Volume 5, Issue 6 | June 30, 2023 | |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well as we enter the summer season and celebrate our country's 247th anniversary of independence. This newsletter includes photos from our legislative work, highlights from a selection of recent events and announcements relevant to the district, and a brief public health section.
As always, serving our constituents is our top priority. In July, I will host three in-person office hours. If you cannot attend scheduled office hours, you are welcome to contact my staff to schedule a meeting.
As a reminder, my staff and I have recently moved offices within the State House—please see below for our office’s updated contact information.
State Representative Joan Meschino
State House, Room 162, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Updated phone number: 617-722-2092
I wish you a celebratory July 4th weekend for both you and your loved ones!
Very truly yours, Joan
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MA Senate Passes Its Version of FY24 Budget, Budget Now Under Review of Conference Committee | As discussed last month, both the House and the Senate have finalized their versions of the FY24 budget after each holding three days of debate on amendments. The House and Senate Conference Committee is currently meeting to reconcile the two budget bills for a final FY24 budget, a final vote on which is expected soon. To learn more, please visit https://malegislature.gov/. | |
Rep. Meschino Provides Testimony for Priority Housing Bill and Hosts Legislative Briefings on Numerous Bills | The month of June was a busy month in the State House for our team, with many hearings and briefings for bills in our legislative agenda! Recently, I joined my Senate colleague Brendan Crighton and housing advocates from across the Commonwealth to testify in support of my priority bill An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible supportive housing subsidy pool program (H.1354/S.855), which is our bill creating a structure under which permanent supportive housing can thrive in the Commonwealth for our most vulnerable residents. This month, I also hosted a briefing with Representative Christine Barber on our public vehicle electrification bill (H.3139/S.2218). | |
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Left: Rep. Meschino (second from left) joins Senator Crighton and housing advocates at the Joint Committee on Housing hearing.
Right: Representative Meschino (center) describes her public fleets bill alongside bill co-sponsor Representative Christine Barber (left).
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Rep. Meschino Joins Women's Caucus to Discuss Legislative Priorities with Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano | At the end of May, House Speaker Ron Mariano met with the Women’s Caucus to discuss priorities for this legislative session, including An Act supporting parents running for public office (H.669/S.422), which is my bill regarding campaign finances for childcare. Thank you to House leadership and to the Women's Caucus for paying close attention to the critical nature of women's issues in the Commonwealth. | |
Rep. Meschino (fourth from left) joins the Women's Caucus and Speaker Ronald Mariano (fourth from right) for a photo. | |
MA Legislature Celebrates Pride Month at the State House | This month, the Pride flag was raised over the Massachusetts State House! To our LGBTQ+ community in the 3rd Plymouth District and across the Commonwealth, Happy Pride! | |
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Left: Representative Meschino (at right) joins House and Senate colleagues on the State House steps to show support at a Pride event.
Right: The Progress Pride flag is briefly raised at the State House.
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Rep. Meschino Joins Legislative Colleagues for State Parks Caucus with DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo | |
On Tuesday, June 20, I joined my fellow members of the State Parks Caucus to speak with DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo; his work directly impacts multiple areas of importance in our district, including Hull's Nantasket Beach and Hingham and Cohasset's Wompatuck State Park. I am looking forward to continuing the conversation with Commissioner Arrigo about how to best support these vital resources on the South Shore. | |
Rep. Meschino (third from left) joins legislative colleagues to speak with Brian Arrigo at the caucus meeting. | |
STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS | |
Weekend MBTA Ferry Service Schedule to Boston Continues for Hingham and Hull, Stays Constant During MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Construction Project | |
Weekend service has resumed for the MBTA Ferry, which serves Hingham, Hull, Logan Airport, and Boston's Long Wharf. All ferries are back to full pre-COVID service levels and will maintain regular service schedules in light of MassDOT's upcoming construction project on East Boston's Sumner Tunnel. To learn more and to view schedules, please visit https://www.mbta.com/schedules/ferry.
To learn more about the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, please visit https://www.mass.gov/sumner-tunnel. Please consider taking alternate modes of transit to Logan Airport this summer to avoid travel disruptions.
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Rep. Meschino Joins State Colleagues During Advocacy Day for Commission on Status of Women | |
I joined colleagues from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for their bi-annual Advocacy Day, an event held to rally for legislation that advances the rights and opportunities of women and girls across the Commonwealth. Take a look at the photos below: | |
Rep. Meschino celebrates the work of women's empowerment in the Great Hall of the State House. | |
Hingham Youth Joins Rep. Meschino to Advocate for Youth Voter Engagement Bill | |
Last week, I testified at a hearing held by the Joint Committee on Election Laws in support of my bill H.705/S.431, An Act relative to youth voter engagement, presented together with Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis and Senator O’Connor. This bill would allow seventeen-year-olds who will be eighteen by the general election to vote in the preceding primary, giving impacted young people the opportunity for full enfranchisement in the election process.
Thank you to Hingham’s own Sam Bevins, our stellar and determined youth advocate, who has led the effort for this bill for over four years! We are inspired by your drive and commitment to democratic values.
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Left: Sam Bevins testifies with youth peers in support of her youth voter engagement bill with Rep. Meschino.
Right: Senator O'Connor, Rep. Meschino, Sam Bevins, and Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis (D-Framingham) in the House chamber after the hearing.
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Women Veterans from 3rd Plymouth District Honored in State House Ceremony | |
On June 12, I welcomed 3rd Plymouth District veterans Susan Kane and Janine Suchecki to the State House to be recognized as advocates for veterans on the South Shore and across Massachusetts. Congratulations to both of them for their commitment and their service in uplifting the status of veterans in our state! | |
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Left: Rep. Meschino, honoree Janine Suchecki, and Senator Patrick O'Connor at the Women Veterans Recognition Day in the State House.
Right: Governor Maura Healey (left) congratulates honorees Susan Kane (middle) and Janine Suchecki (second from right) on their honorable nominations as women veteran leaders.
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Announcing Office Hours for July
Constituent services are our top priority. We continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, a staff member will be present in the State House. On Mondays, I host in-person office hours in the district.
If you would like to reserve a time slot for virtual office hours or outside of the times listed, please call the office at our new phone number 617-722-2092 or email my Legislative Aide.
- Monday, July 10, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
- Monday, July 17, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Hull Council on Aging, 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull
- Monday, July 24, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hingham Public Library, Hingham
To learn more about our constituent services, please visit our website.
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General Resources
COVID-19 Vaccines
- Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccination appointment using the Vaccine Finder
- COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 9 AM-2 PM) is available by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts for assistance / translation services.
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Homebound Vaccination Program information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
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MyVaxRecords.Mass.Gov allows residents to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history
COVID-19 Tests, Cases & Treatment
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