Touts passage of PKU awareness bill
Law is crucial to advancing modern-day benefits to
those with PKU, similar metabolic disorders.

February 19, 2008 – Save the date!  Under Chapter 32 of the Acts of 2008, May 24^th is now Phenylketonuria (PKU) Awareness Day in Massachusetts.  This measure, approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick late last week, is just one of the numerous initiatives that I have sponsored to bring attention to the needs of those with PKU – a lifelong, inherited metabolic disorder in which those affected are unable to process the amino acid phenylalanine, resulting in a costly and restricted diet. 

According to the March of Dimes, an estimated 1 in every 25,000 newborns are diagnosed with PKU at birth.  Not enough people are aware of what this disorder actually encompasses – left untreated, PKU can result in mental retardation.  It’s time to get information out to everyone so that if their child is diagnosed with PKU during routine newborn screenings, they will have the knowledge beforehand, their child will be able to grow up normally with his/her peers and live a regular life.”

The legislation enacted last week, H.3174, is one of five bills that I have during the 2007-08 legislative session that seek to improve the quality of life for those with PKU and similar metabolic disorders. 

Others include:

• H.925, a bill that would increase the insurance coverage for food that is specially modified to be low in protein. 
• H.926, which proposes to eliminate the need for individuals with PKU to be continually re-authorized for insurance benefits since the metabolic disorder is lifelong. 
• H.2057, legislation that would designate 10% of newborn screening fees to metabolic disorder clinic programs to combat mental retardation in children suffering from PKU.
• H.2058, a measure that would add urea cycle disorders to the types of disorders for which insurance coverage of non-enteral formula and food products modified to be low protein is mandated.

The passage of this law is an important first step towards recognizing the real challenges that people diagnosed with PKU and their caregivers face.  This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of Governor Patrick, Speaker DiMasi and Senate President Murray who understand the importance of this issue.  I look forward to continue working with them to make the days brighter for those living with PKU and their families.
 

Brockton, Easton, West Bridgewater residents
entitled to over $1.5 million in Abandoned Property
 

Brockton Officials Announce Funding to Beautify City Parks

February 5, 2008 – Today, I joined Representatives Tom Kennedy and Geraldine Creedon, along with Congressman Stephen Lynch, Mayor James Harrington and Senator Bob Creedon to announce that the City of Brockton has received a $7,250 Urban Forestry Challenge Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conversation and Recreation (DCR) and US Forest Service to plant trees at city parks. 

“The Urban Forestry Challenge Grant is a great example of different levels of government working together to provide a tangible, long-lasting, positive improvement to the quality of life of the residents of Brockton.  I give great credit to my friend, State Representative Christine Canavan and my partners in the Brockton delegation who provided the leadership to secure this funding,” said Congressman Lynch.

This award – one of only eighteen awarded to municipalities and non-profit groups across the Commonwealth – allows the city to plant 25 trees in six parks throughout the City of Brockton.  It also complements the ongoing efforts of city officials to beautify and revitalize city parks and streets. 

Throughout the Commonwealth, a total of $112,430 has been awarded for similar projects, with $65,130 from the US Forest Service and $47,300 from DCR’s MassReLeaf Trust.  The trust is designed to foster partnerships between the public and private sectors for the planting and care of public trees to improve community environments.

“This funding illustrates once again the need for partnerships – strong branches, if you will – between local businesses, non-profit organizations, and the government in order to improve the quality of life for all city residents," I said.

"As the world is dealing with global warming and limited resources, it is wonderful to watch Brockton take the beginning steps to become a greener community, adding to the richness and vibrancy here," noted Representative Kennedy.

Representative Creedon recognizes the need to provide cities with green spaces.  "I'm very appreciative of this grant.  This effort will environmentally and aesthetically enhance the area,” she added.

“This grant exemplifies the collaboration that currently exists between state and local government,” said Mayor Harrington. “The beautification of our parks and the planting of new trees are a vital part to the infrastructure of our City, and provide an ecological and cost-effective benefit to our citizens”.

 

Spouses' access to Veterans' License Plates would
expand under Proposed Bill

 
January 30, 2008 – Under a new proposal introduced by Representative Anthony Verga (D-Gloucester) and Senator Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), Chairmen of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs, and co-sponsored by myself and 41 other members of the Legislature, more surviving spouses of veterans would be allowed to display the distinctive Massachusetts veteran motor vehicle license plate. 

For many years, spouses were required to surrender the veteran plate following the death of the veteran.  Under current law, eligible surviving spouses can retain possession of the plate that was issued to the veteran.  This new legislation, House Docket 4821, would allow the plate to be reinstated to those eligible veteran spouses who had previously turned the plate in.  The bill would also allow un-remarried spouses of deceased veterans who never had the veterans’ plate to apply for it. 

Spouses of soldiers also serve our country.  We sometimes forget that when our soldiers are making sacrifices overseas, their families are sacrificing holidays, birthdays, and countless special occasions back home.  This bill recognizes the tremendous dedication of these spouses, and ensures that each and every one of them will be able to continue to take pride not only in their service but the service of their loved one as well.

Spouses who are authorized to obtain the veterans license plate would also be issued a commemorative decal to display on the plate, indicating that they are a spouse of a veteran. 

For more information about this measure, and other veterans’ bills that I have supported in the 2007-2008 legislative session, please contact my State House office at (617) 722-2006.

 

Next Firefighter Civil Service Exam to be held on April 26th

January 22, 2008 – I am pleased to announce that the Commonwealth’s Human Resources Division will be holding its entry-level Firefighter Civil Service Examination on Saturday, April 26, 2008.  The results from this test will determine the pool of applicants eligible for appointment to the position of Municipal Civil Service Firefighter in cities and towns covered by the Civil Service Statute.

Applications for the exam, along with the $75.00 fee, must be submitted to the Human Resources Division by March 18, 2008.  Individuals who apply between March 18th and April 1st will incur a $25 processing surcharge.  No applications will be accepted after April 1, 2008.  Applicants can apply online at www.mass.gov/civilservice or can obtain an application by calling the Human Resources Division at (617) 878-9895, Monday – Friday during normal business hours or by visiting their local city/town hall or fire department.

In order to take the test and be eligible for appointment as a firefighter under Civil Service guidelines, applicants:

	Must be at least 19 years old as of April 1, 2008.  If you’ll be 32 or older as of April 1st, please obtain and read the detailed examination announcement before applying.
	Must be a non-smoker at the time of and after appointment.
	Must pass a medical and physical ability examination prior to appointment.

I encourage anyone interested in becoming a firefighter to take the test.  Those interested can learn more information at www.mass.gov/civilservice or by calling my State House office at (617) 722-2006.

 

Reminds Constituents to Apply for College Financial Aid
Touts numerous financial aid sources available to help college students finance their education

January 18, 2007 – I am pleased to once again promote several financial aid opportunities to assist my constituents in financing their education this year.  Last year, Massachusetts students secured more than $1 billion in grants and low-interest loans from the federal and state government, as well as millions of dollars in scholarships from colleges and universities. 

As the cost of higher education continues to rise, so does the number of people who recognize the necessity of a college education to succeed in today’s global economy.  Now is the time to begin the financial aid application process for students planning to attend college next fall, and there are many valuable resources available to the residents of the Greater Brockton area that I encourage them to utilize.

Beginning January 1st, students became eligible to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2008-2009 school year.  They are encouraged to complete it as soon as possible – preferably before March 1st – to maximize their chances of receiving federal assistance.  This application is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  For those needing further information and/or assistance with the FAFSA, officials from the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) will be available on Sunday, January 27th at 2:00 pm in the Green Cafeteria of Brockton High School as part of their College Goal Sunday program. 

Additional financial aid and application assistance is available through partnerships between the state, numerous colleges and universities, as well as scholarships made possible through private donors.  To receive free guidance and help determining eligibility for these resources, it is recommended that students contact the Brockton TERI College Planning Center, located at 34 School Street, by calling (866) 891-4716, or the financial aid office at their college or university. 

Each year, I make it a priority to support programs that help provide all students with an affordable college education.  Just this year, I worked with her colleagues to increase state scholarships and financial aid funding by approximately $4 million over FY ’07 levels.  Additionally, I have supported numerous workforce training programs for teachers, nurses, and veterans – to name a few.