BOSTON – Senator Sal DiDomenico joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate last week to pass a bill that includes $350 million in authorizations for transportation needs across the state, including $200 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with funds for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs.

“Families throughout my district deserve reliable and safe roads, bridges, buses, and trains so they can get to work, pick up their kids from school, and enjoy every part of our community,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “I was proud to support this transportation funding because it is an investment in the wellbeing of our families and our state’s economy for years to come. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Senator Crighton, and Senator Kennedy for all their work putting this legislation together and passing it swiftly.”

“This legislation will maintain and improve our state’s infrastructure, ensure that residents have safe and reliable transportation options, and support sustainable, regionally equitable economic development in communities across the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’d like to thank Senator Crighton for his work in crafting this legislation, Senator Kennedy for his help in advancing it, and all of my Senate colleagues for working collaboratively to ensure the transportation needs of our cities and towns are addressed in a regionally equitable manner.”

This legislation also authorizes $150 million in programs that will assist municipalities with various transportation-related projects. This includes $25 million for each of the following:

• the municipal small bridge program;

• the complete streets program;

• a bus transit infrastructure program;

• grants to increase access to mass transit and commuter rail stations;

• grants for municipalities and regional transit authorities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them;

• and new funding dedicated to additional transportation support based on road milage, which is particularly helpful for rural communities.

A different version having previously been passed in the House of Representatives, the two chambers will now reconcile differences before sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. 

###

Legislation would promote the health and well-being of children in our state

BOSTON – This week, Senator Sal DiDomenico hosted a briefing on his legislation, An Act to Establish a Massachusetts Children's Cabinet (S. 79/H.189), alongside House bill, sponsors Representative Kay Khan and Representative Antonio Cabral, and the Children and Adolescent Health Initiative (CAHI) coalition. DiDomenico’s briefing highlighted how this bill will empower child-serving state agencies to better communicate and coordinate with each other and more effectively use resources to advance the health and well-being of children across the Commonwealth.

This legislation would create a Children’s Cabinet comprised of executive office Secretaries and Commissioners serving children. The Cabinet would be tasked with tracking progress on key child health measures, gathering feedback from children, addressing racial and economic disparities, and reporting to the legislature annually on the status of children and youth in Massachusetts. The bill also establishes an advisory committee to guide the cabinet, which will be made up of child-serving health care professionals, early childhood educators, teachers, school administrators, child welfare professionals, parents, youth, and other relevant experts.

“I am proud to sponsor this legislation so we can ensure the wellbeing of our children is prioritized and elevated across the most powerful cabinets of state government,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Children across our state were some of the hardest hit individuals throughout the pandemic. I look forward to working with my cosponsors, Representatives Kahn and Cabral, to pass this bill so we can coordinate government agencies to use every lever of power to feed, house, and protect our kids.”

"Growing up is getting harder,” said Greg Hagan, a Cambridge pediatrician and CAHI member. “Just talk with parents, teachers or anyone working with kids. If children are our future, we need to do a better job.  Massachusetts doesn’t have a way to plan for kids’ needs across its many departments and programs. By creating a Children’s Cabinet, we can make sure that we do right by kids: planning, coordinating, and communicating effectively to better meet the needs of children and families."

###

BOSTON - This week, Senator DiDomenico and Representatives Joe McGonagle, Dan Ryan, and Judith Garcia hosted an undefeated and two-time-championship-winning 5th grade traveling basketball team from Everett. DiDomenico and his colleagues showed the excited students around his office, the Senate chamber, the State House balcony, and the House chamber. “I want to congratulate all the players and coaches for winning every single regular season game and the State and New England basketball championships this year. I was so impressed by this talented group of Everett kids who had an incredible basketball season and were so kind and respectful to everyone they met,” said State Senator Sal DiDomenico.