June 2024 | The Stanley Report 

Dear Friend,

June's issue of The Stanley Report includes the latest news from Waltham and Beacon Hill.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

Sincerely,

Tom Stanley

Rep. Stanley attended a Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony where his colleague and friend Representative Sean Garballey received the Jack Brett Champions Award.  

Rep. Stanley with Ryan Chartier, who received the Outstanding Student Award at the Stanley Elementary 5th Grade Graduation Celebration. 

Rep. Stanley visited Ardelyx in Waltham for a tour of their HQ and a meeting with their leadership team to learn more about the company's history and mission. Ardelyx specializes in developing therapies to treat kidney and gastrointestinal diseases. 

Rep. Stanley with Waltham Recreation Department Director Kim Herbert and Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris at the Waltham Recreation Department's Spring Fest at Prospect Hill Park.  

Rep. Stanley met with the new Chaplains on the Way leadership team, Executive Director Michael Jones and President Louise Raichin. The group is committed to serving the homeless in Waltham.

Rep. Stanley attended the Waltham Centennial Scholarship Foundation 2024 Awards Night.

Rep. Stanley Celebrates Retirement of Jack Cox with Waltham Community

Congratulations to Jack Cox on his 48 years of dedicated service to the Waltham Public Schools. Jack, a history teacher, coach, and local historian, taught at Waltham High School for nearly 50 years, mentoring and guiding hundreds of students. Rep. Stanley was honored to attend Jack's retirement celebration at the Paine Estate on June 6th, joined by School Committee Member James Zanghi, Councilor-at-Large Kathy McMenimen, former City Councilor Gary Marchese, Ward 9 Councilor Robert Logan, and Mayor Jeannette McCarthy. Jack's commitment to education and his role as a community leader have left a lasting impact on Waltham.

(Photo Credit: Peter Lobo, The Waltham Channel)

Reps. Stanley and Lawn Join House Majority to Pass Major Health Care Legislation

Rep. Stanley and Rep. John Lawn joined the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass comprehensive legislation that aims to restore stability to the health care system, bolster accountability within the industry, and control health care spending to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts has access to quality, affordable health care. The bill also includes important updates to how the Commonwealth regulates and monitors the health care market, informed by the Steward Health Care crisis.

To prevent hospitals and other providers from exploiting the same gaps in the state’s regulatory structure that Steward Health Care exposed, the bill makes important updates to the Commonwealth’s laws that govern the oversight of hospital systems and other provider organizations.

Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Parentage Act

Rep. Stanley and the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed “An Act to ensure legal parentage equality,” which updates the Commonwealth’s parentage laws to reflect modern-day families, including those with children born to LGBTQ+ families, and through methods such as assisted reproduction and surrogacy.

Parental rights and responsibilities are broad and include, for example, the ability to attend and make decisions during medical appointments, manage a child’s finances, participate in educational decisions, and provide authorizations for a child’s travel. While Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage 20 years ago, LGBTQ+ residents continue to face significant barriers in obtaining full legal recognition as a parent. The bill passed updates the Commonwealth’s laws so common paths to parentage may be utilized equally by all families, regardless of marital status. It also creates a new path to parentage for individuals who are “de facto” parents and ensures that every child has the same rights and protections to parentage without regard to the marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation of their parents, or the circumstances of their birth.

Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Pass Housing Bond Bill

Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the House passed “An Act relative to the Affordable Homes Act,” which includes $6.5 billion in bond authorizations, tax credits, and over 20 policy initiatives that promote housing production, facilitate the development of affordable housing, and preserve public housing in Massachusetts.

To facilitate an increase in housing development outside the Greater Boston area, the bill includes $1 billion to allow for the potential to expand the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s water system. The bill also includes a new $150 million program to help municipalities convert commercial properties into multi-unit residential or mixed-use properties. After project completion, project sponsors would be eligible for a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the development costs. The bill includes a new tax credit to incentivize production of homeownership units targeting households with incomes of up to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). Additionally, the bill makes permanent the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC), while expanding the statewide cap on donations from $12 million to $15 million and extends the sunset of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit through December 31, 2030, while increasing the total available amount from $55 million to $110 million.

Representative Stanley Helps Pass Landmark Veterans Legislation

Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the House passed legislation that honors veterans in Massachusetts by broadening the definition of a veteran, increasing tax credits and state benefits that they are eligible for, and modernizing the services that they rely on. “An Act honoring, empowering, and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans (HERO Act),” will impact hundreds of thousands of veterans living in Massachusetts.

The bill broadens the definition of “veteran” for the purposes of expanding veteran benefits eligibility, and to better align it with federal law. This new definition includes any person that served on active duty for at least 90 days, and whose last discharge was under conditions other than dishonorable; any person that served on active duty, in the National Guard or as a reservist, including solely for training purposes and was awarded a service-connected disability, or died in such service; and any person determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who are current Massachusetts residents will be eligible for benefits, regardless of how long they have resided here.

Rep. Stanley, Massachusetts House Pass Opioid Bill

Rep. Stanley helped pass a wide-ranging opioid bill which covers the licensure of recovery coaches, makes opioid overdose reversal drugs more accessible, protects harm reduction providers, and removes barriers that new mothers in recovery face at the time they give birth.

“With the passage of this comprehensive opioid bill, we continue this commitment to evolving our legislative framework to address the urgent public health crisis posed by the opioid epidemic,” said Representative Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham). “By enhancing access to life-saving treatments and support services, and protecting those who provide and seek harm reduction resources, we are taking crucial steps to save lives and support families affected by substance use disorders. This legislation embodies our ongoing dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of all our residents.”

In 2023, there were 2,125 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, according to the latest data published by the Department of Public Health (DPH). In 2023, there were 232 fewer confirmed and estimated deaths than 2022.

Waltham Receives Fire Safety's Student Awareness Grant

Rep. Stanley announced that Waltham received an $8,500 grant from the Department of Fire Safety's (DFS) Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program and a $2,900 grant from the DFS Senior SAFE program to support fire and life safety education for school-age children and older adults.

Since 1995, the SAF) grant program has supported firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate fire safety education to kids and teens across Massachusetts. In that time, the number of children who die in fires has dropped to historically low levels, from two dozen or more per year to zero for nearly three consecutive years. In 2014, DFS launched the Senior SAFE program, which is geared toward another vulnerable population – older adults, who face a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in a fire.

WATCH CDC Receives Community Investment Tax Credit Funding

Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Secretary Ed Augustus announced that WATCH CDC received a $300,000 allocation from the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) Program. The CITC Program enables local residents and stakeholders to work with and through CDCs to partner with nonprofit, public, and private entities to improve economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households and other residents in urban, rural, and suburban communities across the Commonwealth. CDCs accomplish this through adoption of Community Investment Plans (CIP) to undertake community development programs, policies, and activities.  

Massachusetts House Passes Information Technology Bond Bill

Rep. Stanley and the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, also known as the FutureTech Act. This bill authorizes $1.23 billion in bonded spending and utilizes an additional $400 million in anticipated federal funding to bolster critical information technology projects across the Commonwealth. The initiatives included in the bill aim to modernize the Commonwealth’s information technology infrastructure, enabling agencies to operate with enhanced efficiency while also upgrading cybersecurity efforts. By investing in these advancements, Massachusetts seeks to broaden access to vital services and information, ultimately enhancing the digital landscape and user experience for all residents.

Rep. Stanley Attends Waltham Early Education Events

In May, Rep. Stanley attended the Waltham Family School Showcase and Waltham Creative Start's Legislative Breakfast. At the Waltham Family School Showcase, he learned about the school's vital work with young English language learners and their parents, and enjoyed a musical performance by the students. During the annual Legislative Breakfast at Waltham Creative Start (Head Start Preschool), Rep. Stanley met with parents and staff to discuss the importance of early childhood care and access for families in Waltham and throughout the Commonwealth.

Rep. Stanley Attends DESE Regional Civics Project Showcase



Rep. Stanley attended the DESE Regional Civics Project Showcase at the DCU Center in Worcester, where over 300 8th-12th grade students presented their civics projects in a "science fair"-style event. Several student groups from Waltham participated, showcasing their impressive projects.

Rep. Stanley Attends Waltham Partnership for Youth Partner Celebration

Rep. Stanley attended the Waltham Partnership for Youth Partner Celebration at Bentley University. The event brought together over 200 leaders from the city’s educational, municipal, and business sectors to showcase WPY’s community partnerships that powerfully impact Waltham youth.

Rep. Stanley Attends McKenna Playground & Logan Park Community Input Meeting

Rep. Stanley attended a Community Input Meeting for McKenna Playground and Logan Park improvements, hosted by the Waltham Recreation and Planning Departments, alongside Councilors Cathyann Harris and Robert Logan, at the 510 Moody Street Auditorium. This meeting was a follow-up to the initial community input session held on January 31st. Ideas shared during that first meeting have been developed into plans, which were reviewed at this May meeting. 

Rep. Stanley Attends Latino Empowerment Council Meeting in Waltham

Rep. Stanley attended Gov. Healey's Latino Empowerment Council Listening Session at Waltham High School, where members of Waltham's Latino community shared their priorities for the Governor's Council Report. The session covered a range of topics, including housing, education, and workforce development.

Rep. Stanley Attends Health Assisting Pinning Ceremony

Rep. Stanley attended the Health Assisting Pinning Ceremony for Waltham High School's Class of 2024 graduates. The Health Assisting Program, taught by Julie Fournier and Ellen Darcy, is part of the school's Career Vocational Technical Education Programs. This program prepares students for high-demand healthcare careers through theoretical and practical instruction in therapeutic, diagnostic, and administrative areas, with a focus on obtaining Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification. The curriculum integrates medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, nutrition, biology, and includes courses in Medical Terminology, Introduction to Electrocardiography, Introduction to Phlebotomy, and Home Care Aide training. Students gain clinical experience in local healthcare facilities and are prepared to take the Massachusetts Department of Public Health certification exam for Nurse Assistants, often continuing their education in nursing or allied health fields.

Rep. Stanley Welcomes Steve Walsh to State House

Rep. Stanley’s friend and former colleague, Steve Walsh, CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, stopped by the State House to present MHHA's new report, "Causes and Consequences: Inside the Healthcare Crisis." The report highlights the pressing challenges our healthcare system is facing, from workforce shortages to capacity issues, and outlines the path forward to address them. The House recently passed legislation (H.4643) aimed at addressing some of the most urgent issues facing our hospitals. Read the full report. 

Introducing the Better Bus Project!

As part of a $9.6 billion, five-year capital investment plan, the MBTA is working to improve bus service with the Better Bus Project. In partnership with more than 50 municipalities and MassDOT, the MBTA keeps 1,000 buses operating, carrying about 400,000 riders each day.  To learn more about the Better Bus Project Update, a resource for keeping up to date on the latest information on improvements, projects, and events related to the MBTA’s bus network, click here.  

Legal Assistance Available!

MassLegalHelp.org, a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts civil legal aid community, offers over 800 pieces of content in article, e-book, and video format. This comprehensive legal information website serves as a valuable resource for residents facing various legal challenges. Whether individuals are dealing with landlord-tenant disputes, appealing denied SNAP benefits, seeking domestic violence restraining orders, understanding their rights in ICE detention situations, or navigating CORI sealing processes, MassLegalHelp.org provides accessible and empowering self-help materials. Learn more. 

Regan's Corner

Meet Regan! Rep. Stanley and his family rescued a pup and named her Regan. Regan loves long walks, playing games in the yard, making friends and lounging with Rep. Stanley!

Help an animal find a home! Learn more about The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and ways you can help.

The Animal Rescue League continues to support legislation that enhances and improves protections for animals, and to oppose reforms that endanger the welfare of animals in Massachusetts. Learn more about ARL's current legislative agenda here.

About Rep. Stanley

State Representative

City Council

Former City Council President

State Committee:

Co-Chairperson, Joint Committee on Elder Affairs

Member of:

Massachusetts Elder Nutrition Commission

Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias

City Council:

Veterans Committee

Economic Development Committee

Committee of the Whole

Education: Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)

Community Involvement (Past & Present):

Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Youth Basketball Association, Basketball Plus Program, Central Middle School Basketball, Little Nippers Baseball, Warrendale Little League, Waltham Youth Soccer, Waltham Police Athletic League, CCD Teacher, St. Jude Church, Waltham Lions Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Reagle Players Board of Directors, Warrendale Little League Board of Directors, Waltham Partnership for Youth Board of Directors, Waltham Day Center (Homeless) Advisors Board, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe & Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Waltham Public Library Planning Committee, Waltham Sons of Italy, Middlesex Area Enough Abuse Campaign

Awards: 

Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center, Community Health Center Leader Award, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Dignity Award Certificate of Appreciation,

Home Care Ally Award, Home Care Aid Council

Personal:

Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss

Children: Ryan, age 30, Parker, age 21 & puppy Regan