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As we near the end of the year, I'm taking this moment to look back at everything we've accomplished together. From one-on-one conversations with constituents to district events and advancing legislation, it has been a busy and fulfilling year.
This year has also been challenging. We've witnessed a rise in hate crimes and antisemitism, continued attacks on reproductive health care across the country, and an increase in climate-related disasters. These challenges, however, fuel my commitment to this work, our communities, and the Commonwealth. It's an honor to serve you in the State Senate, and I will continue working hard for you and your families on Beacon Hill.
This month's Rausch Report includes a look back on a successful 2023 and a look forward to the work still ahead, a roundup of district events, a snapshot of upcoming community happenings, and more.
For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy holiday season and good things to come in the new year.
Yours in service,
Senator Becca Rausch
On the legislative front, my team and I have accomplished a lot this year for our constituents, our communities, and the Commonwealth:
Local and statewide funding wins: I'm proud to have secured millions of dollars in the FY 2024 budget for local and statewide initiatives, including funding for the continued implementation of a universal mental health screening program for students in grades 7 and 9 in Franklin, Town Common playground upgrades in Bellingham, fire department improvements in Norfolk and Plainville, a sustainability coordinator in Medfield, and much more. I am particularly proud of securing full funding for the Hey Sam mental youth text line, highest-ever funding of $350,000 for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and similarly highest-ever funding of $2.5 million for civics education for Massachusetts students.
Legislative wins: The legislative process is moving along and bills are beginning to progress through their respective committees. I filed more than 60 bills this term and all but 3 of them have had their hearings already. My legislative portfolio covers reproductive care, personal and public health, climate action and environmental justice, election reform, education, good governance, and more.
Committees must take some type of action on all bills timely filed this session by February 7, 2024, so we anticipate an increase in floor votes and activity in both the Senate and House chambers in the months ahead. You can track the status of a bill moving through the legislative process here. (Find some handy instructions here, under "how to track bills").
The Senate has already advanced some critical bills this term, such as tax relief, pay equity, and increasing health care access to pharmaceuticals, PrEP, and disposable menstrual products. This is in addition to our $56 billion annual budget and the recently finalized 2023 close-out budget, which funded collective bargaining agreements, special education tuition rate increases, disaster relief for municipalities impacted by storms and natural disasters that occurred in 2023, and more.
Committee Progress: I was also reappointed by the Senate President to serve as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Working collaboratively with my House co-chair, we've done initial assessments on more than 350 bills and held 10 hearings on topics such as plastics and waste management, environmental justice, air and water quality, animals, parks and open spaces, climate change, and waterways, oceans, and wetlands. In addition to this significant body of work, the Committee has been out in the field, touring Boston Harbor to advance discussions about preserving and protecting our harbors, coastlines, and waterways, and visiting Revere, Lynn, and Marblehead to bring focus to coastal resiliency, remediation, and carbon sequestration.
Caucus Leadership: I am honored to serve as an at-large board member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll met with members of the Women's Caucus this week to discuss the Caucus's strategic priorities to uplift and support women and girls in the Commonwealth.
Hate Crimes Task Force: I was recently appointed to the Hate Crimes Task Force and attended my first meeting this week. The Task Force's collective work to combat identity-based hatred and bigotry is profoundly important, and I am proud to be part of it.
Looking ahead: We have more work to do in 2024. My team and I continue to shepherd our bills through the legislative process with the goal of enacting good law and strong policy across a multitude of issues. Also, as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I am eager to continue my strong partnership with my House co-chair as we move through next level reviews and assessments of the hundreds of bills under our jurisdiction, utilizing the lenses of climate action and environmental justice.
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