Senator Rausch to host virtual Youth Town Hall - Mon, Nov 13

Students in grades 8-12 are welcome to attend via Zoom 

Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) will host a virtual Youth Town Hall via Zoom on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 7 PM. 

This Youth Town Hall is a unique opportunity for students from across the Senator's district to participate in the democratic process and discuss their top-of-mind issues. Students will be able to engage directly with the Senator and her staff and help to inform the Senator's legislative work. 

"My goal as a legislator is to listen to all of my constituents, including our young people," said Senator Rausch. "Students come to the table with unique and valuable perspectives and ideas about mental health care, public safety, education, and climate action, among other topics. I am eager to hear their insights and bring them with me to Beacon Hill."  

This virtual Youth Town Hall is part of a series of youth engagement opportunities Senator Rausch and her team have convened. Senator Rausch held her first youth town hall in 2021, engaging with students from across the district about their policy priorities and pending legislation. Students spoke clearly about their need for additional mental health support that was more accessible and confidential. Motivated by their words, Senator Rausch secured funding in the FY22, FY23, and FY24 budgets to create and support Hey Sam – a safe, anonymous, confidential, peer-to-peer text service designed for and staffed by young people to give youth an accessible place to turn for mental health support.  

Senator Rausch to host town halls

Senator Rausch's Youth Town Hall is open exclusively to students in grades 8-12, inclusive, who live or study in Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sherborn, or Wrentham. 

For more information and to register, please visit www.beccarauschma.com/townhalls.  

Senator Becca Rausch represents the Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex District, comprised of Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sherborn, and Wrentham. Now in her third term, Senator Rausch serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, the Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, and the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on the Census. 

Rausch Report: Autumn on Beacon Hill (October 2023)

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser Dear Friend, Sadly, these continue to be difficult days for many of us, with yet another mass shooting, the continually emerging horrors of Hamas's terrorism during the Simchat Torah October 7 massacre, and astronomically rising anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred, bigotry, and violence. Just as we see this rise in antisemitism, we also see a rise in Islamophobia. As President Biden has stated, identity-based hatred in all its forms must be rejected unequivocally. I have always held this core value, and I always will. Consistent with this value, I have also been unequivocal in my condemnation of Hamas, whose barbaric acts of evil reflect their utter loathing of the Jewish people. I have heard from many of you in these last few weeks with both asks for and offers of support. Thank you for your messages. Please know that my team and I continue to extend support to you as we all continue to navigate this immensely challenging and heartbreaking time. Remember that mental health support is just a call or text away via Hey Sam and 988.  This month's Rausch Report includes legislative updates, details on my upcoming virtual Youth Town Hall, a roundup of district events, some spooky family fun happening in the district, 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.    Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Resolution Supporting Israel  I co-authored a Massachusetts Senate resolution in support of the people of Israel, the victims of Hamas's terrorist attack, and those who are being held hostage. My Jewish colleagues and I presented the resolution during our October 12 session, reading it into the record together, standing in solidarity and community.   Addressing Pay Inequities  Last week I voted alongside my colleagues to pass legislation aimed at tackling pay inequities in the Commonwealth, which significantly and disproportionately impact women and people of color. The bill, known as the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, targets these inequities by empowering employees and prospective candidates with salary information, including when they are seeking jobs and receiving promotions, and by creating new data tools for the state to track employment trends. The House and Senate will now reconcile the differences between their versions of this bill before sending it to the Governor's desk for her signature.  Health Care Access and Equity Earlier today I voted YES on the Senate floor on two bills aiming to increase health care access and equity in the Commonwealth:  S.2480, An act enabling pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer PrEP: This bill authorizes pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, and administer a short-term supply of HIV prevention drugs, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The bill requires pharmacists to provide counseling to patients regarding the ongoing use of PrEP and connect patients who need a referral with primary care providers for ongoing care and obtaining a prescription for PrEP. S.2481, An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products: This bill ensures menstrual products be provided at no cost and free of stigma in public schools, homeless shelters, and prisons.  Midwives Advocacy Day I joined Bay State Birth Coalition and statewide advocates to call for long-overdue midwifery care in Massachusetts by passing legislation I filed alongside Representative Brandy Fluker-Oakley and Representative Kay Khan. Attendees heard from families, midwives, physicians, community leaders, and legislators about how midwives are a solution to the Commonwealth's maternal health crisis.   Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133   The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, follow this link ->  https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-17080677

Senator Rausch schedules Central Region Town Hall on October 30 at Norfolk Public Library

View this email in your browser Dear Franklin Resident, A quick reminder to please join me and my team at our upcoming Town Hall in the Central Region of our district this coming Monday, October 30 at 6pm at the Norfolk Public Library. We will give some legislative and other updates from Beacon Hill, and chat about your questions, comments, and ideas. Residents from any part of the district are invited to attend. We will be joined by our partners in local government and State Representative Marcus Vaughn. I hope to see you there. Senator Rausch schedules Central Region Town Hall When: October 30, 2023 at 6pm (doors open at 5:45pm) Where: Norfolk Public Library, 2 Liberty Lane As always, 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. Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Senator Rausch: Southern Region Town Hall on October 16 at the Franklin Senior Center

View this email in your browser Dear Friend, A quick reminder to please join me and my team at our upcoming Town Hall in the Southern Region of our district this coming Monday, October 16 at 6pm at the Franklin Senior Center. We will give some legislative and other updates from Beacon Hill, and chat about your questions, comments, and ideas. Residents from any part of the district are invited to attend whichever Town Hall is most convenient for them. We will be joined by our partners in local government. I hope to see you there. When: October 16, 2023 at 6pm (doors open at 5:45pm) Where: Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street Can't make this Town Hall? No problem! Take a look at the schedule for our remaining Town Hall later this month. As always, 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. Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215                            24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133