Senator President Spilka: Fall Priorities, Legislative Accomplishments so far

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Updates from Beacon Hill & MetroWest Planning Next Steps for Fall...and Beyond. I hope your summer has gone well and you have been enjoying the weather. Like many of you, I am planning for the fall amidst excitement and uncertainty. The Massachusetts State Senate continues to consider and advance policies designed to protect the health and safety of our residents and promote economic resiliency and recovery during the pandemic. We are also poised to advance key policy initiatives to help residents in other ways. My priorities for this fall include: Taking action on Federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding to invest in critical areas with public input Making vote-by-mail a permanent option for Massachusetts voters    Addressing mental and behavioral health issues, including those stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic Completing our redistricting process to reflect population changes and ensure that everyone's voice is heard in the State House You can read more about these priorities in this online GBH article which came out recently.                                              I look forward to working with my colleagues on these and other items likely to come up as well this fall.  As always, my office is available if you need assistance or wish to share your opinion. You can email me at karen.spilka@masenate.gov or call 617-722-1500. Hope you enjoy the final weeks of summer! Warm regards, Twenty Years after 9/11 In our moments of profound loss, it is the coming together of community which upholds and sustains us. This was true 20 years ago today, in the immediate aftermath of the truly terrifying and absolutely devastating 9/11 attacks, and it is still true today. I know that words cannot express the tremendous grief felt by our nation over the tragedy which took place twenty years ago, but we can give voice to our gratitude for the heroism of the first responders, the rescue workers, and all the volunteers who rushed to the scene in the minutes, hours, and days after 9/11, and to the brave service men and women who answered the call to defend America in the months and years that followed. We can also remember who we are as a nation by recalling the countless acts of kindness in the days that followed and by affirming our bonds of community and our national commitment to the ideals of liberty, justice and compassion – ideals which are are hard-won and worth defending. At this very difficult time, I wish you peace and comfort, and most of all – remembrance of what was lost. The newsletter was shortened for publication here. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find an online copy of the contents. Your alternative is to sign up to get your own copy next time. Visit https://karenspilka.com/  and scroll to the bottom of the page for the form to subscribe