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A tour of Yahoo's accessibility lab in Boston
My daughter Lily joined me recently in touring Yahoo! Boston's tech lab, originator of cutting edge real-time captioning for content streamed on the Internet.  In contrast of Yahoo!, I'm dismayed that Netflix can't get it together to caption its dramatic series.  Since these scripted shows don't generate content on the fly, they should be easy to equip with subtitles.  With waves of older Americans joining the ranks of those with hearing loss, you'd think Netflix would be all over the problem.
'Rachel's Box' marks 20 years of fighting domestic violence
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Dear Friend,

At a packed State House hearing last week, businesspeople, economists, faith leaders, civic groups and concerned citizens endorsed a ground-breaking proposal to tackle global warming.  The standing-room only crowd urged a legislative committee to approve  S.1747, An Act combating climate change, a bill I've filed to "put a price on carbon."  The idea is to place a charge on the fuel emissions that contribute to global warming.



As you know, today, around the world, we're seeing extreme temperatures, rising oceans, wilder storms and worsening droughts.  A carbon fee is the single most effective step government can take to combat the problem.  As with marriage equality and health care for all, Massachusetts can lead the way on an approach that other states -- and eventually the entire country -- can adopt.  Learn more about the bill.  

The remarkable showing of support at the hearing is a turning point.  The goal now is to build on this huge momentum.
Appreciatively,
 
     
 
 
 
Sen. Mike Barrett
Historic Sudbury building to be revitalized
Sudbury's Loring Parsonage went up 300 years ago to house a local minister and his family.  It's served as a tavern, too -- possibly an accommodation to shifting community priorities, but I shouldn't speculate.  The Sudbury Historical Society now wants to turn the building into a museum and visitors center focused on the town's rich and surprisingly varied history.  During the recent budget debate in the State Senate, I moved successfully to appropriate funds to jump-start the effort. 
Read the latest.

Celebrating the breakthrough with Rep. Gentile; Sen. Eldridge; Sally Purrington Hild, Historical Society Executive Director; and Stewart Hoover, Historical Society President.
Schmoozing with Northeast carbon pricing leaders
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) visited the MA State House to discuss his bill to price carbon at the national level.   He and I shared speaking duties; he discussed nationwide possibilities; I discussed initiatives at the state level.

Here we're joined by legislators from Massachusetts and other New England states.  From Left to right: MA Rep. Denise Provost, NH Rep. John Mann, MA Rep. Chris Walsh, Quebec Representative to New England Marie-Claude Francoeur, Sen. Whitehouse, Maine Rep. Bobbi Beavers, MA Sen. Jamie Eldridge, MA Rep. Frank Smizik, ME Rep. Deane Rykerson and CT Rep. James Albis.
Talking worldwide climate policy and U.S. politics
Young leaders from across Southeast Asia visited the U.S. recently to get a glimpse of American government -- local, state and federal.  Students came from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore.