BOSTON – Last week, Senator Sal DiDomenico joined a collection of policymakers, immigrants-rights activists with the Mass Speaks Coalition, and directly-impacted individuals to unveil his Language Access and Inclusion Act, which would dramatically expand the availability of non-English language applications and interpretation services at the state’s public-facing state agencies, such as MassHealth, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Unemployment Assistance.

The Language Access and Inclusion Act was first introduced in 2021 by Senator DiDomenico, Representative Adrian Madaro, and Representative Carlos González. The bill received 25 cosponsors across the House and Senate and was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Advocates at last week’s press conference said the bill is critically needed in Massachusetts, where one-in-10 residents are considered limited English proficient.

“Language access is critical for the well-being and daily lives of so many people living in our Commonwealth, especially the residents of my district and throughout gateway communities,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Non-English-speaking residents should be able to access government services, from public health information to education to unemployment and more crucial resources. I am proud to partner with the Mass Speaks Coalition on this important piece of legislation and look forward to working with them to get this bill across the finish line.”

Introduced as SD.1066 by Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett and HD.3616 by Representative Madaro of East Boston and Representative Carlos González of Springfield, the Language Access and Inclusion Act would mandate that public-facing state agencies provide interpretation services and translate vital documents in non-English languages. Additionally, the bill would outline minimum language accessibility standards, cultivate best practices, and ensure staff capacity and training across public-facing state agencies. It would also create an advisory board with representatives from limited English-speaking communities, the deaf or hard-of-hearing community, and community groups/legal service providers to help agencies implement the law.

Claudia, a Massachusetts resident who moved from Brazil, shared her story through an interpreter, “It got to the point where any problem I had to solve with public or private companies became an anguish, a torment, something disturbing that I often gave up solving.”

The push to pass the Language Access and Inclusion Act comes on the heels of the state’s 2022 move, led by Senator DiDomenico who secured funding to bolster language access resources at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Then, the state allocated funding for services, programs, and activities to expand language access. Advocates hailed that move as a strong step in the right direction, especially considering how public-facing the RMV is, but said it is critical that the state build off of this success and implement language access reform across all public-facing state agencies.

The Mass Speaks Coalition includes the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (an affiliate of South Coastal Counties Legal Services).

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BOSTON - Senator Sal DiDomenico recently joined the Mothers Out Front organization for a rally at the State House. Senator DiDomenico was joined by other elected officials and an impressive showing of Mothers Out Front advocates from his district and from local chapters throughout the Commonwealth. DiDomenico vowed to attendees that he would continue to fight for the most aggressive climate actions in the legislature so we can protect our environment and planet for generations to come. The advocates walked through the State House to the Governor’s office and were able to spend time meeting with Governor Healey, Massachusetts’ newly appointed Climate Chief, Melissa Hoffer, and the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Rebecca Tepper.

Files Legislation to Provide Free Breakfast and Lunch at All Massachusetts Schools

BOSTON – Last week, Senator Sal DiDomenico teamed up with Project Bread, a nationally recognized anti-hunger organization, to launch a statewide campaign to pass his Universal School Meals bill, An Act relative to universal school meals. This legislation, sponsored by DiDomenico, would provide free breakfast and lunch to every child in a Massachusetts school. Senator DiDomenico was also joined by Representative Andy Vargas, who sponsors the bill in the House, dozens of elected officials, anti-hunger advocates, educators, and a video message from Congressman Jim McGovern.

Thankfully, schools across the state have been providing Universal School Meals throughout the pandemic because costs and paperwork for this program were temporarily footed by the federal government. In 2022, federal support for the program was cut off, but Senator DiDomenico secured enough funding in last year’s state budget to continue funding free school meals throughout the Commonwealth for the current school year. The Senate and House must pass the Universal School Meal bills (SD1013 and HD766) in order to continue providing free breakfast and lunch at our schools indefinitely.

“We have heard time and again from educators, advocates, and parents, that kids cannot learn when they are hungry,” said Senator DiDomenico, the lead sponsor of the Senate bill and Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Providing free breakfast and lunch in schools will empower all our students to study, focus, and live up to their full potential. It is past time, in the year 2023, that we finally pass my commonsense bill into law and ensure no child will ever go hungry in a Massachusetts school again.”

This program has been a massive success in Massachusetts over the past two school years. Over 50,000 more students were eating lunch daily when costs were lifted, which allowed them to focus on class and relieved a financial burden from their parents. This is a crucial program especially as costs for housing, transportation, healthcare, and more have been rising. Passing this legislation into law is critical for the well-being of our children and working families throughout the Commonwealth.

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