U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan reached her 100th day in office Friday, April 12. Since taking office, she has sponsored or amended legislation addressing issues ranging from land conservation to gas pipeline regulation.
Lori Trahan speaks with Ayer town officials. (Photo by Lisa Aciuekwicz)
Trahan published an infographic on Facebook Friday, April 12 quantifying her work in her first 100 days of office. She reported that she had “met with over 300 constituents and advocates in DC and District offices,” assisted over 200 tour groups, “introduced and cosponsored over 80 pieces of legislation,” and “responded to over 4,300 constituent letters and emails.” For instance, Trahan visited Ayer town officials to discuss water contaminants Tuesday, April 16 as part of her Third District infrastructure tour.
Three pieces of legislation that Trahan was heavily involved in have passed. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act (H.R.790) passed with Trahan’s amendment included. Trahan’s amendment guaranteed a pay increase for IRS employees. She specifically introduced the amendment to help IRS workers in Andover.
On Tuesday, Feb. 26, Trahan celebrated the passage of the Natural Resources Management Act (S.47), which created 1.3 million more acres of protected wilderness lands, six new National Park Service units, and reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which takes revenues from offshore oil and gas depletion and funnels it into the country’s natural resources. Trahan contributed to this legislation with clauses that deemed parts of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit rivers as scenic rivers while also creating a local advisory committee to protect these rivers. In a press release, Trahan wrote that she was proud to continue the conservation work of Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.
On Thursday, March 7, Trahan introduced two amendments to the For the People Act (H.R.1), a piece of legislation aimed at creating electoral reform. Both were accepted. The act passed Friday, March 8. Trahan’s first amendment closed a loophole in the law that caused spouses and dependents of servicemembers to lose their ability to vote in their home state when not in their home state. Trahan’s second amendment banned those federally registered as foreign agents from serving on independent redistricting commissions.
In addition to amending legislation, Trahan has introduced two pieces of her own. On Monday, April 8, Trahan introduced the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act (H.R.2139) to increase safety standards for pipelines, following the Sept. 13 natural gas pipeline explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley. The bill is named after Leonel Rondon, a teenager who died in the explosions. Sen. Ed Markey introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
Trahan also co-introduced legislation to increase auto-enrollment in 401(k) retirement plans for small businesses with Republican Rep. Mike Kelley (PA-16) Wednesday, March 27. Trahan said, “Small businesses and their employees are the lifeblood of the American economy, and the engine driving growth in cities and towns across Massachusetts.”
As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, Trahan has voted for legislation that would increase funding for technology in classrooms (H.R.865), decrease gender-based wage discrimination (H.R.7), increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 (H.R.582), and decrease the usage of short-term, limited duration health care plans (H.R.1010).
Press intern Kate Selig is a Bromfield senior.
