U.S. Code, which amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Passing this law will not only equip the Department of Justice with a broader range of tools to prosecute these cases, but also sends a strong deterrent message to current and would-be offenders that these schemes that prey on our servicemembers will not be tolerated. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2329,"Trahan, Moulton Introduce Legislation to Protect Service Members’ Stored Belongings",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Months after Air Force Technical Sergeant Charles Cornacchio was deployed to the Middle East, he found out that the items he stored away in a Massachusetts-based storage facility had been sold and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Today, Representatives Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced a bill to raise the existing punishment for companies who sell service members’ belongings. If passed, this bill would hold storage facilities, towing companies, or other offenders accountable for knowingly disposing the property of a service member without a court order by elevating the consequences to the level of a felony with fines and up to three years imprisonment. Currently, companies can be charged with a misdemeanor subject to fines and the possibility of up to one year imprisonment. “While our servicemembers risk their lives to defend us, separated from their communities and their loved ones, the least we can do is ensure they are treated with the respect they deserve,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “What happened to Sergeant Cornacchio is unacceptable, and he’s not the only one who has been wronged like this. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Moulton to introduce this legislation to strengthen the penalties under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. We owe it to our men and women in uniform to do everything possible to prevent their belongings being sold out from underneath them while they’re risking their lives to protect our nation.” “When service members like Charles volunteer to leave everything behind and serve abroad, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether or not their belongings will be sold to the highest bidder,” said Congressman Moulton. “Right now, companies like this one, consider the low risk of getting caught along with the fines and decide that the risks are worth it and that the fines are just a cost of doing business. This bill will raise the stakes to ensure that something like this never happens to our heroes again.” Specifically, this bill updates section 3958 of 50 U.S. Code, which amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Passing this bill will not only equip the Department of Justice with a broader range of tools to prosecute these cases, but it will also send a strong deterrent message to current and would-be offenders that these schemes that prey on our servicemembers will not be tolerated. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2330,"Trahan, Mass. Lawmakers Call for Replenishment of Restaurant Revitalization Fund",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswomen Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (MA-01), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), William Keating (MA-09), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to swiftly replenish the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The lawmakers’ letter comes as Massachusetts restaurants continue to struggle amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with many at risk of closing if the RRF is not refilled. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate our communities and put the survival of these small businesses and their workers on the line,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “Restaurateurs and their staff have worked throughout the pandemic, sacrificing of themselves, providing essential services, and feeding our communities. The federal government has a responsibility to fully fund the RRF and prevent any further closures, layoffs, and losses for our hard-working restauranteurs and dedicated workers.” The American Rescue Plan provided nearly $28.6 billion of critical economic relief to restaurants struggling to keep their doors open since the start of the pandemic, but due to high demand, the RRF was not able to meet the full needs of restauranteurs. In Massachusetts, over 3,400 restaurants – 23 percent – have closed their doors, with 13 percent of Black-owned restaurants closed for business and 44 percent uncertain about their ability to reopen. Of the restaurants that remain open, nationwide an estimated 82 percent of restaurant and bar owners think they will have to close if the RRF is not replenished. In their letter, the lawmakers specifically urged Leadership to prioritize bills led by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) in the House and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) in the Senate that would replenish the RRF. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-governor-charlie-baker-signing-covid-19-relief-funding,Moulton Statement on Governor Charlie Baker Signing the COVID-19 Relief Funding Spending Bill Into Law,2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following Governor Baker signing the COVID-19 Relief Funding Spending Bill into law, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “Over the past 20 months, the need for meaningful investments in infrastructure, mental health and workforce development has been laid bare, particularly in some of our most vulnerable communities. Today’s passage of the COVID-19 Relief Funding Spending Bill is the fulfilment of a promise that Congress and the Biden administration made to our essential workers who have been on the front lines of this pandemic for two years; to families struggling to put food on the table and keep the lights on; to small business owners fighting to survive; and to working and middle-class families across the Commonwealth desperate to rebuild and move past this crisis. With this bill, we have the chance to get so much done. We can finally address the growing problem of combined sewer overflow that is threatening state beaches, our children’s health, and the environment. We can treat mental health like the urgent health issue it is by increasing the number of clinicians across our state. We can address housing stability and give families the additional economic leg up they need. Not to mention, we can make long overdue investments in our state’s infrastructure. This legislation will make a difference in the lives of so many. I am glad to see the state legislature finally take action. I hope to see the governor and our municipal leaders move swiftly to put this funding to work to improve people’s lives.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8CED5F70-839D-49F1-8C66-9EA7F749D1E1,"Assistant Speaker Clark, Senator Merkley Introduce Legislation to Put Mental Health Counselors in Every K-12 School in America",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, bicameral legislation to help fill the critical unmet need for school-based mental health service providers in public schools across the United States. This bill directs the Department of Education to establish five-year renewable grant programs for elementary and secondary schools to hire additional school counselors. The bill is co-led by Representatives Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), and Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38). “We know that our students’ success in school is about more than just test scores – they need the social and emotional support of mental health professionals in order to thrive,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “As kids return to school in new and unfamiliar ways coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important that we invest directly in school nurses, social workers, and counselors. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act will help public schools meet the counselor-to-student ratios necessary to foster safe schools and promote the long-term health and welfare of our nation’s youth.” “Mental health care is essential health care, now more than ever,” said Senator Merkley. “Our country has neglected this fact for far too long, and our children are paying the price. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still greatly impacting the growth and experience of our school-aged kids, it’s time to do a lot more to ensure mental health programs are available to every child in every school.” The recommended student-to-counselor ratio is 250 students per counselor, but the national average for the 2019-2020 school year was 424-to-1. For school psychologists, the recommended ratio is 500 students per provider, and 250-to-1 for school social workers. This disparity between students’ need and available resources can have critical consequences for young Americans. Mental illness affects 20 percent of American youth. Approximately half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and more than a third of students 14 and older with mental illness drop out of school. Ninety percent of young people who die by suicide had a mental illness. Youth with access to mental health service providers in their school are 10 times more likely to seek care than youth without access, but school districts across America lack the investment and resources to provide students with the in-school treatment and care they need. Young people often find themselves waiting months for mental health treatment—an unacceptable delay, particularly at a vulnerable stage of life. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would tackle this crisis head-on by finally providing the necessary resources for schools to provide the mental health counselors their students need and rely on. Specifically, it would establish grants to states to help ensure that every school can meet the recommended counselor-to-student ratios. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, American School Counselor Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Education Association, and School Social Work Association of America. “Students’ unmet mental health needs can be a significant obstacle to student academic, career and social/emotional development and even compromise school safety. We know the current staffing ratios are simply too high - all students deserve access to a school counselor – and this legislation is a step towards that goal,” said Jill Cook, Executive Director, American School Counselor Association. “The American Psychological Association strongly supports the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, which would help address the nationwide shortages of school-based mental health professionals, including school psychologists. This need existed even prior to COVID-19. Schools are often vital to providing health care to many children, particularly as they can be essential to both early detection and intervention efforts. School-based mental health providers are not only critical to students’ behavioral well-being, but also play a key role in their learning and academic achievement, as well as helping to foster positive and healthy school climates,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. “Increasing schools’ capacity to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services for all students is predicated on access to school employed mental health professionals, like school psychologists. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a critical shortage which leaves schools and communities without access to care, which is especially critical as we address increased mental health needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act would help high needs districts work toward recommended staffing ratios so that every student has access to the mental care and support they need in school so they can focus on what is most important: learning and achieving their potential,” said Laurie Klose, president, National Association of School Psychologists. “Supporting the mental health needs of our children is essential to ensure they can thrive and grow, and it's of particular importance as students and families continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic. We applaud Senator Merkley and Representative Clark for introducing the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act because every school should have the resources necessary to recruit, train, and employ school-based, mental health professionals,” said Ronn Nozoe, CEO, National Association of Secondary School Principals. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2326,"Trahan, Carter Celebrate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children’s Health",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), lead sponsors of the Improving the Health of Children Act, celebrated the passage of the landmark legislation to protect children with birth defects and other developmental disorders. The bipartisan Improving the Health of Children Act passed the House on Wednesday on a 405-20 vote. This life-saving action will reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to supporting children’s health and well-being, 1 in 33 of whom suffer from a birth defect. “Since its creation two decades ago, the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has worked to ensure people living with disabilities are given the dignity, respect, and opportunities they need to succeed,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I helped introduce the Improving the Health of Children Act to support that critical work. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize the Center for the first time in fifteen years and provide it with the funding and resources necessary to support more than a dozen essential programs. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House who supported this important legislation, and I look forward to partnering with our Senate counterparts to ensure it becomes law.” “I am encouraged by the bipartisan agreement that children suffering from developmental disorders deserve adequate funding and resources,” said Congressman Carter. “As this bill heads to the Senate, I will continue fighting to ensure that programs essential to finding cures and supplying treatment for life-threatening disorders are properly supported by the federal government. There is no cause more deserving of Congress’s time and attention than that of protecting young lives.” Specifically, H.R. 5551 would reestablish programs related to birth defects; folic acid; cerebral palsy; intellectual disabilities; child development; newborn screening; autism; fragile X syndrome; fetal alcohol syndrome; tourette syndrome; pediatric genetic disorders; disability prevention; or other relevant diseases. Read the full text of the bill HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2327,Trahan Statement on New Economic Data,2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) issued the following statement after the recent releases of updated economic data: “The new economic data released this week shows what the President has been saying for months now – folks here in Massachusetts and across our nation are returning to work in historic numbers. At the same time, increased prices caused by the pandemic are putting a squeeze on many families’ budgets. That certainly would have been the case for my parents when they were raising my three sisters and me, and it’s something we’re working overtime to address.” “It’s extremely disappointing that instead of joining with us in those efforts, Republican leaders are actively cheering on inflation that’s hurting families – with one Republican Senator even labeling it a ‘gold mine’ for them politically. While Republicans play politics with people’s livelihoods, we’re going to continue building on the progress we’ve made to lower prices, address supply chain bottlenecks, and tackle price-gouging at the pump.” “President Biden’s actions to move products through ports faster are working, and grocers and retailers alike are keeping their shelves stocked for the holidays. The House passed additional legislation this week to bolster those initiatives. Gas prices are also coming down, and projections show that will continue as the administration targets price gouging at the pumps. More help is on the way. Our vote in the House for the Build Back Better Act moves policies to lower costs and ease inflationary pressures closer to becoming law, including cheaper prescription drugs, affordable child care, and continued monthly child tax credit payments that are already putting money in the pockets of more than 700,000 Massachusetts families.” “The President and Democrats in Congress have mobilized to address the root causes of inflation and increased costs. As prices continue to drop and families get back on their feet, we’re going to keep pushing to make sure our economy finally works for them.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D9E53742-347D-4570-AE17-8F68C7901CF5,"Assistant Speaker Clark Votes to Restore, Strengthen, and Protect Our Democracy",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Protecting Our Democracy Act also includes a provision authored by the Assistant Speaker that would prohibit the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members from contracting with the federal government WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined House Democrats to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act — a sweeping package of reforms that will strengthen America’s democratic institutions and protect them against future presidents who seek to abuse the power of their office. “Nothing is more fundamental to protecting our democracy than ensuring the integrity of our government. Because the President and Executive Branch members have the power to affect how our tax dollars are spent, who the federal government does business with, and the integrity of America’s standing in a global economy, the American people must trust that they will prioritize families and voters before personal gain,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “This comprehensive legislation will restore the government’s system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability and transparency, and protect America’s elections from foreign interference no matter who is occupying the White House.” The Protecting Our Democracy Act was first introduced in 2020, and reflects Congress’ determination to restore the guardrails of our democratic systems. This year, the bill also stands as the third pillar of the 117th Congress’ efforts to protect, support, and restore the people’s faith in America’s democratic systems — complementing both H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The package includes a provision authored by the Assistant Speaker that would prohibit the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members from contracting with the federal government. Specifically, the Protecting Our Democracy Act will: Prevent Presidential abuses: Prevent abuse of the pardon power Ensure no President is above the law by suspending the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting president or vice president Enforce the Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution Restore our system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability, and transparency: Enforce Congressional subpoenas Reassert Congressional power of the purse by enhancing the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) Strengthen Congressional oversight of Presidential Emergency Declarations Provide security from political interference in the Justice Department (DOJ) by requiring reports of communications between DOJ and the White House and ensuring that any inappropriate communications are reported to Congress Protect Inspector General independence Protect whistleblowers Provide accountability for acting officials Strengthen Hatch Act enforcement and penalties Promote efficient Presidential transitions Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential tax transparency Protect Our Elections Ensure reporting of foreign interference in elections Prevent foreign interference in elections by clarifying that the definition of a “thing of value” in the Federal Election Campaign Act To read the full bill, click here. To read the section-by-section, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=FA4D78C7-E213-491D-9483-E0C36DDE38B8,"Assistant Speaker Clark Statement on the Passing, Memorial of Bob Dole",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) released this statement in honor of former Senator Bob Dole following her attendance at his memorial today. “Bob Dole was a patriot and a selfless public servant. His loyalty was first and foremost to the American people, not politics or party. Further, he was an incredible champion for vulnerable people and animals throughout his 46-year career in elected office. He was an important ally in passing my legislation, the PAWS Act, that helps victims of domestic violence secure safe housing for their pets, and he fought tirelessly for people with disabilities until his last breath. I was honored to attend his memorial and will carry on his legacy of cooperation, kindness, and lifting up the defenseless.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://lynch.house.gov/2021/12/chairman-lynch-receives-testimony-from-administration-officials-on-u-s-counterterrorism-policy-during-national-security-hearing,Chairman Lynch Receives Testimony From Administration Officials on U.S. Counterterrorism Policy During National Security Hearing,2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen F. Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,lynch,https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. —This week, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, held a hearing to examine the worldwide threat posed by al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and other foreign terrorist organizations. The hearing also examined the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach, in coordination with international allies and partners, to counter the evolving foreign terrorist threat. “As terrorist threats to the United States continue to evolve, so too must our counterterrorism approach. Around the world, terrorist organizations have sought to exploit local conflicts and insurgencies to advance their own violent and twisted ideological objectives,” Chairman Lynch said in his opening statement. “Denying safe haven to these organizations and delegitimizing their ideology will require a whole-of-government approach that lessens our reliance on massive long-term military presence, and instead looks to ‘over-the-horizon’ partnerships and quick-strike capabilities.”? The Subcommittee heard testimony from Christopher Landberg, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State; and Milancy Harris, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The hearing was immediately followed by a classified briefing from representatives of the Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Counterterrorism Center. Members and witnesses discussed how the Biden Administration is expanding existing counterterrorism partnerships and using “over-the-horizon” capabilities to ensure terrorist threats cannot endanger the United States or its interests from Afghanistan. In response to a question from Rep. Trahan, Mr. Landberg testified that the Biden Administration is seeking to leverage the experience of the 84-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, to counter the threat of ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. He further testified that the Coalition’s efforts will include operations to counter ISIS messaging, stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters into Afghanistan, and reduce terrorist groups’ access to financial resources. Ms. Harris further described how the United States already uses tailored “over-the-horizon” capabilities to counter terrorist threats in Africa. This approach includes working “by, with, and through” local security forces and taking an “approach that focuses on episodic engagement [and] building partner capacity” to conduct counterterrorism operations. Ms. Harris testified that since the United States ended its military mission in Afghanistan, DOD has continued to improve its intelligence collection capabilities against terrorist threats and noted that “We have a sense of what is going on in the country. I think it's better than it was three months ago, and I think if I come back and see you in three months, we'll have a more nuanced understanding then.” In response to Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney’s concerns about recent counterterrorism strikes that resulted in civilian casualties, Ms. Harris testified that “[A]t the center of our, our very ethos, are accountability and transparency. We abhor the loss of innocent life. We take all possible measures to prevent them, and when we have incidents, it is our duty to learn from those and seek to be better.” Witnesses from the Department of Defense and Department of State described how terrorist threats facing the United States have expanded beyond Afghanistan and become more diffuse and complex, especially as affiliates offoreign terrorist organizations like al Qaeda and ISIS have spread across the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Landberg testified that “The United States is confronting a terrorist threat landscape that is dynamic, complex and fast moving,” and noted that “despite significant losses in leadership and territorial control” ISIS and al Qaeda “are leveraging their branches and networks across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to advance their agenda.” He added that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and al-Shabaab in particular, “are quite capable of inflicting damage on our allies and our global interests.” Ms. Harris explained that “Today’s terrorist groups are proficient with new technologies, agile in the information environment, creative in circumventing traditional financial systems, and remain ideologically influential enough to motivate new generations of people to join them or conduct independent attacks on their behalf.” Ms. Harris and Mr. Landbergemphasized the need for a whole-of-government counterterrorism approach that relies less upon the use of military power and instead emphasizes the importance of intelligence sharing, diplomatic engagement, and international partnerships. Mr. Landberg testified that the Biden Administration is “taking a whole-of-government approach to dealing with these threats” and noted that “while we have had great success over the last 20 years in securing the homeland … the threats continue to multiply.” He added that “the path forward to countering terrorism around the world must be one marked by continued diplomacy, dialogue, and diligence.” Mr. Landberg further noted that the United States’ counterterrorism approach is evolving from being “military heavy” over the last 20 years to a “more balanced approach as we also start to deal with a broader range of threats that goes way beyond counterterrorism, to cyber threats to strategic nation state competition.” Ms. Harris testified that while DOD maintains kinetic counterterrorism capabilities, “the most effective counterterrorism approach is a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities,” which includes “collaborating with allies and partners on partnered operations, using our education and capacity building programs to help develop increased counterterrorism capacity in critical regions, and ensuring our security cooperation efforts integrate with other, complementary U.S. Government programs.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/12/08/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2360/,Neal Votes for Annual Defense Bill to Meet the Needs of Servicemembers and Military Families,2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington Last evening, Congressman Richard E. Neal voted to pass bipartisan defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, that strengthens America’s security and meets the needs of our servicemembers, veterans and military families. This robust bill bolsters pay and improves benefits for servicemembers, combats sexual assault in the military and modernizes our defense technology. “When we invest in what makes America strong – from our technology to our alliances to our men and women in uniform – we make our nation safer and stronger,” said Congressman Neal, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “The NDAA is good for residents of western and central Massachusetts and the industries we have here that help keep our government going. In addition to a 2.7 percent raise for our servicemembers, there is more funding to support jobs and growth in our region. These include the authorization of projects that directly impact the workforce at General Dynamics in Pittsfield and Warren Pumps in Warren and the two entities will be able to retain roughly 1,500 jobs. In addition, the NDAA includes many provisions related to addressing the PFAS contamination in communities Westfield and throughout Berkshire County. The NDAA also requires that servicemembers in the National Guard and Reserves get paid at the same rate as their active-duty counterparts for special duty pay. Westover Air Reserve Base and Barnes Air National Guard generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development and this bill will ensure they are able to continue being strong community partners.” The FY22 NDAA: secures a 2.7 percent pay increase for our men and women in uniform; makes historic and significant changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to combat sexual assault and related crimes in the military; invests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help build a fairer and more diverse Armed Services; and makes key investments to address the threat of climate change and bolster energy resiliency. “As Members of Congress, we have no greater responsibility than to ensure the security of our nation – and that starts with supporting our men and women in uniform,” Congressman Neal continued. “With this year’s defense funding bill, Democrats secured crucial benefits and protections for our Servicemembers that will make our nation safer and stronger, while also making strong investments in our national defense and in our security interests. I was proud to vote for this bill, which honors the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2324,"Trahan, Markey, and Warren Introduce Legislation to Protect the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area",2021-12-08,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Trahan (MA-03) along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), introduced the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Act of 2021, legislation that would eliminate the total funding cap for the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area and extend its authorization to 2036. The Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area spans 994 square miles and encompasses 45 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Designated by Congress in 2009, the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area protects and educates visitors about the region where the American Revolution began. Under current law, authorization for the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area will expire on September 30, 2024, if Congress does not act to extend Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s ability to receive federal money. ""So many have benefited from the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s beauty and history — particularly Minute Man National Historical Park, a Third District gem,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “With funding set to expire in 2024, it’s imperative that we act swiftly to ensure communities across the region can continue enjoying all the Heritage Area has to offer, from the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge to Walden Pond and beyond. By extending its ability to receive federal funding, this legislation will protect Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area for generations to come.” “From Minute Man National Historical Park to the Leominster State Forest and Ralph Waldo Emerson House, the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area preserves the region’s rich history, natural beauty, and revolutionary ideas,” said Senator Markey. “This legislation will ensure that Massachusetts residents and visitors are able to explore the living history in Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area for years to come.” “The Freedom's Way National Heritage Area stretches across communities in Massachusetts and encompasses rich culture, history, and scenic landscapes,” said Senator Warren. “I'm glad to support this legislation so that our communities and future generations can continue to enjoy the treasures of Freedom's Way National Heritage Area.” A copy of the legislation can be found HERE. Since the approval of its management plan by the Secretary of the Interior in July of 2015, the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area has accessed more than $1,600,000 in federal financial assistance and leveraged $1.95 of non-federal match for every dollar of financial assistance accessed. With this funding, the Freedom’s Way Heritage Association—the coordinating entity for the heritage area—has collaborated with nearly 1,300 partners on preservation, conservation, and educational programs and projects across the region. “To the Townsend Historical Society and many other small-town museums in our region, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area has been a truly valued partner in historic preservation,” said Taber Morrell, Site Administrator, Townsend Historical Society. “Their team has provided crucial support to a wide range of projects including the restoration of unique historic structures and funding reenactments and other educational and entertaining events which help so much to inspire an interest amongst our audiences in honoring and protecting the past.” “The Concord Museum is honored to partner with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area to bring both iconic and previously hidden figures of the town’s long history to life,” said Tom Putnam, Edward W. Kane Executive Director, Concord Museum. “With support from Freedom’s Way the museum has offered an exhibition on Paul Revere, virtual field trips for students across the Heritage Area and country, free walking tours for the public, a series of film screenings on the Museum’s front lawn, a free education program on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and an exhibition on William Brewster in Concord. We look forward to continuing to work with Freedom’s Way and heartily support its reauthorization and continued funding to support its extremely important and transformative efforts.” “The Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area is a region of ‘firsts’ in American invention, thought, and design,” said Patrice Todisco, Executive Director, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. “It is home to visionaries and experimenters who have been at the forefront of social, intellectual, and cultural innovations that have shaped the way Americans view the world. The Reauthorization Legislation assures their uniquely American stories will continue to be shared, providing inspiration for future generations.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=6C0BF846-548C-4EB6-8152-2FE7F1716C1A,"Clark Joins Winthrop Local Leaders for Tour of MWRA in Celebration of Infrastructure law, Improvements to Water Quality",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WINTHROP, MA – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) toured the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to celebrate the clean water infrastructure provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021. Clark was joined by local leaders and members of the MWRA to discuss the new law’s investments into Massachusetts water infrastructure and funding to detect and remove toxic PFAS chemicals from the water. In total, this is the largest investment in clean drinking water and waste water infrastructure in American history. “Access to clean drinking water should be no question in Massachusetts – or anywhere in America. The new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes unprecedented investments in our water infrastructure and ensures everyone has access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “With these new funds, we will modernize and strengthen our water infrastructure, replace harmful lead pipes, and detect and remove dangerous PFAS toxins -- a reality the Fifth District knows all too well. My message is as clear as your water will be: Washington is delivering results and a better, healthier future for everyone.” Under the new law, Massachusetts will receive $1.1 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities. In total, the Infrastructure Law will invest $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water for households, businesses, schools, and child care centers all across the country. From rural towns to struggling cities, the legislation will invest in water infrastructure and eliminate lead service pipes, including in Tribal Nations and disadvantaged communities that need it most. Specifically, the infrastructure law includes: $10 billion dedicated to eliminating and detecting PFAS chemicals from water, $23 million will be distributed this year and will be targeted toward underserved and disadvantaged communities $15 billion to replace lead pipes in the nation’s drinking water system $350 million annually in new grant programs to help low-income households connect to existing drinking water or wastewater treatment systems $250 million for water infrastructure resiliency and sustainability grant programs Funding to create a new pilot grant program to assist qualifying households with maintaining access to affordable drinking water and wastewater treatment Photos of today’s event can be found HERE. Link to view the press conference is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=EAF2F2A1-3127-473D-9EBC-A549D227D27E,"Assistant Speaker Clark Visits South Natick Dam with Local Leaders, Celebrates New Infrastructure Law, Water Quality Improvements",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a $55 billion investment to improve water infrastructure and remove lead pipes, invest in PFAS detection and removal NATICK, MA – Yesterday, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) hosted a press conference to celebrate the clean water infrastructure provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021. Clark was joined by Natick and Wayland local electeds and members of the Charles River Watershed Association to discuss the new law’s investments into Massachusetts water infrastructure and funding to detect and remove toxic PFAS chemicals from the water. In total, this is the largest investment in clean drinking water and waste water infrastructure in American history. “Access to clean drinking water should be no question in Massachusetts or across America. The new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes unprecedented investments in our water infrastructure and ensures everyone has access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “With these new funds, we will modernize and strengthen our water infrastructure while removing and detecting harmful PFAS toxins -- a reality the Fifth District knows all too well. My message is as clear as your water will be: Washington is delivering results and a better, healthier future for everyone.” Under the new law, Massachusetts will receive $1.1 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities. In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water for households, businesses, schools, and child care centers all across the country. From rural towns to struggling cities, the legislation will invest in water infrastructure and eliminate lead service pipes, including in Tribal Nations and disadvantaged communities that need it most. Specifically, the infrastructure law includes: $10 billion dedicated to eliminating and detecting PFAS chemicals from water, $23 million will be distributed this year and will be targeted toward underserved and disadvantaged communities $15 billion to replace lead pipes in the nation’s drinking water system $350 million annually in new grant programs to help low-income households connect to existing drinking water or wastewater treatment systems $250 million for water infrastructure resiliency and sustainability grant programs Funding to create a new pilot grant program to assist qualifying households with maintaining access to affordable drinking water and wastewater treatment Photos of today’s event can be found HERE. Link to view the press conference is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://lynch.house.gov/2021/12/chairman-lynch-to-hold-national-security-hearing-on-u-s-counterterrorism-policy-tomorrow,Chairman Lynch to Hold National Security Hearing on U.S. Counterterrorism Policy Tomorrow,2021-12-06,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen F. Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,lynch,https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. —Tomorrow, at 9:30 a.m. ET, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, will hold a hearing to examine the worldwide threat posed by al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and other foreign terrorist organizations. The hearing will also consider the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach, in coordination with international allies and partners, to counter the evolving terrorism threat. In the 20 years since the September 11th attacks, the “global war on terrorism” has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, but the terrorist threats facing the United States today are more diffuse and complex than ever before. Al Qaeda and ISIS remain active around the world and have established branches and affiliates in 19 countries, which continue to pose a threat to U.S. interests at home and overseas. The Biden Administration has made clear that U.S. counterterrorism policies should be calibrated to address new and evolving terrorist threats. To delegitimize terrorist organizations’ ideology and prevent them from finding safe havens to recruit, train, and plot acts of violence, the United States must adopt a whole-of-government approach that lessens its reliance on military force and emphasizes robust information-sharing, international diplomacy, and civilian and humanitarian assistance to address root causes of conflict.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A9D16E6C-3AF2-4F98-93FF-944A6267152A,"Clark Hosts Energy Secretary Granholm to Celebrate Infrastructure Law, Hear Malden Weatherization Success Story",2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"MALDEN, MA – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-3) hosted U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a tour of the home of Cindy Yu, a Malden resident whose home was recently weatherized with efficiency upgrades by Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC). The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act invests a historic $3.5 billion in the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), reducing energy costs for more than 700,000 low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring health and safety and creating jobs. “Cindy’s story highlights the core purpose of the Infrastructure Investments & Jobs Act: investing directly in American families to lower costs and build a stronger, more sustainable future. The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act is the game changer we’ve been waiting for,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “With this new law, families, especially low-income families, will increase their energy efficiency and save money through reduced energy bills while collectively strengthening our climate resiliency as a nation. I’m grateful to Secretary Granholm and my Massachusetts colleagues for coming to Malden to highlight the importance of this critical program to our economic recovery and our future.” Across the U.S., two-thirds of low-income households devote over 6% of their income to utility bills alone and only 2% of the 38 million eligible low-income homes in the U.S. are weatherized each year. The weatherization investments in the infrastructure law will: save single-family homes an average of $283 per year in reduced energy costs lead to an annual reduction of 2.2 million metric tons of carbon improve the health and safety of home dwellers by eliminating non-energy related hazards like mold or fire hazards, resulting in non-energy savings of over $1,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses and missed work days create or help retain ~8.5K jobs each year, a key element of the Build Back Better Agenda In total, the infrastructure law provides more than $62 billion for the Department of Energy to deliver a more equitable clean energy future for the American people. Photos of today’s event can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-scotus-abortion-case,Moulton Statement on SCOTUS Abortion Case,2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following oral arguments in the Supreme Court involving the Mississippi law that prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “For nearly half a century, we’ve counted on the Supreme Court to preserve a woman’s Constitutional right to make her own health care decisions. After this week’s oral arguments, it's become increasingly clear that this may no longer be the reality. Abortion rights are more in danger now than they’ve been in a generation. As early as next June, tens of millions of women, especially low-income women and women of color, could be turned away from abortion clinics and effectively pushed into a de-facto regime of forced pregnancy. Make no mistake: the wealthy will still have abortions because they will have no problem traveling far and wide to do so. Americans need Congress to do everything in our power to prevent anti-abortion extremists from bulldozing over their right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. That’s why, back in September, the House voted to codify Roe v. Wade into law. It’s now up to the Senate to eliminate the filibuster and do the same. We used to be able to rely on the Supreme Court to uphold precedent, but with Trump and McConnell’s politicization of the Court, that is no longer the case. We simply cannot stand by and allow our children to grow up in a country with fewer rights than when they were born. For those who are angry at the relentless attacks against women’s equality and autonomy, I encourage you to continue making your voice heard. The Court needs to hear how critically important this issue is to the American people—the majority of whom support upholding Roe v. Wade. If we fail to live up to this moment, we will return back to the days where women risked death to obtain illegal abortions and move toward a future where women are no longer able to live out their hopes and dreams. The fundamental promise at the heart of Roe is that women have the right to make decisions about their bodies, their futures, and their families. If we don’t act quickly to protect abortion rights, women everywhere will lose these most precious freedoms."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2320,"Trahan, U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm Highlight Historic Federal Weatherization Investments",2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm and fellow elected officials to highlight unprecedented federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will weatherize homes and buildings across the Commonwealth and save hardworking families money. “Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Bay Staters will not only benefit from safer roads and bridges, cleaner drinking water, and more accessible public transit, but they will also see their utility bills go down as well,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The weatherization funding included in the package will support upgrades to homes and buildings that keep them warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer, reducing energy usage and keeping money in families’ pockets. These efforts also mean reduced emissions, which is key in the fight against the climate crisis. I was proud to cast my vote for these once-in-a-generation investments, and I’m even prouder to show Secretary Granholm the incredible ways they’ll be put to use across Massachusetts.” In addition to historic investments in upgrading Massachusetts’ roads, bridges, water systems, and public transit systems, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act contains billions to combat the climate crisis and strengthen the Commonwealth’s climate resiliency. During visits to the Boston Arts Academy and a family home in Malden today, Trahan and Granholm highlighted funding coming to the Commonwealth from the legislation’s $3.5 billion allocated to weatherize homes and buildings. These investments will drive down utility costs for families and reduce energy consumption by keeping buildings warmer during colder months and cooler during hotter ones. At the first stop, Trahan and Granholm, as well as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, toured the Boston Arts Academy, which is part of Boston’s energy efficiency and climate resiliency capital improvement project. The City is currently planning to construct a new, energy efficient facility – one of four currently planned in Boston alone – designed to accommodate 500 students. More than a third of the facilities’ construction will be reimbursed by the state. Boston Public Schools has also invested heavily over the past two years in energy-efficiency and cost-saving upgrades to schools, including replacing nearly 3,000 school windows and replacing outdated roofs and boilers. To support important initiatives like this, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds a $500 million grant program over five years for efficiency building codes in public schools. Trahan and Granholm then visited the home of Cindy Yu and her family in Malden, where they were joined by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05). Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC), a nonprofit focused on supporting low-income families, recently completed weatherization efficiency upgrades on the Yu family’s home. To bolster the work of CAPIC and nonprofits like it across the Commonwealth, the bipartisan infrastructure law establishes a pilot program to award grants to upgrade buildings with energy-efficient materials, including roof or lighting systems, windows and doors, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that are cost effective and achieve energy savings. Trahan supported passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk where he signed it into law. A preliminary breakdown of funding Massachusetts will receive for a number of initiatives can be accessed by clicking HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/12/02/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2357/,Neal Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution,2021-12-02,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... by: Nick Antonakas, 22 News HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – President Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. military operations... WATCH HERE by: Nick Antonakas, 22 News HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – U.S. Rep. Richard Neal toured Holyoke High School to... By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com SPRINGFIELD — With work on MBTA subway cars ready to ramp up... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier Springfield U.S. Representative Richard Neal said Tuesday... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier There's been some confusion whether there are talks going on... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s been over a year of the Republican trifecta in...",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B12760A2-EFA6-4CCE-B5CD-947DE13B81BC,Floor Speech From Assistant Speaker Clark on Reproductive Rights,2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) addressed the House making the below statement regarding today's oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The case is a challenge to Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, a law that essentially outlaws abortion and sets the stage to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade. ""For almost 50 years, the right to abortion has been protected by the Constitution. Yet, in the last decade, state lawmakers have pushed through nearly 500 restrictive laws that make abortion difficult and sometimes impossible to access. This fight has reached a breaking point. Anti-abortion policies are about power and control: control over our bodies and control over our choices. Congress must pass the Women's Health Protection Act to protect the constitutional right to an abortion and ensure that all people have the freedom to control their own bodies. We will never back down from this fundamental fight for our rights."" To view footage of Assistant Speaker Clark speaking on the House floor about this case, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-verdict-murder-ahmaud-arbery,Moulton Statement on Verdict in the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery,2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following the verdict in the murder trial of Ahmaud Arbery, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “Today’s verdict isn’t justice—it’s accountability. True justice would mean that Ahmaud Arbery was never hunted down and murdered in cold blood to begin with. It would look like him being alive to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. Make no mistake, accountability is important. But as we mark the jury’s decision, let’s not forget that there is still so much work to be done to address the horrific racial violence to which Black people in America continue to fall victim. While many of us are at a loss for what to do, it is up to all of us, particularly white people, to do the hard work. Silence and inaction are no longer an option. We have a responsibility to dismantle systemic racism and put an end to the injustice that people of color in America continue to face. It is our duty to create a country where Black people’s existence is no longer a threat: one where simply jogging while Black is not subject to death. And to my colleagues, it’s up to us to call out white extremism whenever it rears its ugly head in our workplace. It should come as no surprise that much of the dangerous rhetoric we’ve seen over the last five years from some of our fellow elected leaders has worked to protect and embolden white vigilantes. We still have a lot of work to do. So the call to action for everyone is: let’s get to it.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2318,"Trahan, Schakowsky Introduce FTC Whistleblower Act To Protect Consumers",2021-12-01,2021,2021-12,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) was joined by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) in introducing the FTC Whistleblower Act of 2021. The bill would protect whistleblowers who disclose wrongdoing at their current and former employers that fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Disclosure could include unlawful violations of consumer protection and anti-trust laws and regulations. This act would protect whistleblowers from retaliation and incentivize their reporting. “Time and time again, whistleblowers have proven key in uncovering information critical to protecting consumers,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As the Federal Trade Commission works to investigate harmful behavior by massive corporations, it’s important that the agency offers safeguards to protect and incentivize potential whistleblowers, as is standard with several other investigatory agencies. I’m proud to join with Chairwoman Schakowsky to introduce the FTC Whistleblower Act of 2021, which will enable the Commission to establish these essential standards and bolster its important work.” “Whistleblowers risk their livelihoods to bring truth to light and help safeguard the public from corporate wrongdoing,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Recent events have again proven how indispensable whistleblowers are to our society, to democracy, and to American families. That is why today my colleague Representative Trahan and I take action to support whistleblowers. The FTC Whistleblower Act of 2021 will help the Commission to take bold action against wrongdoers by protecting whistleblowers from retaliation for their bravery and incentivizing the disclosure of unlawful activity that harms American consumers.” ""Whistleblowers play an essential role in exposing waste, fraud, and misconduct that directly impacts consumers,” said Melissa Wasser, policy counsel, Project On Government Oversight. “Establishing a whistleblower award program at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will incentivize whistleblowers to come forward with tips and protect those whistleblowers from retaliation. POGO thanks Representative Schakowsky and her team for their commitment to protect whistleblowers at the FTC by mirroring best practices within this new award program. This legislation ensures more whistleblowers will come forward with important disclosures that will strengthen consumer protection."" On Tuesday, Frances Haugen, the Facebook whistleblower, will testify before the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Schakowsky and Trahan will participate in that hearing. Haugen came forward through the Securities Exchange Commission, which provides protections for whistleblowers, and was possible because Facebook is a publicly traded company. The FTC Whistleblower Act will ensure that more whistleblowers are able to come forward and be protected. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:06Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-fitzpatrick-introduce-heads-act,"Moulton, Fitzpatrick Introduce Heads Up Act",2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population (HEADs Up) Act of 2021. The HEADs Up Act would direct the Health Services and Resources Administration to designate people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population. The HSRA is the government agency that advocates for people who are cut off from quality health care by economics, geography or a medical vulnerability. “There are clear cracks in America’s health care system, and one example is the way we treat those among us who require the most complex care,” said Congressman Moulton, the author of the bill.“Citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve quality treatment just like everyone else, and America has an obligation to provide that. We’ve come so far, but there is still more ground to cover. With this bill, we can expand health care resources to make them more available to these Americans. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to get this passed.” “We must do more to ensure that all Americans have access to basic health care, especially those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who often have more complex medical needs,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation which seeks to remove the barriers to care that exist for those within the IDD community so that they can lead healthy lives.” The change in designation would give Americans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities access to new primary care and specialist services, incentivize new research, and authorize more favorable reimbursement rates for providers who treat Americans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The “Medically Underserved” designation was created with the passage of the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996. Despite years of advocacy and ample evidence that people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities qualify for the designation, Congress still has not provided these Americans with it. The designation as a special medically underserved population would open up more than 25 government programs within the Health Services and Resources Administration and other federal agencies for participation by the I/DD population. These programs include: Federal funding for health centers and public health infrastructure such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Eligibility to apply for federal funding to develop and operate Community Health Centers Access to loan repayment and training programs in HRSA’s Workforce Development and Training Programs including the national Health Service Corps Scholarships Incentives for physicians to treat this population in the form of higher CMS reimbursement rates for physician services delivered in Health Professional Shortage Areas, a designation closely related to MUP Preference given to research at federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, that studies medically underserved populations. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2307,"Trahan, Donoghue Announce Completion of Critical Land Exchange in Lowell",2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, and Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue announced the completion of a critical land exchange between the National Park Service and the City of Lowell. This exchange has paved the way for construction of the Hamilton Canal Innovation District’s mixed-use neighborhood, establishing parking, housing, and commercial space just blocks from Lowell’s most historic sites. “The completion of this important land exchange between the City of Lowell and Lowell National Historical Park represents our strong commitment to economic innovation right here in the Mill City,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “With new, mixed-use development right around the corner from our city’s most historic sites, we’ll ensure that residents and consumers alike are able to take full advantage of all that the Hamilton Canal District has to offer. I’m grateful for all the work my predecessor, Congresswoman Tsongas, put into this project, and I’m proud that we’ve built on those efforts to achieve this long-anticipated milestone. I look forward to our continued work to further this important investment in Lowell’s economic growth.” “The Hamilton Canal Innovation District represents one of the most promising opportunities for mixed-use development in Massachusetts,” said City Manager Donoghue. “Once fully developed, the district will transform Lowell by doubling the size of our downtown, strengthening our commercial and residential markets and creating a new gateway to the City. From the earliest stages of the HCID’s planning, completing this land exchange was identified as a critical component in realizing the district’s full potential. The City of Lowell is grateful to all of the parties involved in this effort and ensuring that it reached a favorable outcome.” The land swap was initiated by former Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03) during the 112th Congress when legislation was passed to authorize the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to exchange any land or interest within the boundaries of the Lowell National Historical Park for any land or interest owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Lowell, or the University of Massachusetts Building Authority. Under the leadership of former Lowell National Historical Park Superintendent Celeste Bernardo, the park transferred ownership of its parking lot off Dutton Street to the City to facilitate redevelopment of the area as part of the 15-acre Hamilton Canal Innovation District. The $38 million, 903-space parking garage finished in December of 2020 marked the Hamilton Canal Innovation District’s first completed ground-up construction project. The garage includes 300 spaces designated for the Lowell Justice Center and will provide parking for the mixed-use development projects currently under construction. Additional public infrastructure has recently been completed in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District, including a new signature bridge spanning the Hamilton Canal, and streets F and G, which will provide access to the district from Dutton Street and Canal Street. A ceremony dedicating the bridge to Congresswoman Tsongas is anticipated to take place in 2022. The Hamilton Canal District’s first private development on parcels 8 and 9 is also nearing completion. The mixed-use project will comprise 125 units of housing and 5,000 square feet of commercial space, and is expected to reach completion in March 2022. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2308,"Ahead of Thanksgiving, Child Tax Credit Puts $264.1 Million in Tax Cuts Back in Massachusetts’ Families Pockets",2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA — Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) highlighted a new report from the Joint Economic Committee estimating that 667,000 Child Tax Credit payments were sent to Massachusetts families the week before Thanksgiving. A total of $34.7 million in tax cuts went back into the pockets of 84,000 hardworking families in the Third District alone. “This year has been incredibly difficult for working families, and the holiday season often brings added financial stress. That’s why the expanded Child Tax Credit payments continue to be so important,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The millions of dollars in tax cuts delivered the week before Thanksgiving will ensure that, instead of struggling to afford basic necessities, working families can focus on quality time with loved ones this holiday season.” In November, as part of the fifth round of Child Tax Credit payments, the Treasury Department distributed nearly $16 billion nationwide to the hardworking families of over 61 million children. Across five months, the department has delivered $77 billion to families across the country. The expanded Child Tax Credit, included in the American Rescue Plan, is one of the largest-ever single-year tax cuts for families with children. Last week, Trahan voted to extend the successful monthly payments through the end of 2022 when the House took up the Build Back Better Act, comprehensive legislation that will lower costs for working families and put more money in their pockets. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2303,"Trahan, Markey and Castor Press Facebook on Misleading Targeted Ad Policies",2021-11-22,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee along with Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers in response to new research suggesting that the company continues to facilitate targeted advertising to teens based on young users’ browsing history and preferences. The research comes after Facebook’s July 2021 announcement that it would significantly limit the criteria by which advertisers may target teens on its platforms to age, location, and gender. In her testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Facebook Global Head of Safety, Antigone Davis, reiterated that policy: “We have very limited advertising to young people. You can only actually now target a young person based on their gender, age, or location.” However, the new research indicates Facebook itself targets ads to users under 18, using a machine learning system powered by users’ personal data, including browsing history. “Facebook’s announcement that it would limit ad targeting to users under the age of 18 implicitly acknowledged the harms that targeted advertisements pose to young people, and Facebook explicitly stated it was committed to taking a ‘more precautionary approach’ in its advertising practices when it announced its policy change,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “Unfortunately, new research suggests that harmful advertising practices on Facebook continue.” A copy of the letter can be found HERE. In April, Congresswoman Trahan and Congresswoman Castor along with Senator Markey and Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to Zuckerberg regarding Facebook’s announcement that the company was “exploring” plans to develop a version of Instagram for children and expressed concerns about Facebook’s past failures to protect children on Facebook’s Messenger Kids app. In May, after the company failed to make meaningful commitments to protect kids online, the lawmakers released a statement calling on Facebook to abandon its plans for the children’s platform. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C5BAC37C-ABB3-4144-983B-5C3A3A7780EE,"Assistant Speaker Clark Celebrates Lower Costs For Families, Universal Pre-K In Passage Of Transformative Build Back Better Act",2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement celebrating the passage of the Build Back Better Act. “The Build Back Better Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in families. It will help us recover today and rebuild a stronger tomorrow. With this bill, we are fundamentally improving the lives of workers, women, children, and seniors and ensuring that the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their fair share. “When I first ran for Congress, I had a dream that every child in America could have access to a great start through universal pre-kindergarten. With today’s bill, what was once a moonshot will soon be reality. What’s more, we are lowering the cost of child care for 20 million families and finally honoring our child care workers with livable wages. This bill lowers the cost of prescription drugs so that families don’t have to decide between paying for food or rent and the medication they need. It extends the historic child tax cut, helping families make ends meet and lifting millions of children out of poverty. And it includes the largest investment in tackling climate change in our history, addressing climate injustice and supporting clean energy jobs and businesses. “This legislation is part of the Build Back Better agenda that will lower costs, lower taxes, create jobs, and build an America where everyone has a fair shot at success. I am deeply proud of the Democratic Caucus and grateful to the White House for their work to get this bill over the finish line. This is what’s possible when American families are front and center in Washington, D.C.” The Build Back Better Act will: Provide affordable, quality child care and universal pre-school: Expands the basic promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year olds, approximately 6 million children. Slashes child care costs for families earning up to 250% of their state’s median income. Raises the wages of providers and early educators. Investing in the Care Economy Expands access to affordable home care for older adults and those with disabilities. Lower health care costs: Caps annual out-of-pocket prescription drugs costs for seniors at $2,000. Reduces the monthly cost of insulin to $35. Creates a pathway to coverage for more than 2 million people in the Medicaid coverage gap through subsidized private insurance. Extends enhanced federal assistance to help people afford premiums under the ACA. Expands Medicare coverage to hearing for seniors. Combat the climate crisis: Commits $555 billion towards fighting climate change, the single largest investment in climate action in American history. These transformational investments will put America on track to meet President Biden’s climate goal of reducing U.S. carbon emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 while creating well-paid jobs in the emerging green economy. Invests over $320 billion in tax incentives for clean energy, electric vehicles, clean buildings, advanced energy manufacturing, industrial decarbonization, and more. These tax credits will promote the development and deployment of green energy technologies and accelerate our transition to a sustainable economy. Dedicates nearly $20 billion to build a 21st century Civilian Climate Corps, putting roughly 300,000 Americans to work tackling the climate crisis in their own communities with a living wage and strong benefits, while preparing them for good-paying careers in the green economy. Devotes $12.5 billion in home energy efficiency and appliance electrification rebates, reducing home energy usage while saving the average American family hundreds of dollars per year. Advances environmental justice by investing $29 billion toward a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to finance community-driven climate initiatives. At least 40% of these investments will be made in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and economic neglect. Extend the largest tax cut for families in U.S. history: Extends the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit through 2022 to provide families $300/month per child under 6 or $250/month per child ages 6 to 17. This will continue the largest one-year reduction in child poverty in history. Level the playing field: Makes the wealthiest pay their fair share and fights inflation by imposing a 15% minimum tax on the largest corporations and adding a surtax on individuals making more than $10 million a year. No one making under $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-house-passage-build-back-better-act,Moulton Statement on House Passage of the Build Back Better Act,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following passage in the House of the Build Back Better Act, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “For years, American families have been asking their elected leaders for pretty simple things. They’ve told us they need quality, affordable childcare so they don’t have to quit their jobs; paid family and medical leave so they’re not forced to choose between taking care of a loved one and a paycheck; affordable medication for their diabetes or cancer so they don’t have to decide between groceries and life-saving treatment; and ultimately just a fair shot and equal chance to get ahead. Tonight, with the House’s passage of the Build Back Better Act, we are a step closer to solving these challenges. This bill is more transformative than any piece of legislation we’ve seen in years. While we didn’t always agree and today’s outcome might’ve taken longer than many of my colleagues hoped for, the simple truth is that legislation like this doesn’t come without negotiation, compromise and a bit of frustration. This bill isn’t only transformative because it finally meets the needs of working-class American families, but also because it pushes us toward a path to reinventing our 1950s transportation system. The agenda includes money for true high-speed rail that will connect people and offer cleaner, faster, and safer alternatives to sitting in traffic. For a long time, if you were a supporter of high-speed rail, people would listen politely, agree...and then say it will never happen. But whether you care about climate change, economic development, or simply spending our limited transportation dollars more wisely, high-speed rail is the answer. Every American deserves the freedom to travel comfortably and effortlessly at 200 mph from city to city and town to town if they want to, just like the rest of the developed world. And tonight, we just got closer than we've ever been to this reality.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/11/19/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2353/,Neal Praises House Passage of Build Back Better Act,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means voted for the Build Back Better Act, which delivers once-in-a-generation action to bring down the everyday costs that Massachusetts families face. This landmark legislation creates good paying jobs, cuts middle class taxes and lowers the costs of health care, child care and family care – fully paid for by asking the wealthiest few and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. “At last, we are sending the Senate a once-in-a-generation package to invest in our nation’s workers, families, and economy,” said Congressman Neal. “We fought hard to keep key provisions like paid family and medical leave in the legislation because we cannot build back better until we recognize the needs of workers outside of the workplace. Each individual measure in this bill has the potential to change lives, and when taken together, these investments will transform our country for the better. “Under President Biden’s leadership, and thanks in large part to the vaccine, our country is steadily climbing out of the devastation of the pandemic. This legislative package helps ensure that our continued recovery expands opportunity and financial security for all Americans. The Ways and Means Committee responsibly crafted provisions to lower the cost of prescription drugs and health care premiums, and expand the Affordable Care Act to finally close the coverage gap. We leveraged the tax code to make the largest investment in combatting climate change in American history, while extending popular tax credits to put money back into the pockets of hard-working families. “When combined with the bipartisan infrastructure law, this legislation will create millions of high-quality, good-paying jobs, reduce inequality, and advance equity in our nation. Democrats are building back better.” The Build Back Better Act: Lowers Health Care Costs: Empowers Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors and halts Big Pharma’s outrageous price hikes above inflation for all Americans. Ensures Americans with diabetes don’t pay more than $35 per month for their insulin. Creates a new, out-of-pocket cap of $2,000 on what seniors pay for their drugs in Medicare Part D. Lowers premiums dramatically for those who buy insurance on their own through the Affordable Care Act. Extends affordable coverage through the Affordable Care Act to millions of Americans in states that have refused to expand Medicaid. Expands Medicare to make hearing care more affordable for seniors. Lowers Child Care & Family Care Costs: Saves most families more than half their current spending on child care, ensuring the vast majority of families will have to pay no more than 7 percent of their income for child care. Expands the basic promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal pre-school for all 3- and 4-year olds. Establishes a universal and permanent paid family and medical leave program, providing four weeks of paid parental, family caregiving, and medical leave. Gives more than 35 million families a major tax cut by extending the Biden Child Tax Credit. Expands access to high-quality home care for older adults and people with disabilities. Cuts the cost of postsecondary education, with such steps as increasing the maximum Pell Grant. Reduces families’ housing costs and expands housing options. Makes the most consequential investment to combat the climate crisis in U.S. history: Invests $555 billion over 10 years in historic clean energy and climate investments. Creates green tax credits that will save the average American family hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs. Ensures clean energy technology will be built in the United States, creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs here at home. Importantly, this legislation is fully paid-for, which will both grow the economy and fight inflation. According to the estimates of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the U.S. Treasury, Build Back Better even reduces the deficit by more than $100 billion over the first ten years. “Because it is fully paid for, our Build Back Better Act will also help fight inflation as our economy recovers, empowering more parents to return to the workforce and lowering the everyday expenses that weigh heaviest on working families,” Congressman Neal concluded. ##",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2301,"Trahan Votes to Advance Build Back Better Act, Deliver for Massachusetts Families",2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted to advance the Build Back Better Act to meet the urgent needs of Massachusetts families by creating jobs, cutting taxes, and lowering costs. “Today’s vote for President Biden’s Build Back Better Act moves us one step closer to delivering the tools and resources working families need to return to work in good-paying jobs knowing they have the support necessary to provide for their loved ones,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Together with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Build Back Better Act’s historic investments in affordable health care, cheaper prescription drugs, accessible child care, stronger educational opportunities, and bold action to address the climate crisis will improve the lives of families across the Third District. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this critically important legislation across the finish line and shorten our road to recovery from the pandemic.” The Build Back Better Act will reduce costs that have long been a barrier for families working to succeed financially in Massachusetts by cutting taxes and making health care, child care, home care, education, and housing more affordable and attainable. Through these once-in-a-generation investments, working parents, especially working mothers, will be able to return to the workforce, children will have new learning opportunities, and the Commonwealth’s economy will grow for years to come. Specifically, the legislation will deliver for Third District residents and all who call the Bay State home through investments in: Quality, Affordable, and Accessible Health Care: To ensure that Massachusetts residents facing illness never have to worry about how to afford treatment, the Build Back Better Act: Closes the Medicaid coverage gap to help millions of Americans gain health insurance; Extends the American Rescue Plan’s health insurance premium reductions for individuals who buy their own coverage through 2025; Expands Medicare to help older adults afford hearing care; Prioritizes children’s and maternal health by permanently extending the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and providing 12 months of postpartum coverage to women enrolled in CHIP; Makes additional investments in improving maternal health outcomes by ensuring that all pregnant women on Medicaid keep their health insurance for the first year postpartum and reducing inequities in maternal health outcomes. In the Commonwealth, 19,000 uninsured people will gain coverage under these provisions and more than 46,000 individuals will save hundreds of dollars each year on average. Reduce Prescription Drug Costs: To help families in the Commonwealth struggling with the soaring costs of lifesaving medications, the Build Back Better Act: Finally gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for some of the most commonly used prescription drugs, and it passes those savings onto taxpayers and non-Medicaid recipients; Lowers the price of insulin so no American with diabetes ever pays more than $35 a month for the medication they need to live; Caps out-of-pocket costs for seniors who currently pay thousands of dollars each year for their medications, especially those with serious health conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. This provision ends that burden by ensuring seniors never pay more than $2,000 a year for prescriptions under Medicare Part D; Puts an end to runaway price increases caused by Big Pharma companies upping their drug prices to boost their profits. Under the insulin provision of the Build Back Better Act alone, nearly 500,000 Massachusetts residents living with diabetes would never pay more than $420 per year for this lifesaving medication. Massachusetts River and Toxic Chemical Clean Up: Communities along the Merrimack River have long been forced to contend with combined sewage overflows (CSOs) following heavy rainstorms that dump millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river each year. Despite efforts to combat the issue, robust federal funding is necessary to prevent future discharges and clean up the river. At the same time, communities are working to protect their first responders from unnecessary exposure to harmful PFAS chemicals. The Build Back Better Act bolsters those efforts by: Allocating $500 million to upgrade sewage systems and prevent CSOs, on top of the $1.4 billion included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package; Prioritizing $1.35 billion of the total CSO funding across both packages for underserved communities like those along the Merrimack River and increasing the federal cost share to 100 percent for the first time, both of which were requested by Trahan; Investing $850 million for personal protective firefighting equipment and firefighting foam that does not contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, a provision that Trahan advocated for alongside Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02). Child Care and Early Education: Child care has emerged as a major strain for Massachusetts families who face an average annual cost of $19,616 for child care for just one toddler. Further, less than 1 in 5 three- and four-year-olds in Massachusetts have access to publicly funded preschool, and non-publicly funded Pre-K costs parents an average of $8,600 per year. The lack of affordable child care and early education options has made it difficult for working parents, especially working mothers, to return to the workforce in full, contributing to an 18.7 percent gender gap in workforce participation between mothers and fathers in the Commonwealth. To expand access to quality affordable child care and early education, the Build Back Better Act: Limits child care costs to no more than 7% of income for families earning up to 250% of state median income; Establishes universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, expanding access to free, high-quality Pre-K for more than 6 million children; Extends the American Rescue Plan’s wildly successful expanded Child Tax Credit through 2022, ensuring that 35 million American households will continue receiving monthly payments that have overwhelmingly been used for child care, school expenses, food, and other necessities. The child care provision will enable Massachusetts to provide care for 367,530 young children under the age of five from families earning less than 2.5 times the state median income (approximately $313,300 for a family of four). The universal Pre-K provision will expand access to free, publicly funded preschool to more than 139,529 3- and 4-year-olds in the Commonwealth and increase the quality of preschool for children who are already enrolled. Finally, the extension of the Child Tax Credit payments will ensure that the 665,000 Massachusetts families who received payments in October, including 83,000 in the Third District alone, will continue receiving that monthly boost through 2022. Investing in Children and Education: The COVID-19 pandemic created and exacerbated many problems in children’s ability to continue their education in the classroom and at home. The digital divide caused learning losses that educators have spent months working to overcome, while soaring costs of higher education have prevented many high school graduates from pursuing even a 2-year degree. The Build Back Better Act: Bridges the digital divide by getting vulnerable families connected to the Internet and providing them with devices like laptops and tablets to do schoolwork from home; Expands access to free school meals to food insecure students and provides them with resources to purchase food over the summer; Increases the maximum Pell Grant awards for students at public and private non-profit institutions to unlock the opportunities of an education beyond high school. Under these provisions alone, an additional 121,000 students in the Commonwealth will gain access to free school meals to stay fed while they’re at school and 467,713 students will receive financial assistance to purchase food during the summer. Additionally, 96,025 Massachusetts students who rely on Pell Grants will benefit from the increased investments in the legislation. Combating Climate Change: From 2010 to 2020, Massachusetts experienced 14 extreme weather events, costing up to $5 billion in physical damages alone. As the climate crisis continues to worsen, storms are increasing in severity and frequency. To combat the growing threat of climate change and finally invest in clean energy, the Build Back Better Act: Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to invest $29 billion in nonprofit, state, and local climate finance institutions that support the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission technologies, including zero-emission vehicle supply equipment; Allocates $2.9 billion to create a 21st Century energy grid capable of ensuring the reliable delivery of clean energy throughout the United States; Provides the investments necessary to replace heavy-duty vehicles like school buses with zero emission vehicles through a new EPA grant program and support the development of an electric vehicle charging network and hydrogen fueling infrastructure to assist the transition to zero emissions vehicles; Allots $325 million through a milestone-based fusion energy development program to further support the efforts of organizations like Commonwealth Fusion Systems working to make fusion a viable, lucrative, and sustainable commercial energy source; Invests in resilience efforts to address extreme weather and legacy pollution in communities, and establishes a Civilian Climate Corps. The Build Back Better framework will set the United States on course to meet its climate targets – a 50-52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 – in a way that creates good-paying union jobs, grows domestic industries, and advances environmental justice. Keeping Families Housed and Safe: As Massachusetts home prices continue to climb, the pandemic has forced far too many working families to live in fear of covering their next rent or mortgage payment. The American Rescue Plan made considerable progress in keeping people in their homes, but more must be done to ensure families can keep a roof over their heads and stay safe. The Build Back Better Act: Provides additional rental assistance beyond the American Rescue Plan; Increases the supply of high-quality housing through the construction and rehabilitation of over 1 million affordable housing units nationwide; Includes one of the largest investments in down payment assistance in history, enabling more first-generation homebuyers to purchase their first home; Expands access to home- and community-based care to more of Massachusetts’ senior and disabled citizens; Makes historic investments in Next Generation 9-1-1 services that will make emergency services more accessible, effective, and resilient. 478,000 renters in Massachusetts are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, while homeownership remains out of reach for many families. These investments will be key to lightening that burden and keeping families housed. Wringing Out Lessons Learned from COVID-19 and Preparing Massachusetts for Future Pandemics: During an August roundtable at Lowell General Hospital, Trahan and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra heard firsthand accounts from frontline health care workers about the wear and tear the pandemic has had on them. They warned that without federal investments in the nation’s health care workforce, a mass exodus of frontline workers could ensue. To prevent that from happening and ensure that the United States is never caught flat-footed by a pandemic again, the Build Back Better Act: Invests $7 billion in public health infrastructure improvements; Provides more than $9.5 billion to shore up the critical health care workforce, including providing funding specifically for nursing schools, medical schools, and urgently important teaching health centers like the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center; Follows through on Trahan’s request as a Co-Founder of the Pandemic Preparedness Caucus to provide robust funding for pandemic preparedness by including $10 billion in targeted investments to replenish the Strategic National Stockpile, provide critical resources to improve capacity at public health departments, strengthen supply chains, support domestic and global manufacturing of vaccines, bolster biosecurity, and invest in therapeutics. Health facilities and public health departments across the Commonwealth will be eligible for funding through these programs, which are designed to ensure that health care workers have the training, resources, and facilities necessary to prioritize public health well into the 21st Century. Teaching health centers like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, the first in the nation, would be eligible for additional funding to support efforts to train the next generation of physicians who understand the needs of vulnerable communities. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://lynch.house.gov/2021/11/chairman-lynch-examines-strategies-to-prevent-suicide-among-u-s-servicemembers-and-veterans,Chairman Lynch Examines Strategies to Prevent Suicide Among U.S. Servicemembers and Veterans,2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen F. Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,lynch,https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, held a hearing to examine how the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and community organizations are working to strengthen mental health and curb the alarming rate of suicides among our nation’s military servicemembers and veterans. “The suicide epidemic among our military and veteran communities is an enduring public health crisis that also carries profound implications for U.S. national security,” Rep. Lynch said in his opening statement. The Subcommittee heard testimony from Alyssa Hundrup, Director of Health Care at the Government Accountability Office; Brigadier General (ret.) Jack Hammond, Executive Director of Home Base; Dr. Carla Stumpf-Patton, Senior Director for Postvention Programs at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; and Staff Sergeant (ret.) Johnny Jones, member of the Board of Directors for Boot Campaign. The hearing was personal for Members and witnesses, who shared their own experiences of losing a loved one to suicide and why that has driven them to help military servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, shared that after her brother returned from military service during the Vietnam War, he struggled for years and later took his own life. She explained, “That was years ago, but the pain of my brother’s passing is still with me today.” Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, who lost his father, a Marine veteran, to suicide, discussed the importance of removing perceived stigmas for family members who have lost someone to suicide, stating “the way we avoid it is not to try and repress it as a culture, but to accept it—not that it has to happen, but we can address it.” Dr. Stumpf-Patton testified about the loss of her husband to suicide, stating that after his death, she felt “completely alone, with no direction on surviving my devastating loss.” She added, “So many times, I just stopped looking for help. Rather than asking for support, after being turned away time and time again, I just had to find ways to manage on my own.” Staff Sergeant Jones shared that his best friend in high school, a fellow Marine, died by suicide in 2012 after not receiving sufficient help from the VA and deciding that “taking his own life was the only way to ensure he no longer hurt or let down those he loved.” Members and witnesses discussed the need for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to work collaboratively with private-sector organizations to address the many complex risk factors that can contribute to suicide. Brigadier General Hammond testified the Biden Administration’s new Military and Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Strategy is “spot on” but must be followed quickly by “actionable plans and funding strategies” to expand access to mental health care. In response to a question from Chairman Lynch, Dr. Stumpf-Patton testified that “Suicide is a very complex, widespread problem that cannot be ... answered or responded to with any one single agency or organization. Ms. Hundrup added that there is “not one single entity that’s going to solve this” and that further examination of how the VA and DOD engage with community-based partners “would certainly be warranted.” Witnesses testified that military family members who lose a loved one to suicide experience significant grief, trauma, and require greater support and care. Brigadier General (ret.) Hammond testified that “it is clear that we have millions of military family members deeply affected by the physical and invisible wounds of war.” In response to a question from Rep. DeSaulnier, he added that military families are “some of the most injured people we deal with—far more than any Navy SEAL or Green Beret.” Dr. Stumpf-Patton testified that “the emotional crisis” experienced by servicemembers and veterans who die by suicide does “not simply disappear with their suicide, but rather is often transferred and absorbed by those coping with the death.” SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES There are specially trained responders ready to help servicemembers and veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Servicemembers and veterans can: Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone; Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder; Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24/7 for anyone at 800-273-8255.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2300,"In Advance of Build Back Better Act Vote, Trahan Offers Call with Mother to Convince GOP Members",2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) spoke on the floor of the House in support of the Build Back Better Act, which is being considered in the House this week. In her remarks, Trahan offered her Republican colleagues a call with her mother, Linda Loureiro, to explain how working families like the one she grew up in will benefit from the Build Back Better Act’s long overdue investments. CLICK HERE or the image below to watch footage of Trahan’s remarks shared by Forbes Breaking News. A transcript of Trahan’s speech as delivered is embedded below. During her speech, Trahan talked about how her family struggled to make ends meet growing up, which limited her mom’s ability to work full time and contribute fully to the economy. “My father was a union ironworker, and like his union brothers and sisters have done for decades, he worked long, hard hours to provide for my three sisters and me...But the demands of my dad’s job placed limitations on what my mom could do for work,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Despite the wages and benefits secured by his union, my parents couldn’t afford child care for four girls, so my mom picked up jobs where she could to help make ends meet. Whether it was clerical work, cleaning homes, hostessing, or caring for kids, she did anything and everything possible to help pay the bills while also making sure she was home to care for us while my dad was away.” “Here’s the thing: My family’s story, it isn’t unique – not in the slightest,” Trahan continued. “In fact, it’s a story shared by millions of working families across our country who show up to work each day, but don’t have the support they need to get ahead...Under President Biden’s leadership, we’re going to flip that script.” The Build Back Better Act will reduce costs that have long been a barrier for families working to succeed financially in Massachusetts by cutting taxes and making health care, child care, home care, education, and housing more affordable. Through these once-in-a-generation investments, working parents, especially working mothers, will be able to return to the workforce, children will have new learning opportunities, and the Commonwealth’s economy will grow for years to come. At the end of her speech, Trahan offered a call with her mother to Republican members who continue to oppose these long-overdue investments. “Passage of the Build Back Better Act will ensure that no one is left behind as we defeat COVID-19 and rebuild our economy...If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to hear more about why they should support this bill, let me know,” Trahan said. “My mom Linda Loureiro is happy to call you and tell you what the Build Back Better Act would’ve done for her and moms like yours forty years ago, and why we need to get it done for her children and grandchildren today!” CLICK HERE to view Trahan’s remarks in full. ---------------------------------------------- Congresswoman Lori Trahan Remarks as Delivered Consideration of the Build Back Better Act November 17, 2021 I rise in strong support of the Build Back Better Act. Together with the historic infrastructure investments signed into law by President Biden earlier this week, working families like the one I grew up in will be able to get back on their feet and succeed in an economy that finally works for them. Now, I’ve talked about my childhood on the floor of the People’s House before. My dad was a union ironworker, and like his union brothers and sisters have done for decades, he worked long, hard hours to provide for my three sisters and me. And when there wasn’t work for him at home in Massachusetts, he would travel out of state, erecting bridges and buildings in New York, Maine, and other places – sometimes for months at a time. As a first-generation American, a union job with benefits was better than most had, and it’s certainly the reason I’m standing here today. But the demands of my dad’s job placed limitations on what my mom could do for work. Despite the wages and benefits secured by his union, my parents couldn’t afford child care for four girls, so my mom picked up jobs where she could to help make ends meet. Whether it was clerical work, cleaning homes, hostessing, or caring for kids, she did anything and everything possible to help pay the bills while also making sure she was home to care for us while my dad was away. Here’s the thing: My family’s story, it isn’t unique – not in the slightest. In fact, it’s the story shared by millions of working families across our country who show up to work each day, but don’t have the support they need to get ahead. And my mom’s story is one that’s shared by millions of working moms who want nothing more than to return to work and support their families but can’t because the math doesn’t work, giving them no choice but to stay at home to care for their families instead. M. Speaker, under President Biden’s leadership, we’re going to flip that script. The infrastructure package he signed into law earlier this week will create millions of jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits by repairing our roads, our bridges, our water systems, and more. But creating millions of jobs only works if workers are ready to fill them. That’s why we’re also working to pass the Build Back Better Act, which will make unprecedented investments in working families — families that continue to be the backbone of our country, that we all have the honor of representing. By expanding access to quality child care, providing paid family and medical leave, establishing universal Pre-K, and making home care affordable for our seniors, this legislation will propel parents – particularly working moms – back into the workforce and full participation in our economy. By lowering health care costs and driving down prescription drug prices, the Build Back Better Act will ensure that families no longer have to choose between their health and their ability to put food on the table. And by cutting taxes for low-income and middle-class Americans and extending the Child Tax Credit payments that have served as a lifeline for so many, this package will keep money in families’ pockets. Passage of the Build Back Better Act will ensure that no one is left behind as we defeat COVID and rebuild our economy. And that’s why these provisions are supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans – Democratic, Republican and independents alike. Like President Biden, they recognize that when we invest in working families, America wins. Now, if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to hear more about why they should support this bill, please let me know. My mom Linda Loureiro is happy to call you and tell you what the Build Back Better Act would’ve done for her and moms like yours forty years ago, and why we need to get it done for her children and grandchildren today! ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C405B52E-92D3-4F03-8463-5F92EAB506BB,"Assistant Speaker Clark, Murray Reintroduce BE HEARD in the Workplace Act to Address Workplace Harassment",2021-11-17,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2021. This legislation is the first comprehensive response to the #MeToo movement, and takes critical steps to prevent workplace harassment and ensure workers can seek accountability and justice. “Today, we’re saying enough is enough: no more silence, no more complacency,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Whether you’re an assistant, an actress, a waitress, or an executive, workplace harassment is unacceptable, and victims must have the ability to seek justice. The BE HEARD in the Workplace Act will broaden civil rights protections, ensure access to a legal process, expand victims’ rights, and help change the culture of silence and abuse. This is about justice and respect for every worker, and nothing less should be tolerated under the law.” “Healthy communities include healthy workplaces – where everyone can do their best work, free of abuse and harassment,” said Laura R. Van Zandt, Executive Director of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc. “BE HEARD in the Workplace Act provides important structure to support companies in doing their best to create those spaces. REACH works with schools, businesses and faith communities – along with families, friends and neighbors – promoting healthy boundaries, respect and consent. As an employer, we are committed to those practices as well, and BE HEARD can give all employers a helpful roadmap. Even years after the #MeToo movement first began, workers across the country continue to face sexual harassment at work. For some workers, the pandemic has only made already pervasive sexual harassment worse—particularly for women in the food service industry, who have reported a dramatic increase in sexual harassment, including customers harassing them to take off their masks in order to judge their looks. The continuing epidemic of sexual harassment at work highlights the urgent need to pass the BE HEARD Act, particularly as workers across the country return to in-person work. This legislation includes key reforms including ending mandatory arbitration and pre-employment NDAs to help ensure transparency, expanding civil rights protections for workers—including independent contractors and interns, extending the time limit for reporting and challenging harassment, and ending the tipped minimum wage—a key reform to ensure workers don’t have to endure harassment from customers because their wages depend on tips. “It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you work—everyone deserves to be treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity,” said Senator Murray. “Yet for too many workers, going to work still means putting up with sexual harassment and discrimination—and in some cases, the pandemic has only made this pervasive problem that much worse. This critical legislation will change that, by expanding protection for workers and ensuring they get the accountability and justice they deserve. I’m so proud to re-introduce the BE HEARD Act alongside my colleagues—because so long as workers continue to face sexual harassment, we will keep demanding better and fighting for change.” The BE HEARD Act will: Strengthen understanding of workplace harassment and help businesses prevent it: The BE HEARD Act invests in research about the economic impact of workplace harassment, requires regular reporting on the prevalence of workplace harassment, and ensures that workers have access to more information and training about what constitutes harassment and their rights if they are harassed. Help ensure transparency: The BE HEARD Act puts an end to mandatory arbitration and pre-employment non-disclosure agreements, which prevent workers from coming forward and holding perpetrators and businesses accountable. Broaden and expand civil rights protections to all workers: The BE HEARD Act builds on and strengthens existing civil rights laws by expanding protections for workers, while also safeguarding existing antidiscrimination laws and protections. It strengthens civil rights protections for all workers and makes clear that the Civil Rights Act protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of workplace discrimination. It also ensures that no matter where you work—and whether you are an independent contractor or an intern—your rights are protected. Empower workers who come forward with reports of harassment or retaliation to ensure they get support: The BE HEARD Act allows workers more time to report harassment, authorizes grants to support legal assistance for workers who have low incomes, invests in delivering more resources to the state level to help workers ensure their rights are protected, and lifts the cap on damages when workers pursue legal action and win their cases. Eliminate the tipped wage: The BE HEARD Act eliminates the tipped minimum wage, because tipped workers are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual harassment and discrimination by both clients and supervisors. The legislation has been endorsed by: Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, National Women’s Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, A Better Balance, AFL-CIO, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Building Pathways, Inc, California Employment Lawyers Association, Chicago Women in Trades, Clearinghouse on Women's Issues, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Family Violence Law Center, Feminist Majority, Gender Equality Law Center, Inc., Hollaback!, Human Rights Campaign, Justice for Migrant Women, KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change, Legal Momentum - The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Center for Women's Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment, National Council for Occupational Safety & Health, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, Now VA, Inc, Philly CLUW , Public Citizen, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, The Purple Campaign, The Women's Law Center of Maryland, TIME’S UP Now, V-Day, Women Employed, Women's Law Project, Working IDEAL, and Workplace Fairness. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8A58DCDF-AFC9-476C-80F3-F7713FC82624,Assistant Speaker Clark Statement on Enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. “For years, the American people have called for improvements to our nation’s highways, bridges, and roads, and demanded smart investments to solve the housing and climate crises. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a historic step forward. It will modernize our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and public transportation systems, expand broadband, get lead out of our drinking water, and address climate change. It will add 2 million jobs per year over the course of the next decade — jobs that are good paying, green, and protected by unions. “With this bill signed into law, we have reached a milestone in our work to recover and rebuild a stronger economy. We must now fulfil our commitment to build a more just, sustainable, and inclusive tomorrow for every worker, woman, and family by passing the Build Back Better Act. Together, we will enact transformative progress for every American and for our future.” The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions to: Repair roads and bridges with the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. Invest in public transit and rail with the largest investment in public transit and passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Expand broadband by ensuring every American has access to reliable high-speed internet, all the more critical after COVID. Secure clean water by making the largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history, replacing lead pipes and delivering clean water to millions of families. Improve supply chain channels by investing in our ports, water systems and airports. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-signing-infrastructure-bill,Moulton Statement on Signing of Infrastructure Bill,2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Ahead of President Biden signing the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “Today is a special and historic day for the country, but also for the state of Massachusetts. This infrastructure package will make the long overdue investments in American infrastructure that families across the Bay State have been asking for since I got to Congress in 2015. This means $100 million to connect communities with reliable, high-speed internet; $1.1 billion to ensure families have access to clean, safe drinking water; $47 billion for resilience that strengthens our coasts and infrastructure from climate change and more. But to be clear: our job isn’t done. A great start to making the once-in-a-generation investments American families need and deserve is to pass the Build Back Better Act. This transformational bill will help us connect communities with high-speed rail, deliver quality childcare and paid family medical leave, combat the growing threat of climate change, crack down on the high costs of life-saving medication and so much more. Together, with the infrastructure bill, this agenda will serve as the largest investment in working people since the New Deal. I’m looking forward to working with the Biden administration and my colleagues in Congress to make this happen.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2296,Trahan Statement on POTUS Signing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package,2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) issued the following statement after joining President Joe Biden for an historic White House ceremony during which he signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law: “The bipartisan infrastructure package becoming law sends a signal to families here in the Commonwealth and across the nation that help is finally on the way. I was proud to cast my vote for this historic legislation and join President Biden this afternoon when he signed it into law, finally ending Washington’s decades-long failure to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.” “Over the next five years, workers here in Massachusetts will benefit from the creation of good-paying union jobs with quality benefits to support their families. More than a thousand miles of highway and hundreds of bridges will be repaired, meaning those same families can commute to work and school safely. Their energy costs will go down thanks to weatherization efforts that will keep buildings warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer. Communities along the Merrimack River will see improvements to their water systems to prevent millions of gallons of sewage from flowing into their most valuable natural resource and for many, their drinking water supply, each year. And that’s just the start.” “Many of these investments will come through funding formulas that already exist. However, there are still tens of billions of dollars up for grabs through competitive funding programs that we know communities in the Third District and across the Commonwealth would benefit tremendously from. Our efforts now focus on working with our state and local governments to bring home that additional funding, which will prove key in improving the lives of everyone who calls Massachusetts home.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://lynch.house.gov/2021/11/chairman-lynch-to-hold-hearing-on-supporting-mental-health-preventing-suicide-among-u-s-servicemembers-veterans,"Chairman Lynch to Hold Hearing on Supporting Mental Health, Preventing Suicide Among U.S. Servicemembers & Veterans",2021-11-12,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen F. Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,lynch,https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. —On November 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, will hold a hearing to examine how the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and community organizations are working to strengthen mental health and curb the alarming rate of suicides among our nation’s military servicemembers and veterans. The hearing will demonstrate the need for a holistic approach to suicide prevention and will also highlight the importance of supporting military families after the loss of a loved one. Despite high-level attention from DOD and the VA across multiple administrations, suicide deaths among post-9/11 servicemembers and veterans have outpaced combat deaths. On average, more than 6,300 veterans have died by suicide annually since 2001 and hundreds of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers die by suicide each year, according to data collected by the VA and DOD. This crisis has profound implications for U.S. national security, as well as the health, morale, and well-being of our nation’s servicemembers, veterans, and their families. President Biden’s new strategy for “Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide” offers a comprehensive roadmap for improving mental health and suicide prevention efforts by strengthening community engagement, reducing barriers to care, expanding lethal means safety education, and addressing “upstream risk” factors that may tragically contribute to suicide. SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES There are specially trained responders ready to help servicemembers and veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Servicemembers and veterans can: Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone; Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder; Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-clyburn-introduce-landmark-legislation-provide-black-wwii-veterans,"MOULTON, CLYBURN INTRODUCE LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE BLACK WWII VETERANS, DESCENDANTS FULL GI BILL BENEFITS; WARNOCK TO INTRODUCE IN SENATE",2021-11-11,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C — In 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill into law. In theory, the G.I. Bill represented a promise from the country to the people who fought on its behalf that their sacrifice would be rewarded with the opportunity to attend college and build generational wealth. In practice, generations of Black veterans of World War II and their descendants were robbed of this promise because of Jim Crow and the wide racial disparity in the bill’s implementation. In honor of Veterans Day, 77 years later, Representative Seth Moulton (MA-06) and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06) introduced legislation in the House, and Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is set to introduce in the Senate, legislation designed to begin to repair the damage: The Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. and Sgt. Joseph H. Maddox G.I. Bill Restoration Act of 2021, more simply known as the G.I. Bill Restoration Act. The bill, authored by Rep. Moulton, would provide the families of Black veterans of World War II a transferable benefit that their descendants can use to attend college, secure housing, start businesses and build generational wealth. The bill is named in honor of two World War II veterans who exemplify the indignities African American veterans faced after serving their country. “We all know the G.I. Bill lifted up a generation of WWII veterans and built the American century. It’s been called the most successful piece of legislation ever. But most Americans don’t know that many Black veterans were left out: denied benefits, denied homes, denied the generational wealth that comes from going to college,” said Congressman Seth Moulton, the author of the bill.“We can never fully repay those American heroes. But we can fix this going forward for their families. While our generation didn’t commit this wrong, we should be committed to making it right. This legislation honors our nation’s commitment to America's vets.” “I was a young student when President Truman integrated the Armed Services in response to the blinding of Isaac Woodard, and that stuck with me throughout my life. We must rectify what happened not only to Sgt. Woodard, but to all the Black World War II veterans who were treated unjustly when they returned home from serving their country and denied their G.I. Bill benefits,” said Congressman Clyburn. “We all know that the quickest way to build wealth is through education and homeownership. So many Black families were denied this path to the middle class. It is important to acknowledge this injustice and help address the wealth gap that was exacerbated by the government’s failure to fulfill this promise to World War II veterans of color.” “Black servicemembers fought valiantly in Europe and the Pacific for freedom from tyranny, with hope that their patriotism would be greeted with equality and opportunity once they returned home,” said Senator Warnock. “Racial inequity in how the immense benefits of the original G.I. Bill were disbursed are well-documented, and we’ve all seen how these inequities have trickled down over time, leaving Black World War II veterans and their families without what they earned through service and sacrifice. The G.I. Bill Restoration Act represents a major step toward righting this injustice and repairing the economic harms experienced by Black WWII veterans and their families as a result of discrimination, and will help ensure their descendants can access the full range of G.I. Bill benefits they earned through their heroic service.” Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr. was traveling home by bus to Winnsboro, South Carolina, still wearing his uniform after being honorably discharged, when a small-town police chief forcibly removed him from the bus and blinded him with his nightstick. The police chief was acquitted of the crime by an all-white jury, but Sgt. Woodard’s horrific abuse prompted President Truman to sign an Executive Order integrating the armed services. Sgt. Joseph Maddox After being injured during his service and medically discharged, Sgt. Joseph Maddox, a World War II-era veteran, applied and was accepted to Harvard University for a master’s degree program. He sought VA assistance from his local office to help with the tuition and was denied payment to “avoid setting a precedent.” After seeking assistance from the NAACP, the VA in Washington, D.C. ultimately promised to get Sgt. Maddox the educational benefits he deserved. Background The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (the original “G.I. Bill”) provided a range of economic benefits to returning veterans of World War II, including guaranteeing low-cost mortgages and low-interest loans to start a business or farm, unemployment compensation, and education assistance. While the original G.I. Bill ushered in decades of prosperity for post-war America, access to this prosperity was limited for Black World War II veterans who were denied full access to these benefits by mostly-white state and local Veterans Administrations. The Veterans Administration adopted the Federal Housing Administration’s (“FHA”) well-documented, racially-exclusive housing programs when it began to insure mortgages for returning veterans. Big developments like Levittown and Daly City, built after World War II, were financed in part by the Veterans Administration with the same racial restrictions the FHA had. Black veterans also lacked full access to the G.I. Bill’s education assistance programs. Nineteen percent of white World War II veterans earned a college degree as a result of the G.I. Bill compared to only six percent of Black veterans. Purposeful discriminatory federal, state, and local policies, along with political and institutional barriers, created significant inequity in access to GI Bill benefits, prevented these heroes from achieving the full economic mobility potential provided by these comprehensive federal benefits, and affected the accumulation of wealth by Black families over generations. This legislation extends to the surviving spouses and certain direct descendants of Black veterans of World War II eligibility for certain housing and educational assistance programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, the Act: Extends access to the VA Loan Guaranty Program to the surviving spouse and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans who are alive at the time of the bill’s enactment; Extends access to the Post-911 GI Bill educational assistance benefits to the surviving spouse and certain direct descendants of Black World War II veterans alive at the time of the bill’s enactment; Requires a GAO report outlining the number of individuals who received the educational and housing benefits; and Establishes a Blue-Ribbon Panel of independent experts to study inequities in the distribution of benefits and assistance administered to female and minority members of the Armed Forces and provide recommendations on additional assistance to repair those inequities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-capt-max-clelands-passing,Moulton Statement on Capt. Max Cleland’s Passing,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following the death of U.S. Army Veteran Capt. Max Cleland, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “America lost a giant. Max Cleland had the heart of a patriot till his last breath. He was a role model to so many, including me, and an inspiration to everyone he met. Through the tragedy of his own life, Senator Cleland saved the lives of others. And he reminded us, in the words of Martin Luther King, that ‘everybody can be great because everybody can serve.’",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/11/10/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2352/,Berkshire Family YMCA Announces Groundbreaking Ceremony with Keynote Speaker Congressman Richard Neal,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Pittsfield, MA PITTSFIELD: Berkshire Family YMCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on November 10 at 1:00 PM to celebrate the start of a major improvement and renovation program at its Pittsfield Branch located at 292 North St. The program will include keynote speaker, Congressman Richard E Neal, City of Pittsfield Mayor Linda M Tyer, and others invested in the success of the downtown anchor. Tours of the facility will also be provided. Plans for the renovation and restoration project have been underway since 2017. The project will take 15-18 months to complete at the cost of $12.4 million. Allegrone Companies is the project’s general contractor. Once complete, the Y’s Pittsfield branch will be home to a new child care wing, an indoor walking/running track, a new basketball court, and improved energy efficiency. The project will restore and enhance the historical elements of the original 1909 building. In addition, the project will provide 200 quality local jobs in the trades during construction and add four child care and three human service staff positions upon completion. Berkshire Family YMCA’s fundraising campaign will continue over the next two years and seeks to raise an additional $4 million in support. Celebrating its 135th year in the community, Berkshire Family YMCA is no stranger to the needs of the 131,000+ residents of Berkshire County and Southern Vermont and the flexibility and perseverance it requires to provide the right programs and services to support those needs from cradle to cane. Started as a Bible study group, then chartered as a YMCA in 1886, Berkshire Family YMCA now hosts over 4,200 members county-wide with over 105,000 facility visits annually, 45% of visits at its Pittsfield location. The Y serves over 10,000 community members for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility activities through its three year-round facilities in Pittsfield, Northern Berkshire, and Bennington, Vermont, along with 12 program sites and five child care sites. The Y jumped in throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, firmly planted both feet to support their most vulnerable neighbors and essential workers. Yet, the Y wants to do more. However, the limitations of its Pittsfield location, which has experienced heavy use since the original 1909 building and its 1980s expansion, need to be modernized to 21st century standards to meet the community needs far into the future. Since 2017, strategic renovation and restoration plans have been in development. Funding for the $12.4 million project is coming from a variety of sources. Secured funding includes a $1 million child care facility grant from EEOST, several significant foundation grants (Alden Trust, Feigenbaum Foundation, the Fitzpatrick Trust, Berkshire Bank Foundation), CPA funding from the City of Pittsfield, and MA Historic Tax Credits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition, lending has been secured from MassDevelopment, including Lee Bank, Adams Community Bank and Greylock Federal Credit Union participating in the loan, and The Life Initiative to provide a leverage loan to a New Markets Tax Credit transaction with the Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) as the NMTC allocatee and US Bank as the investor. CRF and US Bank will provide $3.2 million in equity to the project. “The Y has been an integral part of Pittsfield’s downtown community for over a century and I’m proud to have played a part in securing the funds needed to modernize the facility so it can be enjoyed for generations to come,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal. “Thanks to the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), a federal tax provision that I have championed as Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, this project was able to get off the ground. Across the country, theNMTC program has led to financing of more than 6,000 projects and over one million jobs – including the restoration of Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre. I am grateful for the invitation to be here today as we celebrate the revitalization of another one of Pittsfield’s architectural gems.” Over the next two years, a community fundraising and grant procurement campaign will close the $4 million gap bringing the project to completion. Through this project, the Y is committed to downtown Pittsfield’s revitalization and the city’s architectural landscape and historical preservation by providing a key anchor of activity seven days a week throughout the year, positioning the Y to serve more people effectively and efficiently far into the future. The child care wing renovation will significantly increase the quality and size of the Y’s nationally accredited and MA EEC licensed child development program. It will add 25 available slots, including 16 new slots for infants and toddlers. Features include a new multi-purpose room, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts and Math) room, a staff break room, plus an open play space to develop gross motor skills. In addition, children will enjoy high-quality, durable materials and a bright, inspiring theme throughout. In addition, this improvement will increase secured space for the vital family reunification program. The renovation of the recreational facility includes adding a new basketball court and unique (in Berkshire County) indoor walking/running track. The new regulation basketball court will support the Y’s thriving basketball program. The court will also provide space for group exercise classes, pickleball, programs for older adults, and youth programs. Youth programs cultivate the values, skills, and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health, and educational achievement. The indoor walking/running track will be available for year-round use above the basketball court and will offer flat, smooth-surfaced exercise options in a monitored, climate-controlled setting. The Y will be the only facility in central Berkshire County with an indoor walking/running track, encouraging movement year-round. The structural and façade improvements will bring vibrancy to North Street, including energy-efficient glass replacing drafty bricked-up windows to let in natural daylight and the repointing of failing mortar joints at the North and Melville Streets façades. In addition, LED lighting and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system will conserve energy. Improvements throughout the renovated spaces will allow for handicap accessibility and full ADA compliance. Project partners include Hill Engineers, Studio MLA, Financial Development Agency, Skanska, Mike MacDonald Law, and Epsilon Associates, Inc. The project’s general contractor, Allegrone Companies, expects to complete the renovation and restoration within 18 months with limited disruption to the Y’s members, families, residents, and visitors. Work will begin in the original 1909 historical side of the building as Phase 1. In addition, children in the Y’s child care program relocated to off-site locations. As a result, the Y will be building a waiting list for new child care families, especially in the infant and toddler rooms, where there is a need in the community. Ongoing construction updates will be available at the Welcome Center. Project information is available at bfymca.org/capitalcampaign. Due to the growing needs in the community, the Y recently reduced membership rates at its three locations. The Y encourages new members to join through the rest of 2021 to take advantage of waived join fees. The Pittsfield location will be open throughout construction with access to its amenities. About Berkshire Family YMCA: \Berkshire Family YMCA consists of three branches. The Pittsfield branch is located at 292 North St. in Pittsfield. The Northern Berkshire branch is located at 22 Brickyard Court in North Adams. The Bennington Recreation Center branch is located at 655 Gage St in Bennington Vermont. The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2289,Congresswoman Trahan Highlights Historic Child Care Investments at Little Sprouts in Methuen,2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care William Eddy visited Little Sprouts Early Education & Child Care in Methuen to highlight the need for the historic child care investments included in the Build Back Better Act. These investments will bolster working families’ efforts to get back on their feet and aid early education centers like Little Sprouts in their recovery from the pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated in the clearest possible way the need for public investments in child care and early education. The challenges over the past year and a half have forced many facilities to close their doors or lay off their essential workers, limiting the services families depend on to get back on their feet. We need to change that,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Working parents need increased access to quality, affordable child care to return to work, and child care and early education workers need to be brought back into the workforce and compensated for the critically important work they do during some of our children’s most important years. The Build Back Better Act will deliver both, and conversations like the one today at Little Sprouts in Methuen have only made me more confident that we’re going to get it done.” During the visit, Trahan met with staff for a discussion on early education and the facilities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic before touring the facility and visiting a classroom. The discussion centered around access to child care facilities like theirs and the need for strong federal support that increases access for families and strengthens the child care workforce. “Early education and child care is a lifeline for working families everywhere — even more so as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said William Eddy, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Early Education. “The historic investments in the Build Back Better Act support both working families and child care providers, ensuring families can get back to work, children have a safe environment to thrive, and early education providers are properly compensated for their tireless dedication to our kids. We’re grateful for Congresswoman Trahan’s partnership as a champion for child care here in the Third District and across the Commonwealth.” “The COVID pandemic has shown us that child care is both essential and fragile. Continuing to provide high-quality early education requires further investments in the professionals who dedicate their careers to caring for our youngest children,” said Little Sprouts CEO David Post. “Building a sustainable child care workforce requires the full participation of child care providers, like Little Sprouts, area employers, and the support of champions like the Congresswoman, to represent our communities at the local, state, and national level.” Child care has emerged as a major strain for Massachusetts families who face an average annual cost of $19,616 for child care for just one toddler. Further, less than 1 in 5 three- and four-year-olds in Massachusetts have access to publicly funded preschool, and non-publicly funded Pre-K costs parents an average of $8,600 per year. To address these issues facing working families, the Build Back Better Act: Limits child care costs to no more than 7% of income for families earning up to 250% of state median income; Establishes universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, expanding access to free, high-quality Pre-K for more than 6 million children; Extends the American Rescue Plan’s wildly successful expanded Child Tax Credit through 2022, ensuring that 35 million American households will continue receiving monthly payments that have overwhelmingly been used for child care, school expenses, food, and other necessities. The child care provision will enable Massachusetts to provide care for 367,530 young children under the age of five from families earning less than 2.5 times the state median income (approximately $313,300 for a family of four). The universal Pre-K provision will expand access to free, publicly funded preschool to more than 139,529 3- and 4-year-olds in the Commonwealth and increase the quality of preschool for children who are already enrolled. Finally, the extension of the Child Tax Credit payments will ensure that the 665,000 Massachusetts families who received payments in October, including 83,000 in the Third District alone, will continue receiving that monthly boost through 2022. Little Sprouts Early Education & Child Care operates 22 locations in Massachusetts. In Methuen, Little Sprouts serves infants and toddlers, provides preschool year-round, and hosts summer camps for school-age children. Families from Methuen, Dracut, southern New Hampshire, and surrounding communities utilize the services offered at this facility. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-auchincloss-we-will-finish-job,VIDEO: Auchincloss: “We Will Finish the Job”,2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"VIDEO: Auchincloss: “We Will Finish the Job” WASHINGTON, D.C.— This morning, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA04), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released a video statement after voting to pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and voting to pass the rule that will advance the Build Back Better Act. A link and full transcript can be found below. WATCH: Auchincloss on Historic Night in Congress “I just walked off the House floor after a long week. But we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill - sending it to the president’s desk where he will sign into law: historic investments in clean energy and clean water; major upgrade to high-speed internet in this country; and a transformative and historic commitment to improving public transit everywhere in the country. “We also passed the rule that will allow us to vote on the Build Back Better Act - which has investments in early education, in climate action, in affordable housing, and in lowering healthcare costs - before Thanksgiving. We will finish the job.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=853DE0B3-419A-4ADA-8FDB-8842F76DA82C,"Assistant Speaker Clark Statement on Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Advancement of Build Back Better Act",2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement on the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the progress made to pass the Build Back Better Act. “Tonight, the House sent the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to President Biden’s desk and set the stage for passage of the Build Back Better Act. Together, these bills will infuse our economy with opportunity by creating jobs, lowering costs and taxes, and investing directly in working families. “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will modernize our nation’s roads and bridges, expand broadband, get lead out of our drinking water, and help address climate change. It will create 2 million jobs annually over the next decade -- union jobs, green jobs, and most importantly, good paying jobs. “President Biden and Democrats made a promise to the American people: we would not return to the status quo but would create an economy that finally works for working families. Advancing the infrastructure package and the Build Back Better Act puts us on the precipice of progress as we bring to life our shared vision of a safe planet, a just economy, and a strong future for every worker, woman, child, and family.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/11/06/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2342/,"Neal Votes to Create Millions of New Jobs, Rebuild America with Bipartisan Infrastructure Package",2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal voted to create millions of good-paying union jobs with a once-in-a-century investment in rebuilding infrastructure in Massachusetts, including roads and bridges, transit, rail, clean drinking water and wastewater systems and high-speed broadband networks. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will repair and modernize crumbling and outdated infrastructure across the nation, ensuring all American communities have the infrastructure to succeed in the 21st Century economy and ending bottlenecks that add needless delays and costs for businesses bringing products to market and families traveling to school or work. “Our nation’s crumbling and outdated infrastructure weakens our economy, hurts families, and causes added costs and delays for American businesses bringing their goods to market,” said Congressman Neal, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “Democrats are delivering a transformational and bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create good-paying jobs here in Massachusetts, strengthen our economy, secure cleaner air and water, and make our communities a better place to live and work by bringing our infrastructure into the 21st century. Together, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act are estimated to create an average of 2 million jobs each year over the next decade. In the wake of the pandemic, poor infrastructure has struggled to keep up with a sharp increase in consumer demand – resulting in added costs for businesses and delays for consumers. The United States ranks 13th globally in terms of the quality of our infrastructure, and the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the condition of our infrastructure a C-. As the economy continues its strong recovery, President Biden and the Congress are seizing this historic moment to Build Back Better: improving infrastructure in every state in the union, growing the economy and helping Americans get back to work, while advancing justice and opportunity for all. This Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will: Rebuild roads and bridges nationwide, including the largest bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system seven decades ago; Deliver clean drinking water to ten million families and more than 400,000 schools and child care facilities nationwide with the largest-ever investment in American water infrastructure to replace lead pipes and service lines across the nation; Help clean up legacy pollution, which is an important step in advancing environmental justice; Expand access to reliable high-speed internet to help more families get online to work and learn; Make historic improvements to public transit, with the largest federal investment in American history and the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak; and Support action to address the climate crisis, making down-payments on clean energy transmission, a clean and resilient electric grid, electric vehicle infrastructure and more. “If we want to build a stronger economy for working families and the middle class, we can’t just go back to how things were before the pandemic struck,” Congressman Neal continued. “That is why President Biden and Democrats in Congress remain committed to Building Back Better with a stronger, fairer, more competitive and more sustainable economy. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is a crucial down-payment on this vision by getting millions of American workers back on the job – and alongside the Build Back Better Act, we are forging once-in-a-generation progress for nearly every Massachusetts family.” The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2287,House Approves Historic Investments in Rebuilding Massachusetts’ Infrastructure,2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted to send the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation makes long overdue investments in upgrading the Commonwealth’s infrastructure. The House also moved one step closer toward final consideration of the Build Back Better Act, which will meet the urgent needs of Massachusetts families by creating jobs, cutting taxes, and lowering costs. “For far too long, Washington’s divestment from infrastructure projects has forced communities across the Third District to take a Band-Aid approach to repairing roads, bridges, and water systems. When I ran for office, I promised to work with whomever necessary – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike – to change that,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “That’s what the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will achieve. Whether it’s upgrading sewage systems in Lowell and Lawrence, repairing bridges in Haverhill and Fitchburg, improving roads in Gardner and Acton, making intersections safer in Marlborough and Methuen, or much more, this legislation will deliver the investments necessary to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, improve the daily lives of every single resident of the Third District, and create millions of family-sustaining jobs nationwide.” “However, generating millions of good-paying jobs only works if people are able to return to work,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “That’s why we also took a critical step forward today in advancing President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which makes unprecedented investments in working families like the one I grew up in. Together, these historic pieces of legislation will ensure that no one is left behind as we defeat COVID-19 and rebuild our economy. We will get both done.” Massachusetts stands to benefit mightily from the historic investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation will improve the lives of every Bay Stater, create millions of good-paying jobs nationwide, and usher in unprecedented economic growth. Specifically, the bipartisan legislation will invest in: Roads and Bridges: The bipartisan infrastructure package invests $110 billion in new funding to repair and rebuild roads, bridges, and other major projects. Of that funding, Massachusetts is slated to receive at least $4.2 billion for road improvements and another $1.1 billion for bridge replacements and repairs over the next five years. The Commonwealth can also compete for additional funding through the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment program for economically significant bridges and the $16 billion allocated for major projects that are crucial for economic benefits to communities. These investments will be key in addressing the 472 bridges and nearly 1,200 miles of highway in Massachusetts that are currently in poor condition, as well as reducing commute times, which have risen nearly 11 percent over the past decade. Clean Drinking Water: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act invests $55 billion to upgrade community water systems and replace lead service lines. Of that funding, Massachusetts will receive at least $1.1 billion over the next half-decade to improve water infrastructure in communities across the Commonwealth. The package also addresses a number of areas of particular interest to Bay Staters. The legislation includes $1.4 billion to specifically address combined sewage overflows and contains specific provisions to address dangerous PFAS contaminations, both of which are priorities of Trahan’s. Climate Action and Resiliency: Understanding the threats posed by the climate crisis, the infrastructure package invests $7.5 billion to build the first-ever national network of electric vehicle chargers, $5 billion for zero emission and clean buses, and $50 billion to make America’s infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change and cyber-attacks. Of that funding, Massachusetts would receive a minimum of $63 million to expand an electric vehicle charging network and have the opportunity to apply for another $2.5 billion in grant funding included in the bill for electric vehicle charging initiatives. The Commonwealth will also receive a portion of the $3.5 billion allocated to weatherize homes and buildings, which will reduce energy costs for families. Additionally, Massachusetts is expected to receive $5.8 million to protect against wildfires and another $15.7 million for cyber-attack prevention. Public Transportation Improvements: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes an additional $39 billion to modernize transit and make public transportation options more accessible for older Americans and people with disabilities. Based on formula funding alone, Massachusetts will receive no less than $2.5 billion to improve public transportation options. The funds can be used to repair and upgrade bus and rail fleets, make stations more accessible, replace older buses with clean, zero emission vehicles, and train transit workers to maintain and operate these new vehicles. This is key for the Commonwealth where more than 1 in every 5 transit vehicles are past useful life. These investments will benefit Massachusetts residents who rely on public transportation. Currently, those Bay Staters spend an extra 53 percent of their time commuting, and individuals of color are twice as likely to commute via public transit. High-Speed Internet Connectivity: The infrastructure bill passed today builds on the progress made in the American Rescue Plan by investing $65 billion to ensure every American has access to high-speed internet and prevent families from ever having to sit in a library or fast food parking lot to get online again. Massachusetts is set to receive no less than $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 137,000 Bay Staters who currently lack it. Additionally, the infrastructure package creates a new Affordable Connectivity Benefit to help more low-income families access the internet. In the Commonwealth, 1,340,000 people – or 1 in 5 individuals – will be eligible for assistance through the benefit. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed the Senate with the bipartisan support of 69 Senators. Following today’s vote, the legislation moves to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-congressmen-auchincloss-and-neguse-unveil-legislation-close-gun,RELEASE: Congressmen Auchincloss and Neguse Unveil Legislation to Close Gun Purchase Loophole Following Mass Shooting In Boulder,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressmen Auchincloss and Neguse Unveil Legislation to Close Gun Purchase Loophole Following Mass Shooting In Boulder The legislation would prohibit individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from purchasing firearms Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, along with Representatives Joe Neguse and Robin Kelly, are unveiling the End Gun Violence Act, legislation to restrict the sale of firearms to those convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes in the last five years. The shooter who killed 10 people at a King Soopers in Boulder, Colorado on March 22nd, had previously been convicted of a violent misdemeanor. Under this Act, he would not have been eligible to purchase the firearm used to kill 10 individuals that day. Currently, 22 states and the District of Columbia prohibit handgun purchases by persons convicted of certain misdemeanor crimes. However, these individuals are still eligible to purchase firearms in the remaining states, creating a patchwork of eligibility and increasing the risk of firearm-related violence. Establishing a federal law to prohibit the sale of firearms to those who have been convicted of violent misdemeanor offenses will legally protect vulnerable populations not currently covered by state law and create a national standard. In June, the Colorado state legislature enacted similar legislation barring those convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes from purchasing guns for five years. “Tragedies like the King Snoopers shooting should never be repeated. No one with a violent misdemeanor conviction should have access to guns. By closing the boyfriend loophole, we are saving lives and keeping our neighborhoods safer,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. “While our local law enforcement seek justice for the senseless act of violence perpetrated against our community on March 22nd, we are working to change the law to prevent future tragedies,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “Ensuring that firearms cannot be sold to violent individuals is crucial to preventing gun violence and saving lives. This law is common-sense and would keep guns out of the hands of those likely to use them to perpetrate violence.” “I applaud Representative Neguse’s leadership and his continued commitment to reducing gun violence in this country. This bill represents a strong step forward,” said Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty. “By preventing gun purchases for those with violent criminal convictions in the preceding 5 years, this bill focuses on those individuals who have just recently proven to be a real danger to other people. The bill is exactly what we need — a focused effort to keep guns away from those who present an immediate danger to others in the community. The District Attorney’s Office strongly supports Representative Neguse’s work to reduce gun violence.” “My daughter, Teri Leiker, was murdered in the shooting on March 22, 2021. She had worked at King Soopers since February 1989. She loved her job, her co-workers and her customers. She was a very happy, sweet person. She had mild cognitive disabilities, but owned her own condo and lived with her boyfriend - who also worked at the same King Soopers store for over 30 years. He was very traumatized over the shooting since he saw people dead on the floor and lost his girlfriend. We are overwhelmed with sorrow and miss Teri very much,” said Margie, Teri Leiker’s mother. “A Federal law is essential to help keep guns and ammunition out of the hands of people who have been convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes. State laws prohibiting gun sales to these type of individuals do not protect innocent people in other states who don't have strict gun laws. Federal legislation is absolutely necessary.” “We all need to feel safe to live our lives and go into everyday places such as stores, classrooms, movie theaters, places of worship, and parks,” said Ellen Mahoney, Kevin Mahoney’s widow. “Evidence shows that handgun purchasers with prior convictions for violent offenses are more than 10 times as likely to be charged with a violent crime in the future. More than 20 states already recognize the connection between violent misdemeanor crime and the potential for future gun violence. This bill will create a federal law to prevent those who have a history of interpersonal violence from legally purchasing firearms for five years,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “There is no one perfect solution to prevent gun violence but keeping guns out of the hands of people we already know to be violent is common sense.” “Flagging violent misdemeanors on background checks is one of the most important things we can do to keep people safe from gun violence,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Rep. Neguse's bill will help keep guns out of the hands who shouldn't have them and we'll all be safer for it.” “This law is the definition of common-sense — if you commit a violent misdemeanor, there should be some limitations on how soon you can legally buy a gun,"" said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud Rep. Neguse for taking action to keep guns out of dangerous hands, which will make all of our communities safer.” “Our federal laws contain notable gaps that allow individuals who have demonstrated a significant risk of violence to access firearms, endangering the people around them,” said Adzi Vokhiwa, Federal Affairs Director at Giffords. “While certain states have taken meaningful steps to fill these gaps, we need urgent federal action to keep Americans safe. We applaud Rep. Neguse for introducing the End Gun Violence Act to prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition to those convicted of violent misdemeanors. As crime rates increase nationwide, we urge Congress to find the courage to act and pass this lifesaving legislation.” In 1996, Congress amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving firearms or ammunition. In passing this amendment, Congress acknowledged the link between intimate partner violence and firearm use. Since then, research has shown that persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of violence are at high risk for committing new firearm and/or violent crimes. Despite advocacy from gun violence prevention groups and supporting evidence, Congress has not updated federal law, which has produced deadly results. Read a one-pager on this bill HERE. Read the full bill text HERE. The bill is endorsed by Giffords Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, Colorado Ceasefire, Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County, Newtown Action Alliance, Guns Down America, Sandy Hook Promise, and Violence Policy Center. Additional cosponsors include Representatives Lucy McBath, Lou Correa, Jamie Raskin, Ted Deutch, Jason Crow and Ted Lieu. Tackling the gun violence epidemic has been a top priority for Congressman Neguse throughout his time in office, and he has redoubled his efforts in the wake of the March 2021 shooting at a King Soopers in Boulder, Colorado. He recently requested and secured increased funding for gun violence prevention as a part of the 2021 budget reconciliation. He also introduced the Secure Background Checks Act to close a loophole in the Federal Background Check system that allowed individuals to circumvent state laws by traveling out-of-state to illegally purchase firearms. The fix aims to address an issue that allowed an illegal gun purchase in 2019 which led to threats against Colorado schools and caused widespread closures. Earlier this year, he led over 100 members of Congress in a letter to President Biden, urging that the arm-brace used in the Boulder shooting, which allowed a pistol to be turned into a short-barrel rifle, be regulated. This request was accepted by President Biden, and the Department of Justice is currently in a rulemaking process to implement this change.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=91CA070C-4F64-4D9F-B92D-138778886E69,Clark Releases New Data on the Child Tax Credit’s Impact on Massachusetts Families,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) highlighted a new fact sheet from the Joint Economic Committee that outlines how the Democrats’ Child Tax Credit (CTC) is already meeting the urgent needs of Massachusetts families by helping parents make ends meet and positioning the economy for stronger growth for generations to come. “The American Rescue Plan’s tax cut for families is working! This pandemic and its economic fallout have brought many Massachusetts families to their breaking point but since Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan last March, the extended Child Tax Credit — one of the largest tax cuts for families in U.S. history — has helped provide support to over 70,000 children in Massachusetts' Fifth District,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Through the Build Back Better Act, House Democrats are continuing our work to help families and our economy to recover and thrive. The Child Tax Credit and the Build Back Better Act put the needs of families first and are key to building a just, inclusive, and equitable America.” In October 2021, new Child Tax Credit data shows that 72,000 children received payments totaling over $24.3 million in the Fifth District. Another monthly payment will be sent on November 15, 2021. These successes prove the need to extend the expanded CTC through the Build Back Better Act. As outlined in a newly released White House fact sheet, the historic investments called for in the framework would bolster financial security and spur economic growth in Massachusetts by reducing taxes on the middle class and those striving to break into it. Led by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, the American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March 2020 to help families recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Build Back Better Act extends the tax cut for families by continuing to provide families $300/month per child under 6 or $250/month per child ages 6 to 17. Critically, the Build Back Better Act also includes permanent refundability for the Child Tax Credit, meaning that the neediest families will continue to receive the full Child Tax Credit over the long-run. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/11/05/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2341/,Neal Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington WASHINGTON, DC – House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: “Tonight, we finally delivered on historic federal investments in broadband, clean drinking water, public transit, and an array of sustainable infrastructure investments. This plan recognizes the desperate need to upgrade our roads, highways, and bridges while also making a significant down payment on tackling the climate crisis. When taken together, these investments will create good-paying jobs, supercharge our competitiveness, and ultimately, help us continue down the path to build back better. “While this is a monumental investment in our nation, our work is far from finished. I maintain that it may be the road that gets people to their jobs each day, but basic workplace supports like child care and paid family and medical leave are what keep them employed. We cannot miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make investments that ensure the economy works for all Americans and their families. I urge my colleagues to join me in continuing our progress and supporting the Build Back Better Act as well.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/11/05/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2343/,Neal Statement on October 2021 Jobs Report,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington WASHINGTON, DC—Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) October 2021 jobs report: “This month’s strong jobs report shows that when Americans feel safe, they are right back to work. These broad-based gains across sectors and positive revisions to prior months’ reports show how intertwined our economic recovery is to the spread of coronavirus, and we have President Biden’s bold investment in vaccine deployment to thank. Parents are now able to get their children vaccinated, which will expand child care options and reduce virus spread, and we must remain vigilant in following the CDC’s guidance on booster shots to ensure we keep on this path of defeating the virus—our economy depends on it. “While the number of jobs added to the economy beat expectations, labor force participation rates have remained flat. Even before the pandemic, the labor force participation rates, particularly for women, were hindered by piecemeal child care options and a lack of paid family and medical leave. This sluggish rate underscores the need for investing in these crucial supports, which acknowledge workers’ responsibilities outside of their jobs and help them stay in the workforce and advance in their careers. “The economy is rebounding thanks in large part to the American Rescue Plan’s investments, and the combination of the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the House will pass today will continue to help our economy become stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable. This is the moment, and Democrats will deliver.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2285,Trahan Announces Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremony in Dracut,2021-11-05,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced that she will be hosting a Veteran’s Day pinning ceremony for Vietnam War veterans in Dracut on Wednesday, November 10th. The event will be held at 4:30pm at the Dracut High School Auditorium and feature nearly 60 Vietnam veterans receiving the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin. “It’s an honor to partner with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor the service of these incredible veterans,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Each of them and their loved ones have sacrificed so much to protect the values we cherish as a nation, and we owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay. I’m glad that our community is able to come together for this ceremony to show our Vietnam veterans our deep appreciation for all they’ve done and all they continue to do.” Trahan is hosting the event in partnership with the Dracut Department of Veterans’ Services and the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a national 50th-anniversary commemoration organization dedicated to honoring Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. The veterans who will be recognized on Wednesday all served in the Vietnam War between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, and are from Dracut or nearby communities. Additional attendees for the event, which was supposed to be held last spring but postponed because of the pandemic, include Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe, State Representative Colleen Garry (D-36th Middlesex), and Dracut Town Manager Ann Vandal. The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin features a bald eagle in the center representing the courage, honor, and dedicated service of every veteran. The eagle is displayed in front of the American flag with six stars representing the servicemembers of the six allied nations who fought alongside American soldiers during the war. Trimming the front of the pin is a blue circle matching the color of the American flag and symbolizing vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Within the blue trim is a laurel wreath signifying victory, integrity, and strength. Finally, on the back side of the pin, a message reads “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.” In 2007, the United States Congress passed legislation to conduct a nationwide program commemorating the 50thanniversary of the Vietnam War. The program was launched in 2012 by President Barack Obama and concludes on Veterans Day in 2025, marking 50 years from the Vietnam War’s end in 1975. As part of that program, the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration and its Commemorative Partners like Trahan have partnered together to honor the 6.2 million Vietnam veterans living at home and abroad, as well as the 9 million families of all who served. The event is open to members of the public. Details for members of the press interested in attending will be sent at a later date. Questions about the event can be sent to Trahan.Press@mail.house.gov. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A1EA7310-4D8E-46AF-BC0B-E5D4E331612A,Clark Celebrates House Passage of Legislation to Protect Older Job Applicants,2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Assistant Speaker Clark (MA-5) celebrated the passage of the Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act, legislation to protect older job applicants from age discrimination during the hiring process. The POJA Act will codify and clarify protections for older job applicants in the current Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to ensure that legal protections extend beyond current employees. “It’s Congress’ duty to combat discrimination in all its forms - including ageism,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “In order to rebuild an economy that works for everyone, we need to ensure that everyone can equitably participate in the workforce. The Protect Older Job Applicants Act will provide older applicants with the protections they rightfully deserve during the hiring process.” ""Despite having valuable skills and experience older workers who lose a job are far more likely to become part of the long-term unemployed. This is particularly true for older workers of color who have higher rates of unemployment. As a result, job seekers may be forced to spend down modest savings, leave the workforce prematurely, and face higher rates of economic insecurity in retirement. The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021 acknowledges this problem and begins to address age discrimination in hiring practices by providing protections for older job applicants that were previously only available to the employed,"" said Edna Pruce, President of Mass Senior Action Council. While many employers and legal scholars have interpreted the ADEA as applying to job applicants and employees, two federal circuit courts ruled that some provisions of the ADEA’s federal anti-age discrimination protections only applied to current employees, not job applicants. These narrow interpretations contradict the intentions of the ADEA’s creators and the POJA Act specifically includes job applicants as protected under the ADEA. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2284,"Trahan, Carter Applaud Advancement of Bill Protecting Children’s Health",2021-11-04,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01) applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing a bipartisan bill to protect children suffering from birth defects and other developmental disorders. H.R. 5551, the Improving the Health of Children Act, will reauthorize the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. This lifesaving action will reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to supporting children’s health and well-being, 1 in 33 of whom suffer from a birth defect. “The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has been critical in helping young children with birth defects, and it’s long past time for it to get the support it deserves,” said Trahan, the bill’s Democratic lead. “That’s why I partnered with Congressman Carter to introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Center for the first time in fifteen years and provide it with the resources necessary to bolster the efforts of more than a dozen essential programs. These are initiatives that change the lives of children, mothers, and families across the nation, and I’m grateful to my colleagues for working with us to advance the Improving the Health of Children Act today.” “We have a duty to protect young lives, not just as Members of Congress or Americans, but as people,” said Carter, the bill’s Republican lead. “If Operation Warp Speed taught us anything, it is that American health care innovation thrives when government supports research and development. There are lives out there that need saving. There are cures that are waiting to be discovered. This bill will help us do just that.” Specifically, H.R. 5551 would reestablish programs related to birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, child development, newborn screening, autism, fragile X syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, Tourette syndrome, pediatric genetic disorders, disability prevention, and other relevant diseases. Read the full text of the bill HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:54:03Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E11FA916-DA05-46DC-B1D7-36916DB7D8D5,"Assistant Speaker Clark Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Combat Workplace Harassment and Increase Transparency and Accountability",2021-11-03,2021,2021-11,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA-05) joined Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) in reintroducing the Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting (EMPOWER) Act. This legislation will lift the veil of secrecy surrounding workplace harassment, and bolster transparency and accountability. “All forms of harassment in the workplace—whether based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or race—are abuses of power,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Harassment and abuse threaten a worker’s career, livelihood, and dignity, and this cycle of workplace assault must end. The EMPOWER Act will ensure that any and all harassment comes to light, victims are protected, and training is implemented to create safer workplaces. It’s long past time we get this done for workers.” This comprehensive, bipartisan and bicameral legislation will address workplace harassment by increasing transparency and accountability. It will reduce the barriers that prevent survivors from speaking out and seeking justice, helping to make workplaces safer and more equitable for all employees across all industries. Specifically, the EMPOWER Act: Prohibits non-disparagement and non-disclosure clauses that cover workplace harassment as a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or change in employment status or contractual relationship; Establishes a confidential tip-line for the EEOC to receive reports about harassment and target employers that continue to allow for systemic harassment at the workplace. This would supplement the EEOC’s current formal complaint process. The information would be shared with state-based Fair Employment Practice Agencies, who could also bring civil enforcement actions against employers; Requires that public companies disclose the number of settlements, judgments, and aggregate settlement amounts in connection with workplace harassment (as a material disclosure) in their annual SEC filings; and disclose the existence of repeat settlements with respect to a particular individual; Prohibits companies from receiving tax deductions for expenses and attorneys’ fees paid in connection with litigation related to workplace harassment; prohibits tax deductions for amounts paid pursuant to judgments related to workplace harassment; protects plaintiffs’ awards and settlements received in connection with workplace harassment as nontaxable income; and ensures that plaintiffs who receive frontpay or backpay as a result of harassment and discrimination are not taxed unjustly. Requires development and dissemination of workplace training programs to educate at all levels about what constitutes prohibited workplace harassment and how to prevent this behavior; educates employees about their rights with respect to workplace harassment, including how to report it; and trains bystanders on how to intervene and report; develops a public service advertisement campaign to provide further education on this issue. Frankel and Clark were joined in introducing the legislation by Representatives John Katko (R-NY-24), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), and over four dozen additional cosponsors. A companion bill will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z https://lynch.house.gov/2021/10/lynch-to-host-information-session-on-service-academies-november-7th,Lynch To Host Information Session On Service Academies November 7th,2021-10-29,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Stephen F. Lynch,L000562,lynch.house.gov,lynch,https://lynch.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"On Sunday, November 7th, 2021, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08) will host an information session at Braintree Town Hall for all high school students interested in applying to one of the United States Service Academies. Representatives from each of the following academies will make brief presentations and be available for questions: United States Military Academy at West Point, NY United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, CT Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay, MA All students and their families are welcome to attend. WHAT: Congressman Lynch’s Academy Day WHEN: Sunday, November 7th, 2021, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM WHERE: Horace Cahill Auditorium Braintree Town Hall, 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA 02184 CONTACT: Bob Fowkes, (617) 428-2000",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-statement-ges-44-million-investment-advanced-manufacturing-jobs-sixth,Moulton Statement on GE’s $4.4 Million Investment in Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Sixth District,2021-10-28,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following today’s announcement that General Electric will invest an additional $4.4 million in advanced manufacturing jobs in the North Shore, Representative Seth Moulton released the following statement: “This announcement marks the next chapter in a promise General Electric made to me a few years back when they committed to investing in job training in the Sixth District. “With this additional level of funding, young people across our region will continue to obtain the skills, training, and credentials they need to land good-paying jobs. This funding will ensure we remain competitive and continue to lead the charge in transforming and developing the advanced manufacturing industry for years to come.” Background: Both in 2016 and 2017, while Rep. Moulton visited its headquarters, G.E. made the philanthropic commitment to Representative Moulton to invest money into additional advanced manufacturing jobs. Moulton’s team was instrumental in bringing together the North Shore workforce training programs to propose a detailed plan to G.E, which eventually became the GE Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2277,"Congresswoman Trahan Announces $160,000 in Justice Assistance Grants for Third District Communities",2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA — Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced justice assistance grants totaling over $160,000 for local governments in the Third District, made possible by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The grants will enable these municipalities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs. “Throughout the Third District, our law enforcement officers and first responders go above and beyond the call of duty every day to keep our communities safe,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The funding provided through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program will support their efforts by investing in programs that address unique issues in each city. As a strong supporter of this federal program, I’m proud to see these funds going to our communities, and I pledge to continue working with local leaders and police chiefs to advocate for additional opportunities like this.” Grant recipients in the Third District include: City of Lawrence: $52,624 City of Lowell: $35,439 City of Haverhill: $35,083 City of Fitchburg: $24,403 City of Marlborough: $15,244 The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program is the leading source of federal justice funding for state and local governments. The program provides the critical funding necessary to support a wide range of program areas including: law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, crime prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, technology improvement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and mental health programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. “Lawrence is fortunate to have the continued advocacy of Congresswoman Trahan and our federal delegation,” said Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez. “Through their efforts to deliver federal funding through resources such as the Byrne Grant, Lawrence has been able to provide our law enforcement professionals with state-of-the-art tools like our citywide camera system which we would not otherwise be able to afford to acquire or to maintain. These tools have exponentially increased the Department’s ability to close cases, reduce crime and keep our city safe.” “The Lowell Police Department is excited to receive funding from the FY 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program,” said Lowell Police Superintendent Raymond Kelly Richardson. “Without this funding, the department would not be able to support civilian positions that are essential to implementing problem-oriented and community policing strategies.” Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini said Haverhill police plan to use the grant to purchase three All-Terrain Vehicles to help officers patrol the city’s expansive rural areas, including recreational parks, woodlands and walking trails. “The Haverhill Police Department has relied on the JAG grant for many years to purchase additional equipment to fight crime and benefit the public,” Mayor Fiorentini said, noting the police department used a similar award last year to purchase a firearms training simulator. “We very much appreciate Congresswoman Trahan’s efforts to secure this funding. These ATVs will be a major asset for the police department and the Haverhill public and will help make the city safer.” “We couldn’t be more pleased that Congresswoman Trahan was able to secure this important funding for the City of Fitchburg which will support our law enforcement and first responders,” said Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale. “We’re happy to be a recipient of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and will use these funds again to continue the replacement and upgrades to our Automatic External Defibrillators (AED), which are carried in each cruiser for responding to medical calls for service. The machines are a vital tool which allow officers to immediately render assistance to individuals who have suffered a heart attack or are in some state of cardiac arrest,” said Mayor of Marlborough Arthur G. Vigeant. Last year, Trahan supported passage of the CARES Act, which allocated $850 million in funding to the JAG Program for immediate relief to state and local governments providing emergency services on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The funding was eligible to be used for overtime compensation, acquire personal protective equipment and additional supplies, and address the medical needs of the incarcerated. The CARES Act delivered support directly to Third District law enforcement agencies such as Haverhill Police Department, which received a $102,000 grant to bolster their COVID-19 response efforts. The additional funding provided by JAG Program grants will enable these Third District communities to address their individual justice needs, ensuring that residents remain safe and protected. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2281,"ICYMI: Trahan, McKinley Pandemic Preparedness Legislation Featured in Health Subcommittee Hearing",2021-10-27,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee held a hearing on the Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman David B. McKinley (R-WV-01). The bipartisan bill would strengthen the bio-preparedness and infectious diseases workforce that has proven critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the hearing, Trahan questioned Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Infectious Diseases Division Chief at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, about the need for the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act. Footage of Trahan’s line of questioning and Dr. Marrazzo’s answers can be accessed by clicking HERE or the image below. “I am concerned about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases on underserved populations, including our communities of color,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “And it's important to increase access to culturally-competent health care, particularly during a pandemic or another public health emergency. Can you elaborate on why a more diverse infectious diseases workforce is important to advancing health equity?” “A more diverse workforce really addresses a need for a culturally-competent workforce...we do better, we resonate stronger with providers and people who look like us, and who understand our specific health challenges. So getting a more equitable distribution of ID (infectious diseases) professionals — not just geographically, but also across these different strata of society — is really going to be critical to reach the patients that we need to reach,” Dr. Marrazzo answered. “I don’t think anything has illustrated the need for a team approach more than this pandemic,” Dr. Marrazzo continued. “We’ve all felt it very, very urgently. In addition to physicians, you need a team of health care professionals, and those include: clinical laboratory professionals, infection preventionists, ID-trained pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and physician’s assistants. All of these folks are really critical to staff the sort of workforce that we need to deal with these things — and, very importantly, all of these professionals are included in the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act.” The COVID-19 pandemic exposed glaring gaps and weaknesses in America’s ability to respond to a public health emergency caused by infectious diseases, including insufficient preparedness and response workforce capacity at health care facilities. Infectious diseases physicians are key when preparing for or responding to a pandemic, as they are often tasked with leading physician teams tackling a public health crisis and caring for individual patients suffering from serious infectious diseases. However, the United States is facing a serious shortage of infectious diseases physicians, a problem that has exacerbated the spread of COVID-19 and jeopardized future pandemic preparedness. Trahan and McKinley introduced the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act to incentivize prospective physicians to choose the critically necessary infectious diseases specialty by finally making it financially feasible. Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would establish a new loan repayment program for health care professionals who spend at least half of their time engaged in bio-preparedness and response activities or providing infectious diseases care. Further, the bill aims to increase the number of underrepresented minority individuals serving as bio-preparedness or infectious diseases physicians. More information on the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act can be accessed HERE. A digital copy of the legislation can be accessed HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C4F075D5-DDDB-4A3E-8762-BCA85F1AC7F7,"Clark Votes to Protect Survivors of Family and Domestic Violence, Fund Expanded Services",2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) applauded the House passage of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA), legislation to support survivors through federal grants and expanded services. The FVPSA would reauthorize $270 million in federal grants and provide new services, supports and protections to survivors of dating violence, stalking, harassment, and psychological, economic and online abuse. “The COVID-19 pandemic has tragically been met with an epidemic of domestic violence across the United States,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act will ensure that states and tribes have the funding necessary to protect survivors and prevent future family and domestic violence by expanding federal resources to match where and why abuse occurs — where it’s in person or online. Keeping Americans safe is the primary role of Congress and passing this legislation is a crucial step toward accomplishing that goal.” “The funding we receive through theFamily Violence Prevention and Services Act is vital to our ability to provide domestic violence survivors with the services that keep them safe,” said Patricia Hohl, Director of Voices Against Violence in Framingham, MA. “Our FVPSA funding allows us to deepen our work with immigrant communities, where victims face unique challenges when dealing with violence in the home. We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Clark for her support of H.R. 2119, theFamily Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021, which moves these services forward in important ways.” Clark has spent her career in Congress fighting to combat intimate partner violence and online harassment and abuse. She successfully established a grant program to train state and local law enforcement to prevent, enforce, and prosecute crimes carried out online. It also would create a national resource center to study online crimes and require the FBI to update the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Incident-Based Reporting System to include cybercrimes. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act expands resources for survivors and initiatives to end domestic violence by: Increases the funding authorization level to $253 million to respond to very low per-program funding levels and provide access to FVPSA funds for programs not currently funded. Expanding support for and access to culturally-specific programs. oCulturally-specific organizations are better equipped to address the complex, multi-layered challenges facing victims from racial and ethnic minority populations as they seek services and protections from abuse. oThese programs often have challenges accessing FVPSA funding at the state and local levels due to the limited funding available and robust competition. This bill authorizes a new program to address these needs and incorporates related funding into the formula itself. Strengthening the capacity of Indian Tribes to exercise their sovereign authority to more fully respond to domestic violence in their communities and authorize funding for tribal coalitions and the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center. Meaningfully investing in prevention. Brings evidence-informed, community-based prevention initiatives to more communities. Strengthening and updating the National Domestic Violence Hotline and hotline services for underrepresented populations, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Deaf victims of domestic and dating violence. Creating a new underserved populations grant program. oThe lack of resources and severity of violence is often heightened for survivors living at the margins, such as those living in rural communities, individuals with disabilities, older adults, those identifying with faith-based communities, youth and others. These underserved populations are often reluctant to seek assistance, and when they do, they frequently look for services and support in their immediate communities. This bill creates a grant program for family centers, youth centers, senior centers, community-based organizations or vocational organizations to meet the needs of these survivors. Continuing to support national technical assistance (TA) centers, including the Alaskan Native Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and their work to develop effective policy, practice, research and cross-system collaborations. Updating provisions and definitions to ensure access to services for all survivors, better align with related programs and reflect evolving practices in order to provide uniform guidance to those working to end domestic violence. oUpdates language to reflect current practices and provide a reference to other statutes to ensure common understanding across different federal programs. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-groundfish-trawl-task-force-receives-500000-backing-noaa,"Moulton Groundfish Trawl Task Force Receives $500,000 Backing from NOAA",2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, Mass. – It is an age-old question: how many fish are in the sea? In New England, the livelihoods of34,000 people depend on the answer. A new federal grant that will fund the work of Rep. Seth Moulton’s Groundfish Trawl Task Force aims to get a more accurate count. The results of the work have major implications for New England’s commercial fishermen. Government regulations that dictate how many groundfish commercial fishermen can catch are based on estimates of the groundfish population. Those estimates are currently calculated by combining decades of data from two research vessels that sporadically trawl the ocean and judge a species’ health based on what they catch. For decades, commercial fishermen have criticized the method as an archaic, inaccurate approach that leaves their financial security up to chance. Groundfish are fish that live on or near the ocean floor. They include species like the iconic Atlantic cod, haddock, and flounder which fetch the highest-values for commercial fishermen. Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced a $500,000 federal grant from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that will fund research designed by Moulton’s Groundfish Task Force. The work will lead to new data NOAA, scientists and fishermen hope will be more accurate measurements of the fish population. Moulton formed the Groundfish Task Force in 2015 in order to build consensus between the scientific community that conducts research which informs commercial fishing regulations and the commercial fishermen who are most affected by those regulations. “When I took office I was told I had to make a choice: stand with the fishermen or the environmentalists. I thought that was crazy because both want—and fishermen need—a sustainable fishery. So instead, we rallied both groups around getting better science, and that is exactly what this historic partnership has produced,” Moulton said. “This work will protect the livelihoods of thousands of people, it will protect our ocean, and it will preserve New England's identity as a place where people can make a living fishing.” Jackie Odell, Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, said: “Working constructively and collaboratively through the Task Force has been invaluable. The upcoming research will make a positive scientific contribution. This research will fill-in gaps and reduce uncertainty with the existing science.” The new data will influence the commercial fishing industry. Gloucester, in the 6th Congressional district, is the second busiest port in the state. According to a 2021 report by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 436 permitted commercial fish harvesters have a Gloucester address and 446 commercial fishing vessels are homeported in the city. They keep busy. Commercial fishermen landed 63,098,659 pounds of catch in 2018, with an ex-vessel value of $53,210,608. The top-ranked species, by dollar value, landed in Gloucester between 2014-2018 included American Lobster, Atlantic sea herring, and haddock. Herring and haddock are two of the species affected by the grants announced today. Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken said: ""As America's Oldest Seaport, Gloucester has been proud to partner with Congressman Seth Moulton and our fishermen so that we can find common sense solutions to benefit the entire fishing industry. Our partnerships agree that we must continue to collaborate together, especially around sustainable solutions that will benefit us all."" In December of 2020, with Moulton’s support, the task force sent NOAA several recommendations for ways that the government could improve its research. In a letter in response to Rep. Moulton and the Task Force, NOAA’s Director of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Dr. Jon Hare said: “Thank you for forming the Cod Task Force. The Task Force has broad expertise and has made a number of helpful recommendations to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.” It also outlined three recommendations that NOAA will fund. NOAA selected three of the recommendations for funding. The first will explore whether NOAA can get a better count of how many fish are present in waters fished by commercial fishermen. It will do this by separating the data of the two research vessels NOAA used to conduct the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s trawl survey. The Albatross IV was used between 1963 and 2008, and the Bigelow was commissioned in 2007 and has been used since. NOAA currently combines the data gathered over the last six decades into one dataset in order to assess where and when fishermen can work. The second will determine how many groundfish are present in the areas of the ocean where they are known to live but can be challenging to sample with traditional approaches such as trawl surveys. This study will use a variety of data sources including NOAA’s longline surveys. Longlining involves long strings of hooks dropped and left on or near the bottom of the ocean at depths beyond the reach of trawling vessels. Finally, the grants will collect data on how many fish are caught by fishermen and compare that information to the trawl surveys that NOAA conducts. The goal is to determine the degree to which the trawl surveys overlap with where key groundfish stocks are caught in the Gulf of Maine. The $500,000 grant that will fund these three projects was appropriated by Congress and sent to NOAA’sCooperative Institute of the North Atlantic Region, which is housed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. The institute divided the work into two parts. One part will fund the first two studies and will be conducted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute with a subaward to Northeastern University. The third project will be funded through a grant to UMass Dartmouth. Moulton and his team worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to secure funding for the research with an amendment to a Senate appropriations bill late last year. The money is now on the way. According to NOAA, Cooperative Institutes are NOAA-supported, non-federal organizations that have established outstanding research and education programs in one or more areas that are relevant to the NOAA mission. Cooperative Institutes’ expertise and facilities add significantly to NOAA’s capabilities, and their structure and legal framework facilitate rapid and efficient mobilization of those resources to meet NOAA’s programmatic needs. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2275,House Votes to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence’s Sgt. Rosario Pichardo,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Last night, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined with her colleagues in the House of Representatives to unanimously pass bipartisan legislation she cosponsored to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in an August bombing at the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, including Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo of Lawrence. “We feel Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo's absence in Lawrence and across the Third District every day,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “There is no one more deserving of this distinction than Johanny and her fellow servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice so thousands of Americans and our Afghan allies could get to safety. I’m grateful to my colleagues for joining with me to unanimously honor their heroic service.” The measure passed yesterday was cosponsored by 325 members of the House from both parties. It now moves to the Senate where a similar bipartisan measure has been introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Steve Daines (R-MT). ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2276,Trahan Explains How Her Proxy Vote Demonstrates Need for Build Back Better Act,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Alisyn Camerota on CNN Newsroom to discuss the latest on Congress’s efforts to pass President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act. During the interview, Trahan detailed how her young daughter’s COVID-19 exposure demonstrates the need to pass the bill’s once-in-a-generation investments in working families, particularly working moms. “Alisyn, I’m home right now proxy voting because I got that phone call from the school nurse that my seven-year-old, my second grader, was exposed and she couldn’t go to school,” Congresswoman Trahan said. “Do you know how many women get that phone call and because we don’t have a paid family and medical leave policy in our country, they sink under the logistics or the pressure and anxiety of getting that phone call? That’s what’s the problem right now. That’s what we’re trying to fix. We want women to go back into the workforce. We need to have paid family and medical leave. We need child care to be there for our working families.” The Build Back Better Act will be key in achieving a better future for workers and their children through investments that will lower the costs of health care, make family and child care affordable and accessible, and address the climate crisis. During the interview, Trahan cited a provision to create a national paid family and medical leave program, which would ensure that the United States is no longer listed as one of six nations in the world without such program. In addition to the long overdue creation of a national paid family and medical leave program, the Build Back Better Act would prove transformative for working families through an extension of the tremendously successful strengthened Child Tax Credit, increased access to quality, affordable child care, home health care for those in need, and much more. “We’re going to have an opportunity to create an economy that’s fair for everybody, that people can participate, that women can participate,” Congresswoman Trahan said. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2272,"Trahan, McKinley Pandemic Preparedness Legislation to Be Featured in Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing",2021-10-25,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman David B. McKinley (R-WV-01), both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, highlighted an upcoming Health Subcommittee hearing on their legislation, the Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act. The bipartisan bill would strengthen the bio-preparedness and infectious disease workforce that has proven critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the glaring need for improvements in our nation’s pandemic preparedness and response,” said Congresswoman Trahan, who co-founded the Congressional Pandemic Preparedness Caucus. “Fewer areas are more apparent than the woefully inadequate number of physicians trained specifically to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases and treat patients who contract them. Congress has an obligation to ensure we’re never caught flat-footed by a pandemic again, and my bipartisan legislation with Congressman McKinley is a key component of that effort. I look forward to working with him and our colleagues on the Committee to get this legislation passed.” “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted our nation’s shortage of infectious disease and public health professionals, especially in rural states like West Virginia,” said Congressman McKinley. “The BIO Preparedness Workforce Act will help America learn from our mistakes. There will be future pandemics, and we need to ensure our health care workforce is prepared so we will not be caught off-guard again. This bill will ensure America is developing the next generation of infectious disease specialists, and even rural states like West Virginia will have access.” Tomorrow, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Caring for America: Legislation to Support Patients, Caregivers, and Providers.” The list of bills includes Trahan’s and McKinley’s BIO Preparedness Workforce Act, which would solidify the United States’ ability to prepare for and respond to future pandemics by shoring up the pipeline of bio-preparedness and infectious diseases physicians. Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would establish a new loan repayment program for health care professionals who spend at least half of their time engaged in bio-preparedness and response activities or providing infectious disease care. Further, the bill aims to increase the number of underrepresented minority individuals serving as bio-preparedness or infectious diseases physicians. A qualified individual would be required to fulfill those requirements for 3 years and be eligible for up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness annually. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed glaring gaps and weaknesses in America’s ability to respond to a public health emergency caused by an infectious disease, including insufficient preparedness and response workforce capacity at health care facilities. Infectious diseases physicians are key when preparing for or responding to a pandemic, as they are often tasked with leading physician teams tackling a public health crisis. These specialists are also needed to care for individual patients suffering from serious infectious diseases and are critical to preventing the further spread of infectious diseases. However, the United States is facing a serious shortage of infectious diseases physicians, a problem that has exacerbated the spread of COVID-19 and jeopardized future pandemic preparedness. A June 2020 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that 208 million Americans live in areas with little or no access to an infectious diseases physician. Despite the obvious need for more of these critical frontline workers, infectious disease specialists are required to stay in school longer than most medical specialties and paid far less, on average, after graduation. The BIO Preparedness Workforce Act would incentivize prospective physicians to choose the critically necessary infectious disease specialty by finally making it financially feasible. The bipartisan legislation has strong outside support, including from the Infectious Diseases Society of America and others. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored that the bio-preparedness and infectious diseases workforce is essential to our national security and well-being. But our workforce is under enormous strain, and we don’t have the personnel we need to prepare for future public health emergencies and respond to immediate threats. As one example, 208 million Americans live in areas with little or no access to an infectious diseases physician, as crushing student debt drives many new physicians to much more lucrative specialties. Loan repayment will help ensure that the infectious diseases specialty is a financially feasible choice for physicians and other health care professionals. The Infectious Diseases Society of America is proud to support the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act, and commends Representatives Trahan and McKinley for their leadership,” said Daniel P. McQuillen, MD, President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “In West Virginia, we have an urgent need to attract more infectious diseases health care professionals to our state to ensure we are prepared for the next pandemic and to respond to the worsening HIV and viral hepatitis epidemics in our state,” said Judith Feinberg, MD, former Chair of the HIV Medicine Association. “By offering loan repayment to ID health care professionals, the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act will provide the support that is urgently needed to improve health equity by drawing ID and HIV health care professionals to rural and underserved areas in West Virginia and across the country. HIVMA applauds Representatives Lori Trahan and David McKinley for their leadership in sponsoring this important legislation.” A digital copy of the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act as introduced can be accessed HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=03A76A1A-778A-4FC4-A9E4-85BEC469AAB7,Assistant Clark Celebrates House Passage of PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act,2021-10-22,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Legislation will ensure that millions of working mothers have the access and protections they need to breastfeed in the workplace WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) celebrated the House passage of the PUMP (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) for Nursing Mothers Act. This bill, introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), will ensure that millions of mothers in the workplace have the access and protections they need to breastfeed should they choose to do so. “When I was a new mother working as the general counsel for the state Office of Child Care Services in Massachusetts, my office was essentially a glass box. Without a designated breastfeeding area, any time I needed to pump, I taped printer paper over my windows and prayed that the pages didn’t fall so I could have a moment of privacy -- it made the stresses of new motherhood that much worse. Any new mother who wants or needs to breastfeed in the workplace must be provided the space, time, and privacy necessary to do so as a basic right,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. “Passing and enacting the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is essential to achieving equity in our workplaces and finally acknowledging that women belong in all spaces.” The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act would strengthen the 2010 Break Time law by: Closing the coverage gap. The bill would protect 9 million employees unintentionally excluded from the 2010 Break Time law by extending the law’s protections to cover salaried employees as well as other categories of employees currently exempted from protections, such as teachers. Providing employers clarity on when pumping time must be paid and when it may be unpaid. The bill leaves in place existing law protecting many salaried workers from having their pay docked, and clarifies that employers must pay an hourly employee for any time spent pumping if the employee is also working. Providing remedies for nursing mothers. The bill would ensure that nursing mothers have access to remedies that are available for other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act is endorsed by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), A Better Balance, and UC Hastings Center for WorkLife Law. ""Accommodations for working mothers who are breastfeeding their children are critical to improving equity in the workplace,"" said Jennifer Benson, former MA state legislator and president of the Alliance for Business Leadership. ""Working mothers across the U.S. deserve the same protections that women in Massachusetts have had for years. Passage of the PUMP Act is long overdue and will remove a significant barrier to women who are forced to choose between breastfeeding and returning to work."" To watch footage of Assistant Speaker Clark discussing the bill, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/auchincloss-delivers-letter-cruz-what-you-intend-threat-we-massachusetts,"Auchincloss Delivers Letter to Cruz: “What You Intend As A Threat, We in Massachusetts Consider A Promise”",2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Jake Auchincloss,A000148,auchincloss.house.gov,auchincloss,https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Auchincloss Delivers Letter to Cruz: “What You Intend As A Threat, We in Massachusetts Consider A Promise” “We have no patience in Massachusetts for your crass attempt to denigrate immigrants” WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) responded to Ted Cruz’s “Border Bill” that would move immigrant processing centers to New England byhand delivering a letter to the Senator’s office. The letter stated, in part, “We have no patience in Massachusetts for your crass attempt to denigrate immigrants by implying that new ports of entry in the Commonwealth would undermine our support for immigration. From Plymouth Rock to today, immigrants have been building new lives in Massachusetts for 400 years. We welcome them.” WATCH:Auchincloss Delivers Letter to Cruz’s office A full copy of the letter can be found below. October 21, 2021 The Honorable Ted Cruz U.S. Senator, Texas 127A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510 Dear Senator Cruz, I write to you regarding your recently introduced Stop the Surge of Unsafe Rio Grande EncampmentsAct. I appreciate your including Massachusetts among those states that would benefit from newly established ports of entry. What you intend as a threat, we in Massachusetts consider a promise—the promise of more immigration, which makes the Commonwealth richer both economically and culturally. We do not subscribe to scare tactics; we know the facts. The fact is that areas with higher rates of immigration correlate with lower rates of violent crime and property crime.A study of arrest data from the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted by the National Academy of Sciences found that native-born Americans in Texas are more than twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as are immigrants. Notably, the study incorporated data between 2012 and 2018, covering both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations. Non-immigrants are also two and a half times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes and more than four times more likely to be arrested for property crimes than their immigrant peers. Not only do immigrants make our cities and towns safer, they also contribute to our economy, paying roughly $9 billion annually in taxes. Immigrants and their children founded 45 percent of our nation’s Fortune 500 companies, employing 13.5 million people.A humane, rules-based, and economically productive immigration system does not come “at the expense of American jobs and workers,” as you claim––instead, research from the Kellogg School of Management confirms that immigration creates jobs. We have no patience in Massachusetts for your crass attempt to denigrate immigrants by implying that new ports of entry in the Commonwealth would undermine our support for immigration. From Plymouth Rock to today, immigrants have been building new lives in Massachusetts for 400 years. We welcome them. Sincerely, Jake Auchincloss Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases?ID=4F880606-6951-4488-B37E-B7A79FC418A4,Statement from Assistant Speaker Clark on Vote to Hold Steve Bannon in Contempt of Congress,2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Katherine M. Clark,C001101,katherineclark.house.gov,clark,https://katherineclark.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement on her vote to hold Steve Bannon in Contempt of Congress for failing to cooperate with the investigation into the January 6 insurrection. “Steven Bannon has refused to follow the rule of law and participate in the House’s investigation into the January 6th insurrection. Those with knowledge about — or responsibility for — that dark day must comply with the House so we can get a full accounting of what transpired and memorialize the truth for the American people. We cannot allow questions to go unanswered and accountability to be dismissed. The House’s vote today was a vote for truth, accountability, and the sanctity of our democracy.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2269,Congresswoman Trahan Highlights Health Priorities at UMass Chan Medical School,2021-10-19,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA — Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, visited the University of Massachusetts’ Chan Medical School (UMass Chan) to highlight key research projects supported by federal investments, including establishing a “Vaccine Corps,” COVID-19 training, and substance use disorder projects. Trahan was joined by Chancellor Michael F. Collins, MD, FACP and Dean Terence R. Flotte, MD, as well as additional faculty members for a lab tour and discussion. “University of Massachusetts’ Chan Medical School is a powerful hub of innovation and cutting-edge research,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “From responding to the COVID-19 to tackling the opioid epidemic, their impressive research has empowered health care workers in Massachusetts and across our nation to continue saving lives. I look forward to continuing our strong partnership on key health priorities that will better serve families here in the Third District and beyond.” UMass Chan is Massachusetts' first and only public academic health sciences center. The Medical School has long prioritized opioid use disorder research and treatment, one of Trahan’s key priorities. Just yesterday, UMass Chan announced a new $12.3 million, four-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to study components of a multidisciplinary team-based, wrap-around treatment program for adults with opioid use disorders and co-occurring mental illness. In 2018, UMass Chan was awarded a $450,000, three-year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant to create a training program that would qualify medical, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant students to provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid addicted patients. “We were so pleased to welcome Congresswoman Trahan to our campus this afternoon. She is a staunch and steadfast champion for biomedical research, and we very much appreciate her advocacy in Washington D.C. As the Congresswoman knows well, federal funding of biomedical research is critically important to our institution, our thriving research enterprise, and our stellar faculty, who are devoted to changing the course of the history of disease,” said Chancellor Collins. “Our research enterprise is stronger and more impactful than ever and the cutting-edge science emanating from our labs stands to benefit families around the world.” As Massachusetts’ only member of the Energy & Commerce Committee and a member of its Health Subcommittee, Trahan is uniquely positioned to work with local partners like UMass Chan to advance key health priorities. Since Trahan’s first term, she has focused on the opioid epidemic, a crisis that disproportionately impacts her Third District constituents. UMass Chan’s SAMHSA program already aligns with the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, Trahan’s bipartisan legislation to implement a national knowledge standard for substance abuse disorder training, by accurately fulfilling the Act’s training requirements. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:24:52Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2268,Trahan Hails EPA’s National Strategy to Tackle PFAS Contaminations,2021-10-18,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly announced Strategic Roadmap to confront PFAS contamination, which is designed to restrict additional chemicals from being released into the environment and bolster clean up efforts at contaminated sites. “For years, states have been left to fend for themselves when it comes to identifying and responding to PFAS contaminations. That’s left some states like Massachusetts responding to these forever chemicals with urgency while others fail to do the same,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “It’s long past time for federal PFAS standards to catch up, and today’s announcement by the EPA is a critical step in that direction. However, we can’t stop there. The House has already passed the PFAS Action Act to bolster the EPA’s ability to tackle PFAS contaminations and prevent future discharges, and we need the Senate to act with urgency to send it to President Biden’s desk to become law.” “For far too long, families across America – especially those in underserved communities – have suffered from PFAS in their water, their air, or in the land their children play on,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This comprehensive, national PFAS strategy will deliver protections to people who are hurting, by advancing bold and concrete actions that address the full lifecycle of these chemicals. Let there be no doubt that EPA is listening, we have your back, and we are laser focused on protecting people from pollution and holding polluters accountable.” PFAS chemicals are manmade and have been used in common products such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, paints and sealants, personal care products, and cosmetics since the 1940s. Manufacturers and distributors of products containing PFAS have known for decades about the dangers the chemicals pose to people’s health but done little about it. In fact, despite warnings, some companies were dumping so much PFAS into waterways that they couldn’t keep track of the exact amount. These “forever chemicals” have been discovered in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including in 50 public water sources reported in Massachusetts this year alone. The EPA’s Strategic Roadmap announced today includes strict timelines to set enforceable drinking water limits under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a new hazardous substance designation to strengthen the Agency’s ability to hold PFAS polluters financially accountable, a review of past actions on PFAS to address those that are insufficient, and support for ongoing efforts to address PFAS air emissions. Alongside the national strategy, the EPA also announced a new national testing strategy, which requires forever chemical manufacturers to provide toxicity data and important additional information on PFAS chemicals. The Biden-Harris administration has made addressing the dangers posed by PFAS a priority, and including today’s announcement, has done more than almost any administration in history. However, the EPA continues to be limited in the actions it can take under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Understanding this pressing issue and the need for long overdue updates to the law that will bolster the EPA’s ability to protect people from PFAS contamination, the House took up and passed H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act of 2021, legislation that Trahan helped shepherd through the Energy and Commerce Committee. Specifically, the PFAS Action Act would: Stem the flow of PFAS contamination into the environment by requiring cleanup of sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS – two of the most hazardous PFAS chemicals – as well as setting air emission limits, prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS, and limiting the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce; Identify health risks by requiring comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water; Inform communities of PFAS risks by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a risk-communication strategy and establish a website with information on testing of household well water; Limit human exposure to PFAS by requiring a drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant women, infants, and children, and holding polluters accountable; Provide grants to impacted water systems, create a voluntary label for cookware that is PFAS free, provide guidance for first responders to limit their exposures, and require effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for PFAS introduction or discharge. The legislation, which is supported by the White House, passed the House with support of nearly two dozen Republicans and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Trahan testified in August about the importance of getting the PFAS Action Act across the finish line and signed into law during a hearing hosted by Massachusetts PFAS Interagency Task Force, chaired by State Representative Kate Hogan (D-3rd Middlesex) and State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Cape and Islands). ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2267,"Trahan, Guthrie Introduce the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act",2021-10-15,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), along with Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), introduced the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would make improvements to existing law by increasing transparency and the accessibility of information about the cost of college for students and their families. “For many individuals and families, a college education is one of the biggest financial investments they will ever make,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As the costs of higher education continue to skyrocket, prospective students and their families are often forced to choose schools without a full understanding of the return on their investment. As a former first-generation college student, a stepmom to three college graduates, and a mother of two young girls, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find key information beyond sticker prices to understand how much a family needs to earn, save, or borrow in order to afford a college education. I’m proud to work with Congressman Guthrie on this important legislation that will finally ensure students and their parents have the full picture of what it will cost to attend an institution by reinforcing transparency and accountability in our higher education system. This bill passed out of the Education and Labor Committee as an amendment last Congress, and I look forward to its swift passage once again.” “The financial cost of attending a college or university has more than doubled since I was in college and continues to rise each year,” said Congressman Guthrie. “Cost is one of the most important factors for prospective students and their families when deciding which college to attend. However, this information is not as transparent as it should be, which can lead to students taking on more financial burden than expected. I reintroduced the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act to require institutions of higher education to be clearer with students on the total cost of attendance, so students can have the information needed to more accurately compare prices and choose the best college for them.” In 2008, Congress first required institutions of higher education to provide Net Price Calculator tools on their websites with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. However, this tool has been implemented inconsistently, and the price calculator can be difficult to find on institutions’ websites when trying to compare costs between institutions. The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would make Net Price Calculator tools more consistent and easier to find, and it would require tuition, room and board, and other costs to be listed prominently on higher education institutions’ websites. This bill would also require the Secretary of Education to make updates to the Department of Education’s universal net price calculator on their website by conducting consumer testing, and then report to Congress about how the changes are expected to improve the tool’s effectiveness when implemented. The full text of the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-announces-5-million-worth-fema-grants-fire-departments-6th,Moulton Announces $5 Million Worth of FEMA Grants for Fire Departments in 6th Congressional District,2021-10-14,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, Mass. – Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that several fire departments in the North Shore and Merrimack Valley received a total of $5,314,919 million worth of grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Rep. Moulton said: “These FEMA grants bring us steps closer to helping our fire departments and first responders get the proper gear, equipment, training and personnel they need to safely and effectively protect and serve our communities. I am proud to have played a role in securing this funding, and I look forward to continuing my efforts to advocate for local departments in the Sixth District.” The grants delivered to Massachusetts’ Sixth District are broken down into two types. Congress funds the grants through its annual appropriations process and FEMA administers them. Here’s a list of the local grants: Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG): The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. This type of grant helps firefighters and other first responders obtain critically-needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fires and related hazards. Massachusetts’ Sixth District was awarded $2,205,371 worth of AFG funding. The following departments received the grants: A grant for $947,619 to the Amesbury Fire Department for Vehicle Acquisition A grant for $40,887 to the Beverly Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $92,727 to the Gloucester Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $7,226 to the Groveland Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $4,137 to the Ipswich Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $133,565 to the Lynn Fire Department for for Operations and Safety A grant for $293,600 to the Lynn Fire Department for the Vehicle Acquisition A grant for $52,157 to the Manchester Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $47, 619 to the Nahant Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $149,163 to the Salem Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $332,990 to the Swampscott Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $60,952 to the Topsfield Fire Department for Operations and Safety A grant for $4,089 to the Topsfield Fire Department for Operations and Safety Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants were created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations so they can increase or maintain the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities. This grant will help local fire departments' in the Sixth District comply with staffing, response, and operational standards. Massachusetts’ Sixth District was awarded $3,109,548 worth of SAFER funding. A grant for $2,112,921 to the Amesbury Fire Department to hire additional firefighters A grant for $996,627 to the Danvers Fire Department to hire additional firefighters For more information about local grants, visit FEMA’s website or contact the local fire departments. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-announces-north-reading-receive-675000-federal-government-combat-youth,"Moulton Announces North Reading to Receive $675,000 from Federal Government to Combat Youth Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use",2021-10-13,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, Mass. – Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program released a new round of grants that includes $675,000.00 worth of funding for North Reading. This grant will be used by the North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition to reduce youth substance use, increase capacity of coalition, reduce risk factors and increase protective factors in North Reading. In 2021, the Coalition was named a model coalition by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With this grant, the Coalition aims to target four substances. This includes marijuana, tobacco/nicotine, alcohol and non-prescribed use of prescription drugs. As necessary, the Coalition will target the use of other substances in the community. Rep Moulton said: “Before the pandemic, Massachusetts and many other states saw an epidemic of prescription drug abuse and alcohol misuse that disproportionately affected young people. Those public health crises haven’t ended, they just aren’t getting talked about as much. North Reading’s prevention coalition is doing amazing, and in many ways, unprecedented work to help people. I hope this grant extends that work to more people, and I look forward to partnering with them as they make progress.” “The success of the program and application is a statement to what a community can do when they come together to tackle a problem,” said North Reading Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto. “The Coalition is run by an amazing group of town professionals and volunteers from across many sectors.” He added, “This highlights the fact that substance use is not a police, school, or family problem alone. It’s a community problem.” The Drug Free Communities Support Program provides competitive grants to community coalitions. The grants are designed to build a community’s ability to create and sustain a reduction in youth substance use. After five years, community coalitions may re-compete for another five-year cycle, but there is a cap at 10 years. After the tenth year, the coalitions must include funding for their town or city. North Reading’s coalition is currently on year six. Even if a grant application is accepted, funding is not guaranteed and coalitions must submit an application every year. Among other things, the application includes an action plan with details about how the coalition intends to use the grant. Drug Free Community-funded coalitions build programs that help young Americans at risk for substance use recognize that the majority of their peers choose not to use substances. As demonstrated by independent evaluations, the DFC Support Program significantly reduces substance use among young people. According to the DFC, since the program’s inception, the past 30-day prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drug misuse has declined significantly among middle school and high school aged youth. To learn more about North Reading Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition, visit their website at www.northreadingma.gov/CIT. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-encourages-students-pursue-service-academy-nominations,Moulton Encourages Students to Pursue Service Academy Nominations,2021-10-12,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Salem, Mass. — Today, the Office of Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that they are accepting applications to U.S. service academies through November 1st. Every Member of Congress has the ability to nominate students within their congressional district to attend a service academy. Moulton, a Marine who served in Iraq, annually nominates up to 10 candidates for vacant slots allocated to the district. ""Serving as an officer in the Marines was one of the hardest and best decisions I've ever made. The leadership experience you will gain from attending a service academy and serving our country will last you a lifetime. If you’re interested, I encourage you to learn more and apply."" Moulton said. For interested students, Rep Moulton and his office will be hosting a service academy night or virtual information session on October 18th at 6pm (EST). To register, visit this link. For more information, or questions about the application process contact Isis Patterson in Rep. Moulton’s Salem office by emailing Isis.Patterson@mail.house.gov The U.S. service academies include the: U.S. Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, CT The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-helps-deliver-95-million-restaurants-and-shuttered-venues-6th,Moulton Helps Deliver $95 Million for Restaurants and Shuttered Venues in the 6th Congressional District,2021-10-12,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Seth Moulton,M001196,moulton.house.gov,moulton,https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, Mass. – Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced that the Small Business Administration has awarded restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in Massachusetts Sixth District with a combined total of $94,917,272.35 worth of funding. The funding has arrived to the region through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant— programs from the American Rescue Plan of 2021— which Moulton co-sponsored and voted for in March. The funds are designed to help businesses make up for lost revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy,” said Rep. Moulton. “During the height of the pandemic, they suffered a major blow, and most are still recovering. This funding will help speed up the recovery process by allowing businesses to hire more personnel and secure the resources they need to keep their staff and patrons safe. I’m looking forward to helping businesses in the Sixth district come back better and stronger.” More than $71 million of the money came through the Restaurant Relief Fund, which grants businesses funding according to their pandemic-related losses up to $10 million per business, while $23 million of these funds are from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant provides theaters, museums, and performance businesses with up to 45% of their 2019 gross revenue to a maximum of $10 million. It also reserves $2 billion for businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Funding from both programs can be used to pay for business expenses like payroll, rent, and utilities, as well as purchases of personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies. Funds were deposited directly into the bank account of each respective business by the Small Business Administration. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, established the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which is operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, to provide targeted aid to restaurants and other related businesses that serve food or drink. This aid was a response to businesses across the country facing economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill passed in the House and Senate without a single Republican vote. Moulton supports additional legislation that would help businesses that could not secure funding in the initial rounds of grants. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/12/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2331/,Neal Statement on House Vote to Raise the Debt Ceiling,2021-10-12,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... by: Nick Antonakas, 22 News HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – President Trump announced Tuesday that U.S. military operations... WATCH HERE by: Nick Antonakas, 22 News HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – U.S. Rep. Richard Neal toured Holyoke High School to... By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com SPRINGFIELD — With work on MBTA subway cars ready to ramp up... SPRINGFIELD, MA—Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier Springfield U.S. Representative Richard Neal said Tuesday... LISTEN HERE New England Public Media | By Adam Frenier There's been some confusion whether there are talks going on... (As prepared for delivery) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s been over a year of the Republican trifecta in...",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2263,"Trahan Applauds $70,000 in American Rescue Plan Relief for MA-03 Humanities Organizations",2021-10-12,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) applauded the awarding of American Rescue Plan grants totaling nearly $70,000 to organizations across the Third District. The funding will support the response and recovery of the cultural sector from the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our local museums, cultural centers, and historical sites are the hearts of our communities — but they’re also some of the organizations hit hardest by pandemic restrictions,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Building back better means providing relief to support them in their recovery, and the American Rescue Plan’s SHARP grants enable us to do just that. I’m proud to have supported this historic relief package earlier this year and look forward to seeing the many contributions of humanities organizations throughout our district for years to come.” The grant recipients in the Third District include: Andover Center for History & Culture in Andover: $14,707 The Thoreau Society in Concord: $13,000 Lawrence History Center in Lawrence: $11,375 Massachusetts Center for the Book in Concord: $10,043 Fort Devens Museum in Devens: $9,750 Groton History Center in Groton: $7,543 Westford Museum in Westford: $2,780 In March, Trahan supported passage of the American Rescue Plan, which included $135 million in new relief funding to support humanities organizations and cultural institutions, many of which can be found across the Commonwealth. In June, the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities distributed $51.6 million of that funding to state humanities councils. The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities (Mass Humanities) received $987,000 of that funding to distribute to local organizations through the Sustaining the Humanities Through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) grant program. A total of 90 local museums, historical societies, and historic sites received awards, including seven in the Third District. More than half of the recipients were especially in need of this federal relief, operating on budgets of $300,000 or less. “The SHARP grants are another significant step in the journey to sustain the humanities at the local level,” said Mass Humanities Executive Director Brian Boyles when he announced the awards. “As we continue to combat COVID-19, these funds will save jobs, build capacity, and allow organizations to develop new programs to serve their communities.” The grants can be used to retain or recruit staff, replace lost revenue, and rebuild audiences, and do not have to be repaid. A full list of recent awardees can be accessed HERE. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/08/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2329/,Neal Reminds Students to Participate in Congressional App Challenge,2021-10-08,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Springfield, MA Springfield, MA – Congressman Richard E. Neal encourages students in the First Congressional District of Massachusetts to participate in the 2021 Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app competition for students in middle and high school. The CAC accepts computer programs (or apps) written in any programming language, for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.). The Challenge’s submission portal is open and students can register and submit their applications until November 1st, 2021. The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. “I strongly encourage students of all skill levels to participate and learn how to create their own apps,” said Congressman Neal. “We have some of the brightest minds here in Massachusetts, and the next generation of leaders in the STEM field is certainly among us.” Winners will be selected by panels of judges drawn from the local community and honored by their Member of Congress. Their apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov and on the Congressional App Challenge website. For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us or reach out to Abby McGovern in Congressman Neal’s office at abby.mcgovern@mail.house.gov. ##",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2261,"Trahan, Markey and Castor Urge FTC to Use Authority to Make Tech Companies Abide by New Platform Policies",2021-10-08,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in response to a new United Kingdom children’s privacy law intended to protect young users online, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to use its full authority — including its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act — to ensure major tech companies comply with their new policies. The Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC) took effect in the U.K. this September and requires online services available to children and teens to meet 15 key children’s privacy standards. “The need to protect young people from privacy threats online is more urgent than ever. Since 2015, American children have spent almost five hours each day watching their screens, and children’s and teens’ daily screen time has increased by 50 percent or more during the coronavirus pandemic,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “We therefore encourage you to use every tool at your disposal to vigilantly scrutinize companies’ data practices and ensure that they abide by their public commitments.” A copy of the letter can be found HERE. In response to the AADC, Instagram publicly announced it is “defaulting young people into private accounts, making it harder for potentially suspicious accounts to find young people, [and] limiting the options advertisers have to reach young people with ads.” Google and its subsidiary YouTube announced they will be “tailoring product experiences for kids and teens” by changing to “private” the default video upload setting for teens between the ages of 13 and 17; turning off location history (without the option of turning it back on) for users under 18; and “block[ing] ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of people under 18,” among other changes. Last year — in a similar vein prior to the enactment of the AADC — TikTok stated that it had disabled messaging for the accounts of those under the age of 16 and increased parental controls. The lawmakers note, “These policy changes are no substitute for congressional action on children’s privacy, but they are important steps towards making the internet safer for young users.” ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/07/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2325/,Neal Joins Springfield Museums to Celebrate $1.2 Million in SBA Funding,2021-10-07,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Springfield, MA Springfield, MA – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal joined President and CEO of Springfield Museums Kay Simpson and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Massachusetts District Director Robert Nelson for the announcement of a $1,202,953 Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG). As part of the American Rescue Plan, the SVOG program provided over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues and was administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. “The Springfield Museums is a staple in the cultural scene of downtown Springfield,” said Congressman Neal. “The five world-class museums and Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden are institutions of learning for children and adults of all ages. These funds from the SBA will allow for the Springfield Museums to bounce back, sustain operations, and continue to provide access to the arts in a safe environment.” Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Springfield Museums was forced to close for four months – the first time this has happened in its 164-year history. “As a beloved community anchor and an important informal-learning hub, we were overjoyed to re-open in July 2020,” Simpson said. “Our visitors make our Museums alive with energy and potential and we are so glad to have them back in our buildings. We are deeply grateful for the funds provided by the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant, which will help us make up for the lost time during that four month period.” In July 2021, Congressman Neal announced $20,010,864 in SVOG grants to Massachusetts’ First Congressional District. As of September 27, 2021, CD-1 has received 6 more SVOGs – including this one to the Springfield Museums – bringing that total up to 39 grants totaling $27,374,136. The new SVOG awards include: Shakespeare & Company, Inc., Lenox – $566,181.60 Phoenix Theatres Berkshire, LLC, Pittsfield – $617,053.86 ROZ100, Inc., Pittsfield – $4,705,721.10 Step Up World, Shelburne Falls – $52,000 Roomful of Teeth Vocal Arts Project, Williamstown – $219,362.45 More information on the SVOG program can be found HERE. ##",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/07/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2328/,Mass Humanities Announces Recipients of SHARP Grants for COVID Response,2021-10-07,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Northampton, MA | Funding made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (Northampton, MA – October 7, 2021 ) Mass Humanities has announced grants to 90 organizations across Massachusetts to support the response and recovery of the cultural sector from the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus. Totaling almost $1 million, the “Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP)” grants were made possible through funding provided to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by the American Rescue Plan. As the state affiliate of NEH, Mass Humanities sought to provide emergency funding to the smallest organizations, including local museums, historical societies, and historic sites. More than half of the SHARP recipients have budgets of $300,000 or less. “The SHARP grants are another significant step in the journey to sustain the humanities at the local level,” said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. “As we continue to combat COVID-19, these funds will save jobs, build capacity, and allow organizations to develop new programs to serve their communities.” Mass Humanities received requests for funding from more than 140 organizations. Grants of up to $15,000 were awarded to retain or recruit staff, replace lost revenue, and rebuild audiences. The SHARP grants conclude a year in which Mass Humanities awarded more than $1.7 million to 240 organizations around the state. “As one of the authors of the American Rescue Plan, I am thrilled to see the great work that Mass Humanities is doing to fulfill our vision of getting these funds out to businesses and cultural institutions who suffered greatly – through no fault of their own – from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “The First Congressional District is home to countless organizations that provide resources for the study of art, language, literature, philosophy, history, and so much more. These grants are imperative to their recovery and economic success. I am proud of my work championing these funds in Congress and will continue to do so in my tenure.” A total of $118,383 was awarded to 11 cultural organizations in the 1st Congressional District: AMELIA PARK CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, Westfield CHESTERWOOD, Stockbridge CLINTON CHURCH, Great Barrington HANCOCK SHAKER VILLAGE, Pittsfield HISTORIC HOLYOKE AT WISTARIAHURST, Holyoke NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM, Stockbridge SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS, Springfield STERLING & FRANCINE CLARK ART INSTITUTE, Williamstown THE FRIENDS OF THE ADAMS FREE LIBRARY, Adams VENTFORT HALL ASSOCIATION, Lenox WESTFIELD ATHENAEUM, Westfield For a full list of grantees, click here. The humanities organizations that are located in communities dispersed through Massachusetts have been a beacon of comfort and solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic. While society continues to recover from and navigate through the pandemic’s impact, Mass Humanities has been privileged to share this opportunity with so many organizations. “The pandemic presented a great financial burden for many humanities organizations, particularly those already facing disproportionate economic and racial inequities,” said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. “These grants will assist organizations throughout Massachusetts in moving forward to continue their mission and the impressive work they do in their communities.” Organizations interested in learning about future grants should follow Mass Humanities on social media @masshumanities and visit their website. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2259,New Analysis Finds Build Back Better Act Will Save Massachusetts Families Up to Tens of Thousands in Child Care Costs Annually,2021-10-07,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – According to a new analysis released by the House Education and Labor Committee, the Build Back Better Act will save Massachusetts families up to tens of thousands of dollars in child care costs each year. The Committee’s report found that the typical Massachusetts family of four with one infant in full-time center-based child care would save $18,750 annually. The typical Massachusetts family of four with one infant and one child in full-time center-based child care would save an average of $34,500 each year. “The historic investments in the Build Back Better Act will put working families first by delivering life-changing savings for so many across the Commonwealth,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As we continue our recovery from the pandemic, we’re working to make sure every family can return to work without worrying about whether they’ll be able to access quality, affordable care for their children.” Under the Build Back Better Act, no family would pay more than 7 percent of their income on child care. Families making 100 percent of the State Median Income or less – which is $125,335 for a family of four in Massachusetts – would pay no more than 2 percent of their income on child care, regardless of the number of children they have in child care. The legislation’s child care investments would give families greater financial security, allow more parents to rejoin the workforce, and help grow the economy. ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/06/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2320/,STCC Received $7.35 Million in Grants to Enhance STEM Education,2021-10-06,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Springfield, MA SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College has been awarded two grants worth more than $7 million from the U.S. Department of Education to boost student success among Latinx and low-income students in STEM fields, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal announced on Wednesday during a visit to STCC. “I am thrilled to celebrate the success of Springfield Technical Community College’s grant applications to the U.S. Department of Education,” Neal said. “These two awards totaling more than $7 million over a five-year period will help support the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs at the college and welcome more students into the ever-growing field. This area of study is important across the country but is especially vital here in Massachusetts where we have some of the highest concentration of research and development in the world. Graduates of STCC will be ready to meet the challenge.” The first grant, titled “Project Acceleration: Re-Engineering Pathways to Student Success in STEM,” will run for five years for a total of $3 million. It will allow STCC to create a STEM studies program and develop support services to increase access to STEM careers. The grant is designed to increase enrollment and improve the graduation rates of Latinx and low-income students in STEM majors and help them continue with their studies instead of withdrawing from school. In addition, the grant will allow STCC to help reduce the time it takes male students of color, particularly Latinx, to complete studies. The grant falls under the federal Title V program, which was created to improve higher education of Hispanic students. The second grant announced by Neal is titled “STEM Access and Retention Strategies.” The five-year grant, totaling $4,352,559, will allow STCC to create and enhance support services for Latinx and low-income students. Services and programs supported by the grant include: – Creation of STEM-focused First Year Experience Courses; – Utilization of proactive STEM advisors, which would involves bringing services to students rather than waiting for them to ask; and – Implementation of additional mental health services. In recent years, STCC created a STEM Center that offers opportunities for tutoring and group study for all students. The college also provides mentoring and coaching. The new federal grant also will allow STCC to enhance professional development for faculty. “We are thrilled to receive this funding from the U.S. Department of Education and extremely grateful for support from Congressman Neal,” Cook said. “I want to thank our local delegation for visiting STCC and for their support through the years. These grants will directly address challenges we face at the college. One of our top priorities is to close achievement gaps among students who have faced barriers, which includes many of our Latinx and low-income students. These grants will help support our students and give them a better chance at staying in college and earning their degree.” STCC, the only technical community college in Massachusetts, is federally designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, with 30 percent of the students identifying as Hispanic. The City of Springfield suffers high unemployment and poverty. Fifty-six percent of STCC students receive federal Pell grants, which are awarded to students who display exceptional financial need. Hispanic and low-income students enter college with greater developmental math needs and lower retention and graduation rates than non-Hispanic and higher-income students. Only 11.4 percent of Hispanic and 14 percent of low-income students major in STEM. As part of the grant focusing on access and retention strategies, STCC will partner with UMass Amherst and Central Connecticut State University to expand transfer opportunities for students. Lara Sharp, dean of the School of STEM, said, “These grants will directly impact the Springfield community around STCC by providing better access to support services for our students so they can succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://neal.house.gov/2021/10/05/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2315/,"Mayor Sarno, Congressman Neal and Officials Join with Related Companies to Announce Renovations at Skyview Downtown",2021-10-05,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Richard E. Neal,N000015,neal.house.gov,neal,https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Originally built in 1977, Related Companies have invested $50 million in renovation of the 489-unit housing complex to help revitalize and preserve the old Chestnut Park. The new Skyview Downtown will serve as a mix-use space for our community. Related Companies has partnered and joined with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Springfield, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and MassHousing today to announce and unveil the full rehabilitation of the Skyview Downtown facility. Located in Downtown Springfield, the affordable community is comprised of 489 affordable apartments including 77 new workforce housing units, 22,000 square feet of commercial space, and 6,000 square feet of amenity space. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “I want to thank Related Companies Vice Chairman Jeff Brodsky and Related Affordable President Matthew Finkle and their respective teams for their continued belief and investment in our Springfield. This $50 million renovation of the former Chestnut Park into a mix-used space of renovated housing units, and commercial and amenity space will greatly benefit our residents and help enhance my Administrations efforts as we continue to build upon the economic development projects and initiatives that have already taken place and those projects still in the works. This is all about a good four letter word – ‘JOBS’! This public and private partnership continues my Administrations commitment of investing and strengthening not only our local housing stock but also building upon our economic development initiatives that further enhance the renaissance of our downtown. The rehabilitation and renovation of the Skyview project compliments the enhancements and improvements the City has already made in support of this development project. From the Springfield Police Department substation, the $3.5 million renovation of our Pynchon Plaza, the beautiful murals adding color and vibrancy to our buildings and future planned projects such as the old Civic Center garage and now this Skyview project will all collectively bring together our MassMutual Center, our world-class Springfield Museums and the rest of our renovated downtown. I want to thank Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay, and our local state delegation for their continued leadership on making this project a reality. Special thanks to Congressman Richard Neal for his continued leadership for our City and his ongoing efforts helping to secure these vital tax credits, once a mayor always a mayor. Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, Parks Buildings and Recreation Management Patrick Sullivan and I are looking forward to the bright future this new development project will have for our residents and business community.” The two year, comprehensive $50 Million renovation to the Skyview Downtown residences included interior upgrades to all units including new kitchens, baths and flooring, redecorated hallways, and lobbies, new window facade, HVAC systems, plumbing risers and, elevators, as well as ADA accessibility upgrades, enhanced security and access control, and free Wi-Fi for all apartments. Updated amenities include a new floor equipped with a fitness center, resident lounge, workforce development center (Compass Working Capital, a non-profit will provide a Family Self-Sufficiency program for our residents), as well as a computer room, laundry room, children’s playroom, and a new on-site management office. “We are excited about the completion of the Skyview Downtown project, which will bring new workforce housing opportunities to Springfield,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration was glad to support this project through MassHousing and the Department of Housing and Community Development, and we look forward to continuing to encourage housing production across the Commonwealth.” A key component of the revitalization plan included the City of Springfield’s $3.5 Million renovation of Pynchon Plaza located at the center of Skyview Downtown’s four buildings and Related’s nearly $1 Million build-out of the Springfield Police Department Metro Substation adjacent to the park. Related worked closely with the City to engage with The Architectural Team and Copley Wolff, a Boston-based landscape architect, to help reimagine the park. Executive Director of PBRM Patrick Sullivan stated, “The Springfield Park Department is grateful to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Springfield Museums, the Planning and Economic Development Department, the Department of Capital Asset Construction, and Related Properties for their roles in ensuring the successful restoration of Pynchon Plaza in downtown Springfield. This plaza, which was reopened in November of 2020, is safe and an attractive connection for our beloved Springfield Museums with the metro area. The renovations of the housing units at Skyview Downtown by Related Properties will add to the walkability of our downtown.” The renovation of Skyview Downtown in concert with the new Pynchon Plaza now provides a seamless link between Downtown and Springfield’s world-class museum district. In partnership with the Springfield Museums, the Springfield Cultural Partnership, and Commonwealth Murals, the neighborhood offers cultural programs for the community and public art installations that celebrate the City’s history, diversity and optimistic future. Congressman Neal said, “The rehabilitation of Skyview Downtown is a great example of our local, state, and federal partners working together to provide much needed upgrades to one of downtown Springfield’s tallest buildings. The low income housing tax credit has proven once again to be a critical tool for revitalization that has a real, positive, lasting impact on our communities. I am proud to champion and protect them in my role as Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means.” “As one of the largest private developers of affordable housing in the United States, Related has remained committed to providing and preserving quality housing for nearly five decades,” said Matthew Finkle, President of Related Affordable. “We are particularly proud of the extensive scope of work completed at Skyview Downtown and look forward to delivering long term, quality affordable homes to residents of Springfield. “Congratulations to Related Companies, the city of Springfield, and the residents of Skyview Downtown on the completion of renovations, which have reinvigorated this important housing community with substantial capital improvements and greater income diversity amongst the residents,” said Chrystal Kornegay, MassHousing Executive Director. “This renovated property has brought new life to Springfield’s downtown, and will offer the families who call Skyview Downton home quality affordable housing and economic opportunity long into the future.” “Since Related Beal purchased the building at 10 Chestnut Street we have had a successful working relationship with their ownership and management. Our Metro Unit Substation is located in close proximity to the renovated Skyview and the cooperation with the on-site staff and ownership has helped to not only decrease the calls for service to the apartments, but also increase the quality of life for their residents and the surrounding business community,” said Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood. In collaboration with MassHousing, DHCD and the City of Springfield, Skyview Downtown now includes 77 workforce housing units with income bands at 61-85% area median income (AMI) with rents set at approximately 70% AMI level. Additionally, 412 units were kept as LIHTC units at or below 60% AMI with a new 45-year extended use period and approximately 230 units were converted to a new 20-year project based rental assistance contract. ##",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2255,ICYMI: John Oliver Highlights Need for PFAS Action Act on HBO’s “Last Week Tonight”,2021-10-05,2021,2021-10,Democrat,House,MA,Lori Trahan,T000482,trahan.house.gov,trahan,https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"LOWELL, MA – During Sunday’s airing of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” host John Oliver demonstrated in excruciating detail the dangers of PFAS chemicals and the decades-long need for action to address this issue facing communities across the Commonwealth and the nation. “These chemicals have been linked to a massive array of health issues. High exposure to [PFOA and PFOS] have been linked to high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and decreased response to vaccines, which is clearly terrible,” Oliver said. “PFAS are what’s known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Studies have estimated they ‘have lifetimes in the thousands of years.’ And that combination of toxicity and longevity is a real problem.” PFAS chemicals are manmade and have been used in common products such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, paints and sealants, personal care products, and cosmetics since the 1940s. These “forever chemicals” have been discovered in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including in 50 public water sources reported in Massachusetts this year alone. As Oliver points out during his monologue, manufacturers and distributors of products containing PFAS have known for decades about the dangers the chemicals pose to people’s health but done little about it. In fact, despite warnings, some companies were dumping so much PFAS into waterways that they couldn’t keep track of the exact amount. As recently as last year, DuPont was still discharging PFAS chemicals into waterways used as drinking water sources. Oliver goes on to highlight the lack of action from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to limitations under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Understanding this pressing issue and the need for long overdue updates to the law that will bolster the EPA’s ability to protect people from PFAS contamination, the House took up and passed H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act of 2021, legislation that Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) helped shepherd through the Energy and Commerce Committee. Specifically, the PFAS Action Act would: Stem the flow of PFAS contamination into the environment by requiring cleanup of sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS – two of the most hazardous PFAS chemicals – as well as setting air emission limits, prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS, and limiting the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce; Identify health risks by requiring comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water; Inform communities of PFAS risks by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a risk-communication strategy and establish a website with information on testing of household well water; Limit human exposure to PFAS by requiring a drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant women, infants, and children, and holding polluters accountable; Provide grants to impacted water systems, create a voluntary label for cookware that is PFAS free, provide guidance for first responders to limit their exposures, and require effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for PFAS introduction or discharge. The legislation, which is supported by the White House, passed the House with support of nearly two dozen Republicans and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Trahan testified about the importance of getting the PFAS Action Act across the finish line and signed into law during an August hearing hosted by Massachusetts PFAS Interagency Task Force, chaired by State Representative Kate Hogan (D-3rd Middlesex) and State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Cape and Islands). ###",1,2026-04-06T14:36:19Z,2026-04-06T15:53:59Z