All Posts - Page 11 of 25

Massachusetts House of Representatives Passes $4.2 Billion Economic Development Bill

(BOSTON) - This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass an economic development bill, which utilizes American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) surplus funds, and bonds to make significant investments across several vital sectors of the economy, and to give back to low and middle-income residents in Massachusetts by providing one-time rebates and significant tax relief beginning in 2023. Funded at $4.2 billion, the legislation addresses disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic through one-time investments in health and human services, the environment and climate mitigation, economic development, housing, and food insecurity. Earlier this session, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill appropriating $4 billion in ARPA and FY21 surplus funds. Just over $1 billion remains in ARPA funds, which must be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026. “The targeted investments and tax relief included in this legislation will . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-07-15T13:00:49-04:00July 15th, 2022|Budget and Grants, Other Topics, Transportation + Infrastructure|

Massachusetts House of Representatives Passes Legislation Supporting Military Families, Bolstering Veterans’ Services

(BOSTON) - On Thursday, July 7, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass H.4978, An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents on a unanimous 154-0 vote. The bill increases support for veterans and military families by reforming licensing requirements and expanding access to information about open burn pit exposure. The legislation also authorizes slot machines at veterans' organizations, honors service members who died as a result of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder or other diseases linked to their time in action, and requires formal recognition for the founding dates of various branches of the United States Armed Forces. “This bill reflects the legislature’s commitment to improving the lives of our veterans here in the Commonwealth. It is only fitting that we strive to give back to those who have given so much in the course of their . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-07-12T12:25:36-04:00July 12th, 2022|Seniors + Veterans|

It’s Time to Build Stable, Supportive Housing in Massachusetts

In Commonwealth Magazine COVID-19 HAS LAID bare the inadequacy of a safety net system here in Massachusetts, from workforce shortages to the lack of a viable public health response for adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness on a day-to-day basis. The pandemic has pushed our statewide response system to the limit — further straining the state’s critical services and supports that keep low-income households stable. Many people are stretched thin and need help. Now is the time for the Massachusetts Legislature to take coordinated, comprehensive action to ensure that these resources are deployed effectively and equitably. By transforming our approach to homelessness, we can move from a crisis response to investing in vulnerable adults, families, and youth for more stable lives. And that’s exactly what House Bill 3838 does. An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible housing subsidy pool program to address the medically complex needs of . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-07-01T11:29:01-04:00July 1st, 2022|Housing|

Hingham’s Leavitt Sutton and Maguire-Eisen Recognized as Commonwealth Heroines by Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators

(BOSTON) - On Wednesday, Hingham residents Katie Leavitt Sutton and Maryellen Maguire-Eisen received recognition from the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators during the Caucus’s annual Commonwealth Heroine Awards celebration. Sutton was nominated to receive this recognition by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) for the work she does to foster community and champion anti-racism in Hingham and beyond, and Maguire-Eisen was nominated by State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) for her extensive work to encourage sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Commonwealth Heroines are women who have been chosen by their legislators for their extraordinary acts of service. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women says that the women who are recognized “perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live.” As Chair of the Hingham Unity Council, a non-partisan group that seeks to bridge differences and build a culture of dignity and . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-06-27T11:56:06-04:00June 24th, 2022|Other Topics|

House of Representatives Passes Groundbreaking Mental Health Legislation

(BOSTON) - On Thursday, June 16, Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass H.4879, An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health on a unanimous 155-0 vote. The bill aims to bolster mental health services in the Commonwealth by taking steps to address mental health parity, increasing access to youth behavioral health care, implementing the federally created 988 crisis hotline, and addressing emergency room boarding, in addition to several other updates related to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment. Some highlights in the legislation include: Taking a major step toward implementing and enforcing mental health parity, the concept that insurance coverage for mental health care should be equal to insurance coverage for any other medical condition; Expanding insurance coverage of critical behavioral health services, including annual wellness exams comparable to existing annual physical exams; Requiring MassHealth to cover postpartum depression . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-06-17T12:15:40-04:00June 17th, 2022|Public Health|

Representative Meschino Joins MA Hunger-Free Campus Coalition Press Conference

(BOSTON) – This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined the Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester), Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Representative Andy Vargas (D-Haverhill), and Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) for a press conference in support of legislation (H.1368/S.2811) that will establish a hunger-free campus program. The bill would create an Office of Capacity Building Services within the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to offer funding, technical assistance, and grant opportunities to campuses that hope to address food insecurity. The legislation will also incentivize campuses to leverage existing resources and maximize enrollment in federal nutrition programs. Additionally, the bill will push campuses to create student-led food insecurity task forces designed to explore anti-hunger initiatives that can be considered for grant funding. Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) supports this bill as a logical next step following her successful advocacy for legislation she filed with Senator Lovely, An Act establishing . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-06-03T15:06:49-04:00June 3rd, 2022|Other Topics, Public Health|

United Way, MHSA, CHAPA, Housing Advocates Support Baker-Polito Administration’s New Targeted, Flexible Funding Pilot to Support Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness

Press Release by United Way (BOSTON) – United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA), Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), Pine Street Inn, Father Bill’s & MainSpring, and Heading Home today announce their support of the Baker-Polito Administration’s proposed new “One Door” pilot program to provide permanent supportive housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The organizations praise Governor Baker’s proposal to pilot a new approach that would streamline the funding of permanent supportive housing and enable individuals, families, youth and young adults experiencing homelessness to access safe, stable housing and services more quickly and seamlessly. On Thursday, May 19, Governor Baker filed a $1.7 billion supplemental Fiscal Year 2022 budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which included $10 million in funding towards permanent supportive housing operating and service costs for individuals, youth and young adults, and families experiencing homelessness. Research . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-05-26T12:21:51-04:00May 25th, 2022|Housing|

Representative Joan Meschino Receives Environmental League of Massachusetts Award for Environmental Leadership

(BOSTON) - On May 19, 2022, the Environmental League of Massachusetts presented Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) with a Commonwealth Environmental Leader award during the organization’s annual Earth Night celebration, hosted this year at the New England Aquarium. The award recognizes Representative Meschino’s robust climate advocacy during her professional career and as a member of the Massachusetts state legislature. Other recipients of the award included María Belén Power and Andrea Nyamekye, co-leaders of the Massachusetts Environmental Justice (EJ) Legislative Table, Mass General Brigham, and Jeremy Grantham, an environmental philanthropist and co-founder of the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. “I was honored to receive one of the Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Environmental Leader awards,” said Representative Meschino. “From championing the Next Generation Climate Roadmap in the legislature to improving climate resilience in our communities, combatting the climate crisis has . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-05-20T10:36:08-04:00May 20th, 2022|Energy + Environment|

Representative Meschino Continues to Offer Climate Presentations to Groups, Communities Across Commonwealth

(BOSTON) - This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined the founder of the Massachusetts chapter of Elders Climate Action and seniors in Lasell Village to offer a presentation on the Next Generation Climate Roadmap, its implementation, and the Commonwealth’s next steps in tackling the climate crisis. Since the passage of the Next Generation Climate Roadmap, Representative Meschino has given dozens of these presentations to various groups across Massachusetts. During most presentations, Representative Meschino outlines the key components of the Roadmap, reviews emerging climate legislation and her own bills in the energy and environment space, and offers thoughts on the future of climate legislation in the Commonwealth. Representative Meschino has also given presentations on environmental justice and the decarbonization of the transportation sector to national groups like Climate XChange and Ceres. “It is promising that so many groups and leaders across the Commonwealth have taken such an interest in the . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-05-13T11:21:52-04:00May 13th, 2022|Energy + Environment|

House Passes FY23 Budget, Supporting Residents’ Needs and Making Targeted Investments

BOSTON – April 29, 2022 – Late Wednesday evening, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass the state budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Funded at $49.73 billion, the budget responsibly addresses the needs of residents and makes targeted investments to support families in the Commonwealth. This budget continues its strong commitment to cities and towns, and includes significant investments in health care, education, housing, and workforce development, among other priorities. “This budget reflects yet another year of meaningful investments to support residents of the Commonwealth,” said Representative Meschino (D-Hull). “I am dedicated to advocating for the line items that matter most to our communities and the people who live here on the South Shore.” Representative Meschino was able to secure funding for several key priorities for the 3rd Plymouth District, including full funding for state aid for public libraries and increased . . . Read More

Joan Meschino2022-04-29T10:44:07-04:00April 29th, 2022|Budget and Grants|