Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, Cambridge, and public health updates.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Cambridge Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Reappointed as Public Health Chair!
I am pleased to announce that I have been reappointed by Speaker Mariano to serve as the House Chair for the Joint Committee on Public Health. This will be my third term serving as Chair of Public Health, and at a time when President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are wreaking havoc on public health and health care on the federal level, I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to once again lead this Committee.
I am sharing the Public Health Committee's End of Session Report for the 2023-2024 session with you. This is a report I typically share internally with leadership and committee members. I thought you might find it insightful to understand the breadth of my work as a member of leadership while chairing the Joint Committee on behalf of the Speaker. This work is in addition to my commitment and responsibilities as State Representative to the 25th Middlesex. The Public Health Committee is one of the busiest Committees, with one of the highest numbers of bills that the House and Senate clerk refers. I am proud of the work that my co-chair from the last session, Senator Julian Cyr, and I accomplished, which resulted in 30 bills being favorably reported out of committee and signed into law during the past session.
You can find the End of Session Report that I pulled together with my Committee staff here. This report highlights all of the work we did in the Committee last session, which included passing 30 bills! I know that I share a lot about the legislation I file in this section, but I want to also share this report, which demonstrates the other large part of my responsibilities as House Chair. This report is typically something that I share internally with my colleagues, but I wanted to share it with you so you get a sense of the additional responsibilities I have as a member of leadership in addition to serving as the State Representative for the 25th Middlesex District.
I am thrilled to have Representative Sally Kerans back with me as Vice Chair, and look forward to working with the returning and new members of the Committee on the important work that lies ahead of us.
Letter to Mass Health Connector
This week, thanks to the advocacy of a constituent, I sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector asking her to consider regulatory updates to preserve gender affirming care for individuals who are federal employees and get their health care through work.
As you may know, the Trump Administration has recently announced discriminatory actions to ban federally funded health care for trans individuals in this Federal Employees Health Benefits memo and these Executive Orders. In Massachusetts, the loss of gender-affirming care would not qualify as a qualifying event leading to a Special Enrollment Period for someone to sign up for insurance coverage through the Health Connector. I therefore encouraged the Executive Director to update regulations to recognize the loss of health insurance coverage from an employer-provided plan due to discriminatory exclusion of gender-affirming care as the loss of minimum essential coverage, and thereby as a qualifying event for a SEP.
Governor pauses closures of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital and Pocasset Mental Health Center
On Monday, Governor Healey announced that she would pause her plans to close Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital and Pocasset Mental Health Center. As I have shared, I have been in constant communication with advocates representing both the patients and the workers, seeking to better understand the impact of the proposed closures. I applaud the Governor’s decision to pause the closures of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital and Pocasset Mental Health Center, recognizing that more planning is needed to support families and children served while working with the many staff who provide critical specialized care.
On Tuesday, I attended a rally planned in opposition to the closures, as well as a briefing where patients from Pappas shared their experience at the hospital and advocated against the closure.
Public Health Updates
State Health Officials Report More Kids May Be Getting Flu Complications This Year
State public health officials are warning health care providers about the increase in children with the flu getting potential neurological complications. Although officials cannot determine the specific cause of this increase, there may be a higher risk in children with the flu. Another possibility is that this year’s flu strain carries a higher risk for complications than previous years. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) reported that the main neurological complication tied to the flu is a seizure, followed by encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain and can lead to brain damage, stroke, and even death. Flu severity in Massachusetts is “very high,” according to DPH; the state hasn’t seen this level of flu infections since before the COVID-19 pandemic. DPH has reported that there have been 191 deaths from the flu throughout this season so far.
Healey Administration Pauses Plans to Close Pappas and Pocasset Hospitals
This Monday, Governor Healey announced that her administration would pause the closure of two state-run hospitals: Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton and Pocasset Mental Health Center on Cape Cod. In her initial budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026, Healey proposed closing the two residential facilities, citing their aging infrastructure and underutilization. Current patients and health services at Papas and Pocasset would have been redirected to other hospitals. However, after significant pushback from the patients, families, legislators, and unions, Governor Healey instead plans to assemble a group of stakeholders to review the care provided at these facilities and make recommendations to ensure patients continue to receive high-quality care. Pappas is currently run by the Department of Public Health (DPH), providing medical, rehabilitative, and educational services to children and young adults aged 7 to 22+ to help patients achieve their optimal level of independence in all aspects of life.
Texas Measles Outbreak Spreads to New Mexico as Number of Cases Near 100
On Monday, New Mexico state officials reported an outbreak of measles in Lea County; the New Mexico county is near Gaines County, Texas, where measles cases have been for the first time since 2023. The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported that Gaines County and the surrounding communities have counted 90 total cases, with 77 children and 10 adults infected. Most of the cases in both Texas and New Mexico are of unvaccinated individuals, except five individuals who have been vaccinated. Sixteen of these patients have been hospitalized. On Wednesday, the first death associated with this outbreak was reported in West Texas; the age of the patient has not yet been reported. In all of rural West Texas, there are a total of 124 cases of measles across nine counties.
Bird Flu Detected in Rats for the First Time
H5N1 avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, has been identified in four black rats in Riverside County, California, marking the first instance of bird flu detection in rats. Experts predict that the rats were exposed to infection from two local farms that recently reported outbreaks. While this is the first time bird flu was found in rats, this is not the first time bird flu has been detected in mammals. Notably, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that two domestic cats in Oregon were infected, likely through raw pet food. In light of this development, USDA is rushing to rehire bird flu experts laid off due to budget cuts recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency. USDA is working to rescind the recently released termination letters, and veterinarians and emergency response personnel were made exempt from these layoffs.
Federal Judge Extends Temporary Restraining Order to Trump Administration’s NIH Funding Cuts
Last Friday, Federal Judge Angel Kelley of Boston extended a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s plan to withhold billions of dollars in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The restraining order went into effect on February 10th when 22 states, led by Massachusetts, and 16 academic research groups brought suit against the Trump administration. This week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined over 40 mayors in filing a court brief to show bipartisan support for the lawsuits. The NIH not only conducts life-saving research of its own but also spends nearly 83% of its funding supporting research in various universities, medical schools, and other research institutions in every state.
Cambridge Updates
Skyrocketing Utility Bills — Updates
I continue to hear from constituents about their unbelievably expensive gas and electricity bills. This sudden increase in costs, resulting from utility companies like Eversource and National Grid passing expenses onto consumers, is absolutely unacceptable. As you may know, utility rates are set by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The Legislature, unfortunately, has no say in rate setting, however, we have and will continue to use our voice, representing our communities, to express outrage and demand change.
Over the last week, I have signed onto two letters imploring both the Chair of DPU and the Attorney General, the statutory ratepayer advocate, to take action. We have since heard back from the Attorney General, saying she also sent a letter to DPU and proposed both short-term and long-term steps to “provide meaningful relief for Massachusetts ratepayers.” I continue to be so grateful for the leadership of Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who is defending our values and protecting our rights against the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders and advocating for ratepayers on the state level. I also want to flag that the Governor recently said she was considering filing an energy affordability bill. I look forward to seeing what that bill looks like and will continue to advocate to the AG, Governor, and my colleagues for actions providing relief.
My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge Spring Empowerment Program
My Brother's Keeper Cambridge launched their Spring Empowerment Program, which aims to provide young adults with resources and support during a crucial transitional period in their lives. The paid program provides tools for participants to expand their knowledge, skills, and networking opportunities. You can learn more and apply here.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Monday, I met with 585 Arts and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). I organized this meeting to facilitate a discussion about what can be done to amplify the incredible work 585 Arts is doing to provide a space for artists to share their stories and make the arts more accessible, especially for those often left out of these spaces. I am excited to continue to work with 585 Arts and to see the continued impact they will have on the Cambridge community and beyond.
I met with Noel Sierra, the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR), along with Hannah Koepper, Director of Communication & Policy, and Connor Cahill, an intern at MOAR, on Monday. In our meeting, we discussed MOAR's legislative priorities for this session, which include four bills I filed this session:
An Act relative to the prescription monitoring program: The legislation enhances the coordination of care for individuals in opioid treatment programs by sharing key treatment information with authorized prescribers through the prescription monitoring program while respecting patient privacy and the consent of patients.
An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment (filed alongside Chair John Lawn): The bill establishes that harm reduction programs and services will include overdose prevention centers, as well as liability protections for staff, clients, and operators.
An Act relative to treatment, not incarceration (co-filed alongside Representative Tram Nguyen): This bill allows judges to order individuals on probation to receive substance use treatment. However, it prohibits them from sending someone to jail simply for relapsing if they are engaged in treatment.
An Act ensuring access to addiction services (filed alongside Representative Margaret Scarsdale): The bill aims to end the practice of incarcerating men who have not been charged with a crime but have been committed to involuntary treatment and correctional custody for alcohol and substance use disorder under Section 35. Instead, it would require that there be enough treatment capacity in healthcare facilities administered only by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health.
I appreciate that MOAR is prioritizing these bills this session, especially their strong support for overdose prevention centers (OPCs). Harm reduction tools like OPCs, naloxone distribution, and access to clean needles and test strips save lives, and it is imperative that we invest in them to ensure that people can begin their recovery journey when they are ready.
I was pleased to meet with Daphne Principe-Griffin of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. United Way has been an invaluable collaborator as I work alongside my Poverty Commission co-chair Senator Sal DiDomenico to craft a comprehensive omnibus bill addressing poverty in Massachusetts, and I am grateful for their partnership.
I also have continued to meet with stakeholders and advocacy groups to learn more about the state of perimenopause and menopause care and services in Massachusetts. This week, I met with Sasha Goodfriend, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW). I am working to craft a comprehensive menopause bill that will aim to address education, coverage, and treatment of care and services, and I will share more on it soon.
I also have continued to meet with stakeholders and advocacy groups to learn more about the state of perimenopause and menopause care and services in Massachusetts. This week, I met with Sasha Goodfriend, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW). I am working to craft a comprehensive menopause bill that will aim to address education, coverage, and treatment of care and services, and I will share more on it soon.
I met with members of the UNITE HERE Local 26 and UFCW Local 1445 unions on Wednesday to learn more about a bill they filed to ban the use of grab-and-go alcohol distribution at large venues. They represent workers at Fenway Park and the TD Garden, both of which have seen an increase in these grab-and-go vendors. In addition to eliminating good, family-sustaining jobs, these systems have also led to an increase in serving underage kids and overserving adults due to the missing discretion and oversight that concession stand workers are trained to provide. My first job was working concessions at Fenway when I was 13 years old, so I was so glad to meet these individuals and support them by co-sponsoring the bill.
My staff attended the Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB)'s Bold Blueprint to Combat Cancer Policy Forum. MGB shared its process and current work being done to continue improving cancer care, services, and research during the forum. Thank you to MGB's physicians, healthcare providers, and staff for all your incredible and innovative efforts to improve and save lives.
I met with Jacqueline Hubbard, Esq., Deputy Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communications of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Massachusetts. In our meeting, we touched upon the impacts of significant loss in funding that will affect jail diversion program. These programs are administered by the Department of Mental Health with law enforcement agencies to address the fact that people with mental illnesses are overly represented in the criminal justice system. They are invaluable tools that keep people with mental illness and substance use disorder from court involvement and incarceration, and NAMI plays a key role in ensuring their success.
I also met with Julia Schlozman, Senior Staff Attorney of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), and a constituent, and David Albright, Director of Policy and Advocacy, about An Act relative to immigration detention and collaboration agreements. The bill, which I co-sponsor, aims to ban agreements with local jails and sheriffs to rent bed space to ICE for immigration detainees. It also bans 287(g) agreements, which grant local officials federal immigration powers and deputize them as ICE agents. At a time when immigrants are facing threats and intimidation from the federal government, it is essential that Massachusetts not aid it in carrying out its hateful agenda.
I attended the Civic Action Project (CAP) Winter Gathering on Wednesday night. I had the opportunity to be a CAP Collaborative Executive Fellow in 2022. I have also had the pleasure of speaking to multiple cohorts of CAP Graduate fellows, hosting CAP interns in my office, and having former CAP fellows as my staff throughout the years. It was great to see Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and many of my colleagues in the Legislature and catch up with old friends. Thank you to CAP founders and program directors George Bachrach, Ira Jackson, and Steve Crosby for hosting this event.
It's always great to see John DeVillars, former Secretary of Environmental Affairs and co-founder of BlueWave Solar; Chrissy Lynch, President of Massachusetts AFL-CIO; Lori Ehrlich, former State Representative and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region I Administrator; and Sarah Nordberg, Deputy Legislative Director of MassHealth (and former staffer!)
On Thursday, I visited Professor Larry Bailis’s Advocacy, Protest, and Community Organizing course at the Heller School at Brandeis to speak about my experience as an elected official. After a brief introduction about the various positions I have held — from legislative aide to city council to state representative — I turned it over to the students. I have spoken to Larry’s class many times, and each time, I am struck by the brilliant, engaged, and curious students who are eager to make a difference in their communities and in the world.
I then had the opportunity to meet with Heller School Dean Maria Madison; Health Policy Forum Executive Director Michael Doonan; Health Policy Professor Karen Donelan; and former Dean, Health Policy Commission Chair, and leading health economist Stuart Altman. We spoke about the daily chaos of the Trump presidency, the precipitous state of the healthcare industry, and the work ahead in the Legislative session and in higher education. I look forward to continuing to work with students and faculty at Brandeis and throughout the Commonwealth to approach pressing problems facing the state.
I attended the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus’s annual Black Excellence Awards, where Tanya Milner, the Interim Assistant Principal at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS), won a 2025 Black Excellence on the Hill Award.
Since 1999, Tanya has worked at CRLS in various capacities, starting as a United States history teacher before transitioning to being the Dean of Curriculum for social studies and then into her current role as Interim Assistant Principal. For 26 years in each role, Tanya has made it her mission to center equity and ensure students of color thrive. Throughout her career, Tanya has helped countless high-priority students navigate high school and complete their graduation requirements to receive their diplomas on time.
Tanya was among those who led the charge to dismantle the college prep track and grant every student a chance at achievement in higher-level courses. Prior to her efforts, she noticed a racial division in class placement that separated students into honors and college prep classes; white students were more likely to be in honors, while Black and Latinx students were often directed to college prep. She also helped institute pathways and supports for a more diverse range of students to access and successfully complete Advanced Placement History courses. Recognizing her dedication to holistically supporting her students, Tanya was awarded the James Bryant Conant Fellowship from Harvard University.
What I admire most about Tanya is the care and investment she has had in thousands of Cambridge students and their families. So often, leaders like Tanya quietly carry the hopes, promises, struggles, and the discomfort of so many on their own shoulders, and I am just so grateful that she loves our community as much as she does and that she’s chosen to serve our community in such an important, and extraordinarily challenging role. Tanya is an incredible leader, mentor, and educator in our community, and I am proud to nominate her and excited to celebrate her.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
Alzheimer's Association Helpline
The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit that provides support, research, and care for Alzheimer’s and dementia with a 24/7 for caregivers and patients. More information is available at alz.org, or by calling 800-272-3900.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie