Legislative Update From State Rep. Richard Haggerty

Press release from state Rep. Richard Haggerty:

I hope this update finds you well, and you are staying healthy as we continue to navigate through this public health emergency. With the weather getting nicer by the day I hope you and your loved ones have been able to get outside and enjoy yourselves responsibly, as the fresh air and sun can certainly help lift the spirits. As we continue to address the issues raised through this COVID-19 pandemic, I want to provide you with an update of some of the actions my colleagues and I have taken on the State level to address these concerns.

To begin with, due to this global pandemic my decision making over the past several months have been driven by, and evolved into, three components. First and foremost, I was concerned with protecting the health of our fellow residents, secondly, I wanted to provide support for our safety net programs such as unemployment assistance, and lastly but very importantly to promote economic recovery. Each of these components continue to present difficulties and while I am well aware of the challenges that lies ahead – I am confident in our ability to meet this challenge head on.

With unemployment skyrocketing as result of this virus, hundreds of thousands in the Commonwealth have begun the process of claiming unemployment benefits to continue providing for themselves and their families. With the influx of applicants, the system has been overloaded, leading to a backlog in claim approvals and calls from the Department to claimants. My office has been hard at work these last few months helping many constituents navigate this difficult process between them and the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), helping them to receive the benefits they deserve. That being said I will tell you I have shared the frustration of many applicants who ran up against a DUA system that was technologically antiquated and not user friendly. Due to these frustrations I co-sponsored an amendment in a recently passed bond bill to have the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development develop and deploy an updated online benefits delivery system.

As the COVID-19 pandemic endures, I continue to work hard to address the needs of the residents of our district and respond to the virus. I was pleased to support many pieces of legislation including a bill that did away with the one-week waiting period for unemployment assistance, a bill allowing remote virtual notarization that was especially important to vulnerable populations, a bill that placed a moratorium on evictions while providing landlords better tools to deal with bank requirements, legislation that delayed the income tax filing deadline, in an attempt to help restaurant we delayed the meal tax payment deadline and allowed for home delivery of unopened beer and wine.

My office also spent a great deal of time working with small business owners in our district to navigate the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. I was pleased to discuss these critical programs with individual business owners, as well as the Woburn Business Association. As we reopen our economy, we must pay special attention to our small businesses and provide them with the support they need to open their doors – and keep them open. The legislature is currently discussing steps to prepare for upcoming elections. The most important thing we must do is provide safe access to voting for everyone who want to participate. Two steps we should take immediately include expanding early voting to allow people to vote several weeks in advance at a location determined by local election officials - something Massachusetts has had for several years. Secondly, although today we allow for absentee voting only in specific cases, we should update the law and allow for no excuse absentee voting. This would permit all registered voters the ability to request a ballot from their local election official that would need to be mailed back. Both of these measures should be made available for any elections held during COVID-19 and would go a long way in making sure our elections are secure and our residents remain healthy.

This pandemic has disrupted our lives in a way we have never experienced, calling for unique measures to be taken by the legislature in order to protect our communities and the economy of our Commonwealth. I have been proud to cosponsor the following measures in response: An Act relative to emergency hazard health pay, An Act to expand options for local restaurants during COVID-19, An Act to enact emergency financial protections and forbearance for consumers and small business during the COVID-19 pandemic, An Act authorizing remote participation at representative town meetings due to the COVID-19 emergency, An Act to provide liability protections for contractors, sub-contractors and unions during the COVID-19 Pandemic, An Act relative to emergency paid sick time, An Act relative to restaurant delivery commissions during the COVID-19 state of emergency, An Act relative to fairness in debt collection.

As a member of the Joint Committee on Education I have been involved with numerous discussions about the Commonwealth’s educational system, from the delay/cancelation of MCAS testing, the paying of independent contractors from school systems, to the general oversight hearings. While much of the technical stuff bogs us down in the legislature, I wanted to recognize three components of our education systems that deserve the real credit. First students – they have responded incredibly well during these unprecedented times and have found a way to deal with a new age of learning, missing their friends (and proms), and adjusting to life at home. Our teachers, administrators, and School Committees have been forced to re- write the playbook on teaching practically overnight and answered the call remarkably well. To top it off many teachers have kids at home themselves and are doing double-duty. We are so fortunate to have these dedicated professionals willing to adapt to this new age and help guide our young people.

Lastly parents have stepped up to the plate by working extra hard with their kids by at times playing teacher, keeping them busy during down times and somehow most of them are even finding a way to squeeze a full time job in there - albeit with a few youngsters just a few feet away (or inches).

Bottom line everyone has stepped up to make sure our kids continue to get the education and support they deserve - that is something we can all be proud of. Throughout this public crisis I have heard from numerous constituents through phone calls, letters, and social media of the issues that concern them the most during the crisis. In response, I have submitted numerous formal correspondences on behalf of my constituents and for measures I support:

• March 3rd: I along with colleagues from the Legislature submitted a letter to Governor Baker urging him to require Massachusetts health insurers to waive cost sharing associated with COVID-19 testing. This measure was later enacted by the Governor.
• March 19th: Hearing directly from my friends at NuPath on the dire revenue situation they and many other organizations who care for intellectually disabled men and women are facing, I wrote the Joint Committee Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. In my letter I stated my urgent concern for this community, and respectfully implored House leadership to do whatever we could to encourage DDS and MassHealth to take action immediately to authorize temporary reimbursement for absences in day (congregate) facilities and in day habilitation programs.
• March 25th: Signed onto a joint letter to Governor Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary MaryLou Sudders urging the Commonwealth to immediately identify and dedicate the resources for expanded or alternative shelter structures (by county) that reduce density for this population to address its needs holistically. On this day I also wrote to Acting Commissioner Brown at the Department of Revenue respectfully urging him to delay the tax filing deadline to July 15th in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance. Both these measures were later enacted.
• April 6th: Cosigned a joint letter with many of my colleagues in the legislature to Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders respectfully asking them to take action to address the gaps in language and access for people applying for unemployment assistance.
• April 14th: Joined the Massachusetts’s State Legislature’s Asian Caucus, Black and Latino Caucus, and many of my colleagues to express my full support for United States House Resolution 908, Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.
• April 15th: After speaking with several individuals in the real estate appraisal community who reside in our district and as a member of the Joint Committee on Financial Services, I wrote to Chair James Murphy requesting that the Commonwealth consider halting interior appraisal inspections until Governor Baker lifts the State of Emergency Status due to the associated health concerns.
• April 27th: A constituent reached out to my office with her concerns that despite being hired by a Massachusetts company, she was unbale to start her job due to the fact that the courts are currently not processing background checks. I advocated on her behalf by writing to Chief Justice Ralph Gants asking the Court to take appropriate safety measures for staff, ramp up remote working options, and begin processing background checks.
• May 11th: As Congress debates additional economic stimulus, I joined with dozens of my colleagues in writing to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation urging them consider additional funding and policies that will support our rich cultural community. This requested assistance will provide the much-needed support necessary to ensure the Commonwealth has access to these places of learning and inspiration.

At the end of April, I announced that the Governor had signed legislation I filed naming the Salem Street bridge in honor of decorated United States Marine and former Woburn Police Officer Angie Piazza. As I mentioned after this was signed, “It has been said ‘A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors.’ So is true today as we honor Mr. Piazza for his heroism at war and his distinguished service at home.” Some much-needed good news for everyone.

I would like to end this update with some praise for the individuals in Woburn who have stepped up to the plate to help others and come together as a community through this crisis. From those working to distribute personal protection equipment (PPE) to local hospitals and organizations, those making their own masks for those who need it most, and residents addressing food security needs ensuring no one goes hungry during this difficult time. I would also like to thank our healthcare professionals, our teachers still providing our youth their education remotely, essential workers, and public service heroes who suit up each day to keep our economy moving and look out for others. We all thank for your hard work and dedication each day, and it continues to show the true resiliency of our communities.

If you have an questions or concerns, please reach out to my office by phone at (617) 722-2090 or by email at Richard.Haggerty@mahouse.gov.

This press release was produced by state Rep. Richard Haggerty. The views expressed are the author's own.