I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! I wanted to provide you with an update on the state’s response to COVID-19. Click on the link below to view my latest email update, which includes information on legislation recently passed by the Senate, the state’s new Nursing Home Family Resource line, the new Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, unemployment assistance, small business relief, domestic violence and sexual assault resources, and more!
Posts & other media
Everything You Need to Know About the Mental Health ABC Act
The Senate recently passed the Mental Health: Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) Act, a comprehensive bill aimed at reforming the mental health care system in our state. I had the pleasure of working closely with Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, and Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Chair Julian Cyr in crafting and passing this important piece of legislation, and I’m so pleased with the product of our work. The bill is now before the House of Representatives for consideration. Throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 legislative session, I will continue to advocate for this important bill – among the many other bills I’m working on this session – because I know how critical it is to my constituents in the 4th Middlesex district and to residents across Massachusetts.
For those who still have questions about the bill or want to learn more about why this bill is so important to our district and the Commonwealth, please click on the following link:
Early voting in Massachusetts starts today!
Early voting for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election starts today in Massachusetts! Hours vary by city and town. Check out the early voting schedule for Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Lexington and Woburn below or visit http://MassEarlyVote.com. If you are unable to vote early, be sure make a plan to vote on Super Tuesday – March 3, 2020.
If you have any questions about upcoming elections or the voting process, please visit the Elections page on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm.
Friedman, Cyr talk about the Mental Health ABC Act on The Horse Race
The time for climate action is now!
I’m excited to announce that the Senate has released a next generation climate policy package designed to advance and double down on our efforts to combat climate change in Massachusetts. The package consists of three pieces of legislation – An Act Setting Next Generation Climate Policy, An Act to Accelerate the Transition of Cars, Trucks and Buses to Carbon-Free Power, and An Act Relative to Energy Savings Efficiency – that would
bring Massachusetts one step closer toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Massachusetts bail reform commission issues final report
As co-chair of the state’s bail reform commission – created by the landmark criminal justice reform bill passed in 2018 – I collaborated with co-chair Rep. Cronin as well as legislators, judges, probation officers, constitutional officers, and bail experts to evaluate policies and procedures related to the current bail system and to recommend improvements or changes.
BNEWS IN DEPTH: Advocating to Replace Incarceration with Treatment
BCAT TV News delves into a recent push to change how those suffering from addiction are treated – mainly with more mental health support and recovery programs rather than criminal charges and imprisonment. State Sen. Cindy Friedman, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and State Rep. Ken Gordon all weigh in on this important discussion.
The last update of the year!
As the year comes to a close, I wanted to provide you with an update on this fall’s legislative accomplishments and recount some of the times I spent with you in the 4th Middlesex district!
Throughout the fall, the Legislature worked hard to pass several important bills that were officially signed into law by the Governor – I’m particularly proud that the Children’s Health and Wellness Bill, the Student Opportunity Act, and the Hands-free Driving Bill are officially the law of the Commonwealth! I was also pleased that the Senate passed the PACT Act – an initiative I’m leading on this session – to lower the costs of prescription drugs and increase patient access to medications. We’ve achieved a lot so far, but there is always more work to do.