Massachusetts State Sen. Ed Kennedy

(LOWELL – 1/16/2024) State Senator Ed Kennedy testified alongside State Representative
Vanna Howard before the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs in support of Senate
Bill 2326 and House Bill 3507. Both Bills are Resolutions condemning political oppression and
encouraging free and fair elections in Cambodia. Senate Bill 2326 was filed by Senator Kennedy
while House Bill 3507 was filed by State Representative Vanna Howard.

Signed on October 23, 1991, the Paris Peace Accords sought to bring democracy to Cambodia
following the Khmer Rouge genocide from 1975-1979, and subsequent twelve year-long civil
war. Nineteen nations signed this international agreement seeking 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 23 years—international observers
agree they have been far from free and fair,” said Senator Kennedy (D-Lowell) before the Joint
Committee.

Since 1991, the government of Cambodia has engaged in oppressive tactics aimed at limiting
democratic expression, including the restriction of its media environment by ordering radio
stations to cease operations and by arresting journalists. Leading opposition parties have also
been dissolved and opposition party leaders have been arrested or exiled in an effort to repress
viable political challenges.

“What we all want, whether you live here in Lowell, or abroad, is for Cambodia to be a
prosperous, democratic, and independent country where all voices are heard. Cambodian people
should be allowed to exercise their voice and choice in shaping the future of their country and
not compromising the true spirit of the country’s constitution. It is my hope Cambodia will
restore the multi-party system in democracy, reverse the convictions of government critics, and
allow independent media outlets to resume immediately without any interference. Free and fair
elections are vital components of a democratic state in the protection of the liberty and human
rights of its citizens. That’s the true definition of democracy.” Said State Representative Howard
(D-Lowell) before the Joint Committee.

Senator Kennedy initially filed this legislation during his first term as State Senator in response
to the 2018 Cambodian election—the first in Cambodia following the dissolution of the
opposition. That year, Senator Kennedy was a member of the Lowell City Council that voted
unanimously on a resolution recognizing the election as fraudulent. In the years since this
legislation was first pursued, the government of Cambodia has held other sham elections, most
recently last summer.

In addition to the testimonies of Senator Kennedy and Representative Howard, State
Representative Rodney Elliott also testified before the Joint Committee. “I have cosponsored this
bill as I have personally traveled at my own expense to the remote villages of Cambodia to
witness the oppression and intimidation tactics to prevent free and fair elections. It is my hope
that this resolution passes to implement the United Nations recommendations to promote
democracy and prevent further erosion of human rights,” said Representative Elliott (D-Lowell).

Members of Cambodian diaspora and Cambodian community in Lowell, like Lowell School
Committee Member and Senator Kennedy’s District Director Dominik Lay also made their way
to Beacon Hill to testify. “Cambodia is ruled by a Communist Party, and I would like to ask that
we give hope to those that have the courage to stand up for Democracy and for what is right and
what is fair” Mr. Lay said in his testimony.

This issue has widespread support in the City of Lowell, which is home to the second largest
Cambodian American population in the United States and has bipartisan support nationally.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan of Lowell has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation in the U.S.
House of Representatives to direct the President to impose sanctions on Cambodian officials
who are responsible for anti-democratic actions and human rights violations. Additionally,
United States Senator Edward J. Markey has joined other federal lawmakers from both parties in
announcing a resolution commemorating the landmark Cambodia Paris Peace Agreements.

The Resolutions filed by Kennedy and Howard would send a message to our federal partners and
Massachusetts constituents, particularly those of Cambodian American descent, that the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts stands with them in opposition to political oppression and
joins with them in the hope that free and fair elections will finally arrive in Cambodia as was
promised way back in 1991.

State Senator Ed Kennedy was happy to join the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Committee at their Annual Holiday Party in the upstairs lounge at the Worthen House Cafe in Downtown Lowell on Tuesday, December 19. Lowell School Committeeman Dominik Lay was also in attendance.

The Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Committee was originally formed in 1986. The Committee produces the annual Jack Kerouac Festival every October. They also celebrate Jack Kerouac’s birthday every March.

State Senator Ed Kennedy delivered winter jackets for veterans to Dracut Veterans Services Officer Jerome Thomas at the American Legion Hall on Broadway Road in Dracut on Wednesday, December 13.

Dracut veterans in need of a warm winter coat can arrange to collect one by contacting Dracut Veterans Services Officer Jerome Thomas at 978-455-1349. In order to verify your Military/Veteran status, please bring with you one of the following forms of verification:  DD-214, VA Healthcare ID, Veteran Endorsement on Driver’s License, Retired Military ID, Active Military ID, or Military Orders

Funding for the Coats4Vets Program is provided by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, The Home Depot, Ocean State Job Lot and the New England Patriot Foundation.

State Senator Ed Kennedy met with several members of 350MA of Greater Lowell at Brew’d Awakening Coffee Shop in Downtown Lowell recently to discuss several climate bills currently under consideration on Beacon Hill. 

Pictured clockwise from the left – State Senator Ed Kennedy and 350MA of Greater Lowell members Stephen Malagodi, Chris Offerman, Sarah Lapp, Godfrey Mpanga, Rosemary Davies, Zuhair Syed, Robert Wald, Suzanne Curtin, Jon Grossman, Jay Mason

State Senator Ed Kennedy was happy to join Massachusetts Director of Rural Affairs and former senate colleague Ann Gobi, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture State Representative Paul Schmid, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation President Warren Shaw and Executive Director Karen Schwalbe, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle, and many local officials and farmers at Farmer Dave’s Farm in Dracut where Governor Maura Healey’s Administration unveiled the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan on Monday, December 4. 

The Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan was developed through collaboration between University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, American Farmland Trust, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Farmers, policymakers, nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders from across the Commonwealth provided advice throughout the planning process.

The Action Plan sets forth goals, priorities and recommended actions for farmland protection and access in Massachusetts. The three primary goals were to (1) Increase efforts to permanently protect farmland, (2) Increase access to farmland, and (3) Support and enhance the viability of farms and farmland in Massachusetts.

State Senator Ed Kennedy was honored to be one of the speakers at the grand opening of Vinfen Behavorial Health’s new Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) located on Varnum Avenue in Lowell. More than one hundred guests attended the event, which included a reception and tours of the facility after the short speaking program. Additional speakers at the event included Vinfen President and CEO Jean Yang, Lowell City Manager Tom Golden, Lowell General Hospital President Amy Hoey, Vinfen Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peggy Johnson, and Executive Director of CBHC and Outpatient Services Daniela Johnson.

Vinfen’s new Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) on Varnum Avenue in Lowell features 13 Community Crisis Stabilization beds, which provide assessment and stabilization through short-term admissions for youth and adults experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis in a structured, home-like, and supportive environment. The Community Crisis Stabilization program is designed as a more therapeutic alternative to locked inpatient psychiatric units. In addition to urgent and routine outpatient services, the Community Behavioral Health Center provides crisis intervention services to support individuals and families in a variety of new ways including – around-the-clock, 24/7 mental health and substance use evaluation and assessment to children, youth, and adults in crisis or in need of support. Instead of going to the emergency room, services can be provided over the phone, in your home, at school, or in other community settings.

State Senator Ed Kennedy stopped by the WCAP 980AM studio on Saturday, December 2 to participate in the annual Salvation Army Radiothon & Auction. The money raised at the Radiothon and Auction benefits the programs and services of the Greater Lowell Salvation Army. The goal that they hoped to reach this year from pledges and auction items sold was $230,000!

Making sure everything ran smoothly for this year’s Radiothon were WCAP talk show hosts Warren Shaw and Gerry Nutter, Arthur Sutcliffe, City Manager Tom Golden, Mary Jane Shaw, several volunteers, and Heather MacFarlane, Director of Communication for the Salvation Army of Massachusetts.

State Senator Ed Kennedy was honored to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new athletic complex at the Greater Lowell Technical High School on Wednesday, November 22, before the Thanksgiving Eve football game between Greater Lowell Technical High School and Lowell Catholic High School.

The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the conclusion of a $2.5 million project that provided several upgrades to bring the school’s athletic complex into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The $2.5 million was provided by the Commonwealth in two components. The first component was a Senate amendment to the state budget that dedicated an appropriation of one million dollars to the project. The second component was a Senate amendment that added $1.5 million for the project to a Capital Bond Bill, which Governor Healey then included in her Administration’s Capital Plan. The upgrades included a synthetic turf field, an eight-lane running track, a handicapped accessible grandstand, pedestrian walkways, an amenity building, and a new handicapped parking area. 

Dennis Murphy, the former football coach at the Greater Lowell Technical High School was the keynote speaker at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

In the Thanksgiving Eve football game that took place following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Greater Lowell Technical High School Gryphons defeated the Lowell Catholic Crusaders, 42-6.

State Senator Ed Kennedy and Lowell School Committeeman Dominik Lay delivered winter jackets for veterans to Tyngsborough Veterans Agent Chris Dery at the Tyngsborough Town Hall on Monday, November 20.

Tyngsborough veterans in need of a warm winter coat can arrange to collect one by contacting Tyngsborough Veterans Agent Chris Dery at (978) 649-2300 x132. In order to verify your Military/Veteran status, please bring with you one of the following forms of verification: DD-214, VA Healthcare ID, Veteran Endorsement on Driver’s License, Retired Military ID, Active Military ID, or Military Orders.

Funding for the Coats4Vets Program is provided by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, The Home Depot, Ocean State Job Lot, and the New England Patriot Foundation.

State Senator Ed Kennedy and State Representative Margaret Scarsdale delivered winter jackets for veterans to Pepperell Veterans Services Officer Meagan Murphy at the VFW Auxiliary POST 3291 in Pepperell on Monday, November 20.

Pepperell veterans in need of a warm winter coat can arrange to collect one by contacting Pepperell Veterans Services Officer Meagan Murphy at 978-433-0342. In order to verify your Military/Veteran status, please bring with you one of the following forms of verification:  DD-214, VA Healthcare ID, Veteran Endorsement on Driver’s License, Retired Military ID, Active Military ID, or Military Orders

Funding for the Coats4Vets Program is provided by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, The Home Depot, Ocean State Job Lot and the New England Patriot Foundation.