December 27, 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this finds you safe and healthy and in good cheer as we prepare to ring in the New Year!

2021 has been eventful, and in this special edition newsletter, you will find some highlights from the year. You will also find a preview of the year ahead, including my hopes for the next climate bill.

May the new year bring you peace, joy, and happiness.

Very truly yours, Joan Meschino
2021 YEAR IN REVIEW
Representative Meschino Reflects on 2021
In 2020, our world came to a grinding halt with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we learned to restart and to figure out new ways to connect and work together. We perfected the art of the Zoom call, and we were finally able to reconnect with friends and community groups in-person after months apart. I held my first in-person office hours in the district in more than a year this past July, and I will never forget the joy of engaging with so many of you, face-to-face.

This year, the Massachusetts State Legislature continued to prioritize COVID-19 relief efforts. The FY22 budget we passed focused on providing support to our communities. The Legislature recently reached an agreement on a $4 billion ARPA and FY21 surplus spending bill. The legislation continues to support our towns in recovering from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

This year the Legislature also made great strides in combating the climate crisis in the Commonwealth with the Next Generation Climate Roadmap, signed into law in March. At its center is my own legislation, the 2050 Roadmap, which sets the new 2050 net-zero goal, sets ambitious 2030 and 2040 emission reduction goals, and integrates emission reduction work across all sectors with an equity lens. I have been excited to present on the Roadmap to numerous groups across the Commonwealth and beyond, and I am particularly heartened by the demonstrated interest and commitment of our communities to take action on the climate crisis at the local level.

In addition to the budget, the ARPA spending bill, and the Next Generation Climate Roadmap, the Legislature was able to pass additional landmark legislation, including redistricting and health care reform.

My priority bills, including several that focus on environmental justice, ZEVs, and building decarbonization and one that supports community media, continue to move through the legislative process. Other legislative priorities, including a bill that tackles hunger on community college campuses and a bill that addresses unfair unemployment clawbacks, have already been included, at least in part, in larger pieces of legislation.

And in the district, our communities have worked hard to recover from COVID-19, to remain connected, and to advocate for the issues that matter most to our residents. We won a critical fight to save the Coast Guard Station in Scituate, and we celebrated the opening of several new and upgraded facilities: two for our seniors (Kate's House in Cohasset and the Scituate Senior Center) and one that will allow us to stay connected and informed in future emergencies (the Primary Entry Point (PEP) facility at WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Boston.)

As we reflect on 2021 and move into 2022, I hope we carry with us our successes. If we can navigate an ongoing crisis while accomplishing so much in the legislature and in our communities, I continue to be excited for what is to come in the new year.
2021 in Photos
On January 6, 2021, I was sworn in as the State Representative for the 3rd Plymouth District.
On March 26, 2021, Governor Baker signed the historic “Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy" into law.
On May 18, 2021, I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Kate’s House, at the Cohasset Housing Authority, which provides safe, supportive housing for disabled adults and seniors.
On August 31, 2021, I joined our federal legislators, my colleagues in the state legislature, and town officials to oppose closure of the US Coast Guard Station in Scituate. As a result of our joint advocacy, the Coast Guard announced its decision to preserve the station in early October.
On October 15, 2021, I joined Senator Ed Markey, State Senator Patrick O'Connor, and officials and personnel from FEMA, WBZ, and the Town of Hull at the unveiling of an all-hazards upgrade to the Primary Entry Point (PEP) facility at WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Boston. The upgrades to the facility will allow for continuous broadcasting during hazardous events - a welcome investment in resiliency and emergency preparedness.
On November 2, 2021, I joined colleagues and town officials to celebrate the 100th birthday of Hingham resident Margaret Spalluzzi. During WWII, Margaret worked as a welder at the Hingham Shipyard, where she was frequently asked to put in overtime and often worked seven days a week.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022
Representative Meschino Previews 2022
Though we made great strides in 2021, significant work lies ahead in 2022.

Shortly after the new year, the budget process for FY2023 will commence. I look forward to working with my colleagues on a budget that will address needs in the 3rd Plymouth District and beyond, particularly among those who continue to be disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 2, 2022, is the first significant deadline for legislative committees to take action on bills pending in the 192nd Legislative Session. I will be working hard to advocate for the bills I have filed to be reported favorably out of their respective committees.

Combating the climate crisis must remain a top priority in the legislature and in our communities. I am committed to advocating for a comprehensive climate bill that includes electrification of our transportation and buildings sectors. I plan to continue working with municipalities and groups across the Commonwealth to inform them about the legislature's work on climate and to encourage local efforts to address the climate crisis. This work must continue to be done on all levels - federal, state, and local.

In the district, I will continue to be present and responsive to all of my constituents. Constituent service is my top priority. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

I am deeply honored to represent our community in the Massachusetts State Legislature. I am grateful for the faith and trust you place in me and for your support. I look forward to tacking the many challenges and celebrating the many successes that 2022 will surely bring.
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