September 6, 2023

Hello!

Two key bills are coming up for a hearing at the State House, and we hope you will be able to join us in person or online next Tuesday.

The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities will hold a hearing next Tuesday, September 12th, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., on bills relating to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) with a focus on the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). One of our priority bills, An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth (House Bill 205/Senate Bill 371) will be heard, as well as a key bill, An Act to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty (House Bill 144/Senate Bill 75). Please keep reading below for more details.

Don't forget to sign and share our one-minute online action to House Leadership and your State Representative to take swift action to advance the Senate version of the Mass ID Access Bill. We are grateful to everyone who already signed and shared the action!

Thank you for your partnership and collective advocacy!

In solidarity,

Julia and Kelly



Julia Garvey

Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate

Pronouns: She/her/hers

julia.garvey@mahomeless.org

Kelly Turley

Associate Director

Pronouns: She/her/hers

kelly@mahomeless.org

P.S. Stay up to date with the Coalition’s advocacy initiatives by following us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. (Links also included at the top of this message.)

September 12th Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities Hearing Details

• Date: Tuesday, September 12th
• Time: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Locations: In-person at the Massachusetts State House, Gardner Auditorium and online
• Committee: Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities; committee members
• Hearing topics and link to list of bills to be covered: Matters relating to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) with a focus on the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). 
• Key bills to be heard:
• House Bill 205/Senate Bill 371, An Act relative to assisting elders and people with disabilities in the Commonwealth, filed by Representative Jim O'Day and Senator Pat Jehlen: This bill would put the 2018 removal of the EAEDC homelessness penalty into statute, increase monthly grant levels, and provide an annual cost of living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities who are participating in the Department of Transitional Assistance’s Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program.
• House Bill 144/Senate Bill 75, An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty, filed by Representative Marjorie Decker and Senator Sal DiDomenico: This bill seeks to increase Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) cash assistance benefits 25% each year to bring benefits up to the deep poverty level (50% of the official poverty level). Once the deep poverty level is reached, benefits would continue to be adjusted annually to keep up with inflation.
• Testimony registration form: Sign up with the committee if you would like to testify in-person or virtually on these bills and let us know, too! The deadline to sign up to testify virtually is this Friday, September 8th at 2 p.m., but same-day, in-person testimony will be accepted, time permitting.
• How to submit written testimony to the Committee: Email JointCommittee.Children&Families@malegislature.gov, and then share a copy with us, too! Written testimony will be accepted until the bill is acted upon.
• Important resources:
• EAEDC bill fact sheet
• EAEDC endorsement form for organizations
• Lift Our Kids bill fact sheet
• Lift Our Kids campaign website
• Overview of the Coalition's bill and budget priorities
• The Coalition's 2023-2024 bill priority chart