Month: January 2022

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022 the Massachusetts State Senate passed S.2622, a supplemental budget for fiscal Year 2022. The bill provides a $50 million investment to further encourage usage and increase the availability of both testing and vaccination throughout the Commonwealth. S2622 includes:

• $7 million to assist community organizations in disproportionately impacted communities promoting vaccine awareness and education.
• $5 million to expand the testing and vaccine capacity of community health centers, including funding to hire additional staff.
• $5 million has been specifically allocated for increasing vaccination rates among 5 through 11-year-olds, an age group now eligible to be vaccinated but whose vaccination rates remain low when compared to older residents.
• $25 million has been allocated for the state to purchase and distribute high-quality masks in Massachusetts, with priority given to education and health care workers.

This legislation also establishes a grant program, in consultation with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, for cultural institutions to help promote vaccine awareness and education.
Many of the COVID-19 emergency measures adopted earlier in the pandemic have been extended by this bill, such as:

• Liability protections for health care providers and remote notaries,
• Measures relating to health services in assisted living facilities,
• Flexibility for local governments and non-profits to hold meetings virtually
• Outdoor dining and beer, wine and cocktails to-go

 S.2622 also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a vaccine equity plan and directs the Department of Public Health to publicly post guidance on effective mask usage and recommended testing, quarantine, and isolation periods.
Lastly, Tuesday, September 6, 2022 has been set as the date for the state primary election by this bill.
The House of Representatives passed their version of the supplemental budget, H4345 on January 19, 2022. Both the Senate and House of Representatives will now work together to reconcile their versions of the legislation.

Today Senator Kennedy testified before Chairman Adam Hinds and Chairman Mark Cusack and the Joint Committee on Revenue in support of two bills he filed, S.1893, An Act to promote urban agriculture and horticulture, and S.1896, An Act providing a local option to allow more solar energy generation on farmlands.

Across the Commonwealth, urban agriculture and horticulture have helped transform neighborhoods and have proven to be credible forces in their revitalization. In the last decade, urban agriculture has emerged as an indispensable component in the civic fabric of Lowell. As a result of the steady resolve and ingenuity of Mill City Grows, a non-profit organization in the city, Lowell now has three urban farms and seven community gardens, as well as school gardens at every middle school in the city. Despite the demonstrated value of urban agriculture initiatives, the potential of this proven source of revitalization often remains unfulfilled in our Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities due in large part to the cost of acquiring land. S.1893 would serve to address this barrier by providing a new tool to municipalities in the form of an optional tax exemption of up to 100 percent on parcels of less than two acres that are intended for agricultural or horticultural use.

Likewise, S.1896 would allow our agricultural communities to further encourage the use of solar panels on farm properties by providing a local option for agricultural properties to remain classified under Chapter 61A even if they are used for solar energy generation. This would be a local option for each community. Under the current law, development, or installation of solar facilities on classified land will constitute a change in use and trigger a municipality’s right of first refusal and a penalty tax assessment. This would allow each community to opt out of this and continue to classify the land as agricultural land even after the installation of solar panels. Our farmland and agricultural properties in the Commonwealth can play a leading role in combatting climate change and generating green energy. This simple legislation would allow for more farmers to consider this use of their property without being penalized by losing their agricultural property status.

Today State Senator Ed Kennedy testified before the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs on S.2406, a resolution he filed condemning political oppression and encouraging free and fair elections in Cambodia. Lowell Massachusetts is home to the second largest Cambodian American population in the United States—the vast majority of whom are either refugees or the family members of refugees who fled during the Cambodian genocide from 1975-1979 at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.

Although the 1991 Paris Peace Accords agreed to by 19 countries including the United States guaranteed democratic elections to Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen has maintained his power over the country he has held since 1985. Each of the five elections held in Cambodia for the office of Prime Minister since 1991 have been marked by fraud, voter intimidation, and the misuse of legal mechanisms by the government to suppress support for opposition candidates and parties.

Senator Kennedy first filed this legislation last session in response to the 2018 election—the first in Cambodia following the dissolution of the leading opposition party. That year, he was a part of the Lowell City Council that voted unanimously on a resolution recognizing that the 2018 Cambodian election was fraudulent. This issue has widespread support in the City of Lowell and has bipartisan support nationally. S.2406 would send a message to our federal partners and constituents, particularly those of Cambodian American descent, that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stands with them in opposition to political oppression and joins in the hope for free and fair elections to finally arrive in Cambodia as was promised back in 1991.

Several Lowell residents including Lowell School Committee Member Dominik Lay, Soben Ung of the Khemer Post USA, Sok Paul Pen, Susie Chhuon, Champa Pang, Tara Hong, and Rithy Uong also testified before the Committee in support of S.2406

Senator Kennedy’s testimony was as follows:

Good morning, Chairman Velis, Chairman McMurtry, and members of the esteemed committee on Veteran and Federal Affairs. I join with you this morning to testify in support of Senate Bill 2406, a Resolution condemning political oppression and encouraging free and fair elections in Cambodia.

As you may be aware, my hometown of Lowell is home to the second largest Cambodian American population in the United States—the vast majority of whom are either refugees or the family members of refugees who fled during the Cambodian genocide from 1975-1979 at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. Although the Khmer Rouge was driven out of Phnom Penh in January 1979—what followed for the country of Cambodia was another 12 years of civil war.

But on October 23, 1991, the dream of democracy in Cambodia was given hope through the Paris Peace Accords. This 19-nation international agreement sought to resolve political conflict and turmoil in Cambodia by setting forth the right to self-determination of its people through free and fair elections. Significant expenditures in the form of international aid have been made in order to promote a pluralistic, multi-party democratic system in Cambodia.

Although elections have been held in Cambodia over the past 21 years—international observers agree they have been far from free and fair.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power in Cambodia since 1985 and has consolidated authority over the nation’s government, granting control of every state agency and security apparatus to the ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP).

Each of the five elections held in Cambodia for the office of Prime Minister since 1991 have been marked by fraud, voter intimidation, and the misuse of legal mechanisms by the government to suppress support for opposition candidates and parties.

The government of Cambodia has engaged in oppressive tactics aimed at limiting conditions that are intrinsic to a democratic state including the restriction of its media environment by ordering radio stations to cease operations and by arresting journalists.

In an effort to repress viable political challenges, the government of Cambodia dissolved the leading opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and has arrested or exiled opposition party leaders.

I first filed this legislation last session in response to the 2018 election—the first in Cambodia following the dissolution of the opposition. I was a part of the Lowell City Council that year that voted unanimously on a resolution recognizing that the election was fraudulent.

This issue has widespread support in the City of Lowell and has bipartisan support nationally. This past September, Lowell’s Congresswoman Lori Trahan co-sponsored H.R. 4686, the Cambodia Democracy Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to direct the President to impose sanctions on Cambodian officials who are responsible for antidemocratic actions and human rights violations. The following month, Senator Edward J. Markey and our former governor, Utah Senator Mitt Romney joined other federal lawmakers from both parties in announcing a resolution commemorating the landmark Cambodia Paris Peace Agreements. The resolution notes that the promise of the Paris Peace Agreements remains unfulfilled due to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s violations of Cambodia’s Constitution and effective one-party rule since 1993.

This Resolution would simply send a message to our federal partners and our constituents, particularly those of Cambodian American descent, that the Commonwealth

of Massachusetts stands with them in opposition to political oppression and joins in the hope for free and fair elections to finally arrive in Cambodia as was promised back in 1991.

Today Senator Kennedy testified before the Joint Committee on Revenue in support of legislation he filed, S.1891 An Act encouraging employer student loan repayment. This bill seeks to provide relief to recent college graduates in Massachusetts from the financial burden of student loan debt.

S.1891 would offer a tax deduction of up to $2,000 per year to employers to match principal payments made towards student loan debt of an employee. Some companies have already introduced student loan repayment as an employee benefit to seek and retain talent. Employees are more likely to remain in jobs and more likely to perform at a high level if their employer pays a share of their student loans.

This legislation would alleviate the financial hesitation companies may have associated with initiating a repayment, while also enabling those working to pay off loans to contribute more our economy more fully.

His full testimony was as follows:

Good Morning Chairman Hinds, Chairman Cusack, and members of the committee.

I appreciate the Joint Committee on Revenue considering this piece of legislation I have filed, Senate Bill 1891, An Act encouraging employer student loan repayment, which seeks to provide relief to recent college graduates in Massachusetts from the often devastating financial burden posed by student loan debt.

Amidst widespread calls for increased revenue in Massachusetts as well as the concerted work of this committee to consider measures to meet that objective, I am aware that a proposed tax deduction may not immediately emerge as a priority. However, student loan debt has become increasingly pervasive in this Commonwealth; crippling our state’s young people, stifling their aspirations and financial outlook, and amounting to nothing short of a crisis. It is my view that this crisis demands urgent legislative action and calls for creative solutions. Creating an incentive in the form of a tax deduction for private employers to step up and participate in such a solution would represent a viable step towards providing overdue relief to people suffering under the burden of seemingly insurmountable student debt.

S.1891 would offer a tax deduction of up to $2,000 per year to employers to match principal payments made towards student loan debt of an employee. The example set by companies that have introduced student loan repayment as an employee benefit, even without this proposed incentive, illustrates that having such programs in place is beneficial to companies seeking to retain talent. Employees are more likely to remain in jobs, and are more likely to perform at a high level if their employer pays a share of their student loans. Despite this demonstrated value, Massachusetts companies have been slow to adopt student loan repayment programs. This measure would lift the financial hesitation associated with initiating a repayment.

More significant than the value to employers, however, is the difference that the tax incentive called for under this bill stands to make for recent college graduates, and indeed for mid-career professionals who may still be working to pay off loans. If student loan repayment becomes a widely-offered employee benefit, it would encourage debt-saddled job seekers to pursue career options that are better suited to their interests and skills, and in areas of our economy where there is a need for renewed talent. It would enable them to contribute to

our economy more fully, rather than diverting every spare dollar towards loan payments and allow them to solidify their financial futures by buying homes and contributing to retirement accounts. In short, this bill would go a long way towards alleviating a source of hardship that too often seems inescapable.

If there is any cause that warrants the creation of a new tax deduction, I believe it is student loan debt relief. This proposal would come at a relatively modest cost to the Commonwealth – costing between an estimated $1.8 and $6.7 million according to analysis by the Department of Revue – but would have a resounding impact on our economy and for the futures of college graduates. With these factors in mind, I hope that the committee offers S.1891 a favorable report.