Working
for Massachusetts Residents
MILITARY ISSUES
- Senator Kerry was able to secure $20 million dollars for VA Vet Centers,
many of which are located right here in Massachusetts.
- After the Walter Reed scandal, Senator Kerry visited two local
VA Hospitals, to visit patients and meet with staff, and hear firsthand
from our soldiers and their families about what we can do to keep
our nation’s
promise to our veterans. He visited the West Roxbury VA Hospital
and the Northampton VA Hospital. Kerry has long worked on veterans’ health
care issues.
- Over the last 18 months, Kerry has introduced several pieces of legislation
to help fund better care for our returning soldiers, including
a recent push for $18 million for additional mental health staffing assistance.
- Senator Kerry visited the Weymouth home of World War II veteran
Bill Garvey to present him with three World War I medals earned
by Garvey’s
late uncle and namesake, William Henry Garvey, who was killed in
action in France on Nov. 10, 1918. The Garveys had been trying to obtain
the medals
from the Army for years, but were unable to due to technical restrictions.
Senator Kerry was able to obtain the medals and finally present
them properly to the family. Garvey said, “Now I can die happy.”
- Last month, Senator Kerry attended a farewell ceremony for a battalion
on its way to Iraq. He met with soldiers to tell them just how
much Massachusetts and their country appreciate their service, and that
we will keep our promise
to them when they return home. He also stressed the importance
of supporting the family and friends left behind.
- Kerry urged the Secretary of Defense to reconsider a plan that
would change the benefits of active duty National Guard soldiers
mid-rotation. Kerry argued that any changes would place an unnecessary
financial burden
on approximately 500 Massachusetts families. As a result of the
designation change, guard members will lose their Imminent Danger
Pay and various other
economic entitlements, putting an unnecessary financial burden
on their families back home. Kerry said “when these brave men and
women signed on for their service, they were told one thing – and
now they’re
being told another.”
APPROPRIATIONS
- Kerry, along with Senator Kennedy and Congressmen Frank and McGovern,
has been instrumental in getting funding for the SouthCoast Commuter Rail
project. Since 2005, they've been able to secure approximately $11.5 million for the rail extension project since 2005. Kerry believes that the commuter rail is a smart investment for the south coast of Massachusetts.
- Kerry has been instrumental in helping Fire Stations and Police
Stations across the state receive millions of dollars in funding.
ENVIRONMENT
- Last year Senator John Kerry sent a letter to Senate President
Robert Travaglini, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, and others urging
both the House and Senate to consider legislation that directs the Department
of Environmental Protection to fully comply with the Regional Greenhouse
Gas Initiative.
- Since Governor Patrick took office, Massachusetts has rejoined
RGGI. Kerry praised Patrick’s decision earlier this year. “Governor
Patrick made the right decision to overturn the previous administration’s
intransigence and re-engage in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Global climate change is one of the most urgent challenges facing our country
and
I’m proud that Massachusetts is stepping up to the plate to tackle
greenhouse gas emissions. This is the right decision for our environment,
our economy and our security.”
- Kerry has spoken out on environmental issues throughout the state.
A few months ago, Kerry reacted to the Environmental League of
Massachusetts’ new “State
of the Environment” Report. Kerry said, the “report from the
Environmental League of Massachusetts lays out some startling truths
about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the overall condition of
our
environment. Under Republican Leadership at the state and federal
levels, we have gone backwards. 2006 will be remembered for sky-rocketing
gas prices,
record-high oil company profits, an acknowledgement by even President
Bush that America is addicted to oil, the Alaska BP pipeline spill, and
a widespread
recognition that human activity is causing global warming to happen
far more quickly than previously thought. It's more clear than ever before
that
it's time for a change when it comes to energy, the environment,
and public health.”
- Kerry has consistently spoken out against an LNG facility in downtown
Fall River. He thinks a facility in a populated area like Fall
River is irresponsible and unsafe for residents. The proposed site for the
terminal
is within one mile of five schools, an elderly housing complex
and residences for 9000 people. If an accident or terrorist attack were
to occur, people
in this area might be victims of a huge explosion. In addition
to the safety risks to humans, this project poses numerous additional risks
directly correlated
to the navigation of the tankers. Under the proposal, tankers will
have to navigate up to 31 miles of Narragansett Bay and the Taunton River,
requiring
several complex navigational maneuvers in order to pass under the
local bridges. Significant questions remain over the company's assertion
that
this can be done safely on a consistent basis given the challenges
presented by our unique waterways. For instance, the maneuver requires a
vessel to
transit through one bridge opening, stop, be pushed sideways by
tugs for about 100 feet to align with the next bridge, then proceed forward.
Is it
any wonder that the Coast Guard has said that there is “no margin
for navigational error, and [the transit plan] appears unsuitable
in its current state?” Kerry has spoken with various federal and local
officials, including Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, about the dangers of
this facility
and about finding a more comprehensive way of siting LNG facilities.
Kerry also attended a rally in Fall River protesting the proposed facility.
BUSINESS
- As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, on which he has served as the top Democrat for the past decade, Senator Kerry is working to leverage all the resources available so Massachusetts small firms can maximize their role in the national and global economy.
- Senator Kerry hosted two procurement conferences in the state over the
last year - one in Lawrence, the other in Boston. With nearly 640,000
small firms in Massachusetts, small businesses are the backbone
of the state's economy, creating some $30 billion in annual state
revenues and
employing
roughly 1.5 million people. Senator Kerry's conferences brought
together small businesses and contracting officials from federal,
state, and local
government procurement offices, as well as hospitals, colleges
and universities, prime contractors and independent franchisers.
Additionally, several banks
and other lending institutions were available to discuss small
business loans and provide financial counseling.
- Senator Kerry met with members of the Mass Entrepreneurship Forum. The forum was the first-ever gathering of technology entrepreneurship programs and organizations within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts ranks second in the nation in the total number of SBIR awards, proving the Bay State plays a pivotal role in developing technologies that keep the U.S. on the cutting-edge of global innovation.
- In the 109th Congress, Senator Kerry held a field hearing to examine the small business programs available to Massachusetts veterans and reservists in order to help expand economic opportunities for them through his Military Family Bill of Rights legislation.
MASHA'S LAW
- John Kerry was instrumental in passing legislation to close loopholes
in current child Internet pornography laws. Kerry succeeded in
including "Masha's Law" in the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act,
which was signed into law last summer. Kerry was inspired to write
"Masha's
Law" after
hearing the story of Masha Allen. Kerry and Masha unveiled the
legislation together
at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
in January. Masha was adopted from a Russian orphanage at age five
by a man
who began sexually abusing her the night she arrived. He has since
been found guilty of 11 counts of child sexual abuse, but Masha's
images - hundreds of them - are on the Internet and being downloaded
around the world. In
fact, half of all identified of child pornographers have downloaded
pictures of Masha. Yet this courageous teenager tells her story
to raise awareness
so others are spared her unspeakable horror. Masha's Law will dramatically
increase penalties for anyone who downloads child pornography off
the Internet, raising the civil penalties from $50,000 to $150,000
- the equivalent of illegally downloading songs from the Internet. And,
it will fix the law
to allow victims ages 18 or older to recover damages from those
who downloaded images of them taken while they were children.
- Senator John Kerry nominated the Massachusetts Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children for the Congressional Coalition
on Adoption’s
Angels in Adoption award. The award recognizes a group that has
made a difference in the lives of children through adoption, foster care
of child
welfare advocacy.
IMMIGRATION
- Senator John Kerry visited families and friends of those who were swept
up in an immigration raid in New Bedford. The events in New Bedford
shined a light on a tragically broken immigration system and remind us all
that
too many American companies brazenly break our immigration laws.
These companies have been emboldened by the fact that, for too long, there
has been no accountability
for illegal hiring practices. We desperately need to pass comprehensive
immigration reform. Last year, millions of Americans demonstrated
they were ready for comprehensive immigration reform by marching in our
nation's largest
cities. The Senate responded and passed comprehensive immigration
reform. It is time for the President to step up and make it a reality.
- Kerry urged the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement director
to request an explanation into the immigration raid, and urged
the agency to work as quickly as possible to reunite the stranded children
with their
parents.
- Kerry called Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff,
as well as sending him a letter demanding answers regarding the
immigration raid. He requested that a thorough investigation be launched
into how the
raid was prepared and executed. In addition, Kerry also raised
concerns about how the target of an ICE criminal investigation could also
be the
recipient of lucrative DOD contracts.
CRIME
- Kerry hosted a 'Conversation on Crime' with Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray,
Attorney General Martha Coakley and various other federal, state
and local officials. The attendees discusses the root causes of
crime among juveniles
and the steps needed to provide increased resources for education
and crime prevention in communities across Massachusetts. The meeting
was a first
of its kind - gathering together officials from all levels of government
in a collaborative way to help find a solution to the state's growing
crime problem. Kerry said "We are feeling the affects of America's
crime epidemic right here in Massachusetts. But I believe we can
help fix this tragic problem. Friday's meeting was a great first
step, but much, much more needs to be done. We owe it to the thousands
of victims of crime in this state to do
that work," said Senator Kerry. "We've identified core problems
and have raised solutions for a clear-cut way to fix the problem.
Massachusetts residents don't want to hear more of the same rhetoric
on this issue. They want answers and they want solutions, and we
must give them both.
The time to try and
help reduce crime throughout the Commonwealth is now."
- On Martin Luther King Day, Senator Kerry sat down with a group
of ten Boston young people at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic
Center in Roxbury to have a frank, private discussion about violence and
what they
are going through in their lives and neighborhoods. The Senator
solicited their thoughts and experiences as they talked about the high level
of violence
in 2006, and to collaborate on ideas for preventing violence and
reaching at-risk youth as a new year begins.
HEALTH CARE
- Kerry attended a health care rally at Children's Hospital in Boston.
He advocated for expanding health care for thousands of children
in Massachusetts and throughout the country. The rally came on
the heels of an announcement
about a new report saying that voters across Massachusetts and
New England overwhelmingly support major funding expansions for
MassHealth and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), a federal-state partnership
that covers low-income children who don't otherwise have health
care insurance. Kerry will also continue to advocate for his Kids
First Act which
will build on the proven success of Medicaid and S-CHIP programs
and would federalize
all Medicaid costs for beneficiaries under age 21 that are below
the poverty level. In exchange, the federal government and states
would agree to expand
S-CHIP for children in higher income families. It would also help
reduce the barriers to enrollment that keep so many eligible children
un-enrolled.
OTHER
- Kerry sent a letter to the Portuguese Ambassador to the United States,
urging him not to close the Portuguese Consulate in the City of New Bedford.
New Bedford is home to thousands of Portuguese-Americans.
- Kerry asked the Department of Health and Human Service to investigate
claims of a cover-up at the CDC. The CDC allegedly blocked an investigation
into the deaths of six firefighters whose personal safety equipment
failed, and that the Centers failed to take action until nine additional
firefighters
died under similar circumstances.
- Kerry urged the Department of Justice’s Inspector General
to provide an explanation as to why the families of dozens of firefighters,
police officers and EMTs across the country are not receiving benefits
promised to them under the Hometown Heroes Act of 2003. Kerry also requested
an investigation
into the DOJ’s handling of various death benefit claims.
- Kerry honored the famed Tuskegee Airmen for receiving the Congressional
Medal of Honor, the most prestigious award Congress can bestow.
Kerry said “The
Tuskegee Airmen helped remind a resistant nation that heroism knows
no skin color. They served their country above and beyond the call of duty.
I am
honored to congratulate each and every one of them for their service,
their bravery, their undeniable patriotism and their utter dedication to
a country
that at the time, didn’t always return their commitment and devotion.
I am pleased that Luther McElwain, Eugene Jackson, and the others
from my home state of Massachusetts who were part of this extraordinary
unit are
finally receiving recognition from a very, very grateful country.”
- Kerry honors YouthBuild students at annual leadership conference.
The students circulated a letter, co-sponsored by Senator Kerry,
urging the Senate appropriations committee to allocate additional funds
for YouthBuild
programs nationwide. In 1992 Senator Kerry introduced a bill that
made YouthBuild a national program, enabling it to receive federal funding.
And just last
year he was the first to introduce the YouthBuild Transfer Act
which passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House of Representatives
and was
signed into law by President Bush. The new law transfers the YouthBuild
program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
to the Department of Labor (DOL). Since its inception, 60,000 of young people
have
built over 15,000 units of affordable housing. There are over 226
YouthBuild programs in 43 states for 8,000 young adults, and Senator Kerry
believes
that number can – and should - grow. Last year alone, 260 communities
were denied YouthBuild funding. In 2004 local programs turned away
over 12,000 applicants solely for lack of funds.
- Kerry was on hand to help dedicate the Central Artery Tunnel in
honor of the beloved former U.S. Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill,
Jr.
- Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry participated in a wide
ranging discussion with members of the Massachusetts Women’s Business
Forum, a group dedicated to the professional development of women
leaders.
- In August of last year, Kerry joined 4,000 other riders for the
2006 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a bike race covering 192 miles
and 46 towns in Massachusetts. In its 26th year, the Challenge raises money
for
the Jimmy Fund and since 1980, has contributed over $145 million
for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Marking his third
time in
the event, Senator Kerry rode alongside fellow cancer survivors
and their families for 111 miles, sharing with them a personal commitment
to fight
cancer.
- Kerry marked the five year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
on our nation by visiting the memorial to the victims of 9/11 at
the Boston Public Garden. He then attended the 5th Annual luncheon hosted
by the Massachusetts
9/11 Fund to spend quiet private time with families who lost a
loved one five years ago. That evening, Senator Kerry joined with firefighters
from
across Massachusetts on the Esplanade in honoring their fallen
colleagues from the NYFD.
- Last fall, Kerry joined the North Shore in celebrating NASA’s
selection of the Robert L. Ford School as a NASA Explorer School.
This three-year partnership with NASA will improve teaching and learning
in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. Senator Kerry congratulated the students
and spoke about the critical need to keep America’s edge on science
and technology to assure that America remains economically competitive.
- To commemorate Martin Luther King Day, Senator Kerry attended
the 36th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast at the
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, hosted by the Union United Methodist
Church and St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. Senator Kerry gave remarks
to commemorate the life and legacy of Reverend King.
- During the Spring flooding of 2006, Kerry called on Governor Romney
to ask the federal government for a physical disaster declaration
by the Small Business Administration in the counties devastated by the area’s
worst flooding in 70 years. This step would allow the government
to immediately begin providing the much-needed disaster loan assistance
to residents and
business owners. A Major Disaster declaration by the President
would automatically allow home and business owners to apply for disaster
loans.
- Just hours after the explosion in Danvers, Senator Kerry visited
the scene of the Danvers disaster and met with those affected.
He urged Governor Romney to join him in requesting that the Small Business
Administration
issue both physical and economic disaster declarations for the
city. A declaration would allow small businesses in the area to receive
federal aid.
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