COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
I am honored to have been selected to serve on several important committees: the Joint Committee on Housing, the Joint Committee on Revenue, the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, and the new Joint House Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management.
I asked to serve on the COVID-19 Committee because the 14th Suffolk District has consistently been one of the hardest hit communities during this crisis. I know that the COVID-19 crisis has inflicted an enormous toll on our families and businesses. We must ensure that equity is at the center of not only our ongoing public health response, but our economic reopening strategies as well. I have been honored to participate in three public hearings as a Committee member working with our Chair and the other members of the Committee on this important issue.
I am also excited to get to work on the Joint Committee on Housing. As a former Boston City Councilor who chaired the Housing Committee for many years as well as the former Deputy Director of the Boston Home Center leading the City’s homeownership efforts, I understand first hand the importance of this issue and I am ready to continue that critical work in the State House.
I also look forward to serving on the Joint Committee on Revenue which governs federal financial assistance, state fees, and the raising of revenue for the State through taxation as well as the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. I was proud to vote in favor as a Committee member and on the House floor for the authorization to build a new soldier's home in Holyoke.
LEGISLATION
I have sponsored several bills and co-sponsored dozens of others. I am excited to advocate for these important legislative items and look forward to working with my colleagues towards passage of these bills.
For more information on bills I am sponsoring or cosponsoring, and to track their progress, please visit here.
I have also been proud to have taken several important votes since officially taking office on January 6th.
I have voted in favor of the groundbreaking “Next Generation Climate Roadmap” bill which overhauls the state’s climate laws, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, advances the clean energy industry, and prioritizes and protects environmental justice communities.
I also voted in favor of legislation that will make improvements to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and provide relief to employers and workers in the Commonwealth during the COVID-19 crisis. This comprehensive bill seeks to support those who have lost their jobs, protect our frontline workers by providing paid leave, and provide equitable relief to the small businesses that have fueled our local economies and given back to our communities during the pandemic.
FY2022 BUDGET
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget recently. This budget responsibly responds to the needs of residents and makes investments that set the state on a path toward economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded at $47.716 billion, the House’s FY22 budget continues its strong commitment to cities and towns, and includes significant investments in education, supportive services for vulnerable populations, and workforce and economic development, among other priorities.
The recently passed budget also includes funding for organizations and public open space in the 14th Suffolk District. I was proud to vote for a thoughtful and responsible budget that makes important and needed investments for my District, the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am thankful to Chair Michlewitz, Speaker Mariano and all my colleagues for supporting my amendments to bring resources to Doyle Playground in Hyde Park, the Menino Arts Center and funding to protect the Fowl Meadow in Readville, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
