Harvard’s representatives continued to advocate for their legislative dockets while also reaching out to constituents through media appearances, forums, and the Ayer Women’s March, Jan. 19.
State Rep. Jennifer Benson filed her 17-bill legislative docket on Jan. 28. Five of her bills address energy and the environment, including an act to promote green infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions (HD.2370), which now has more than 100 cosponsors. She hosted a forum Wednesday, Feb. 6 in Boston to discuss this piece of legislation. Another five of her bills tackled health care and health insurance, ranging from legislation designed to address diabetes prevention to insurance transparency. Benson rounded out her docket with bills covering election reform, motorcycle safety, and consumer protection.
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, along with Benson and U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, made an appearance at the Ayer Women’s March. Eldridge spoke at the march in favor of pay equity for women while also promoting legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, single-payer health care, and the PROMISE Act (SD.101). The act was initially filed by Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Second Suffolk) and co-sponsored by Eldridge. The PROMISE Act aims to reform the system through which schools in Massachusetts receive funding by decreasing disparities between schools.
Eldridge also made a media appearance on WGBH Greater Boston Jan. 29, where he discussed immigration policy with Geoff Diehl, President Donald Trump’s Massachusetts campaign co-chairman and former U.S. Senate nominee. Eldridge spoke in favor of a bill he is sponsoring (SD.926) that would block state funds from going to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations.
On Wednesday, Jan. 23, Trahan was appointed to the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittees for intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities, and military personnel. She was further named to the Education and Labor Committee’s subcommittees for higher education and workforce investment, and health, employment, labor, and pensions (HELP) on Tuesday, Jan. 29. In a press release, Trahan explained she hopes to use this position to make higher education more affordable while increasing access to community colleges, vocational schools, and apprenticeships.
Trahan has also cosponsored multiple bills that would provide assistance to federal employees affected by the recent government shutdown. These bills include reimbursement for child care, unemployment compensation, and back pay for low-wage contractor employees. Trahan also supported the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R.790), which she amended on Saturday, Jan. 30, to include a 2.6 percent pay raise for IRS employees. Her amendment passed the House 243-183. The full bill passed the House Jan. 30, 259-161, and is now continuing to the Senate for approval.
Press intern Kate Selig is a Bromfield senior.
