Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with Cambridge, legislative, and public health updates.
Table of Contents
Cambridge Updates
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Cambridge Updates
Know Your Rights Training
January 27 & January 30 from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM on Zoom. Register here.
Learn about your rights from Immigration Attorneys. The free workshop will discuss rights when confronted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recent changes in immigration law, and how to get personalized legal help from an immigration lawyer. Interpretation will be provided.
Legislative Updates
Governor Maura Healey Releases FY2026 Budget Proposal
On Wednesday, Governor Healey released her budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. As a reminder, the Governor files their budget in January, and it comes to the House in April, the Senate in May, and then the House and Senate work to reconcile the differences in a conference committee in June.
As we continue to review her budget request, I wanted to provide a couple of short highlights of decisions that concern me. I’ve been in touch with the Governor and her team about these concerns. I want to be clear that we have difficult fiscal times ahead based on our revenue picture and the potential loss of federal funds from the Trump Administration. I don’t share these concerns with you to say that these are easy issues to address. It is important, however, to focus on who is being centered in decisions on how to appropriate the limited resources we do have. I have a lot of respect for the Governor. My sharing of these concerns is an important part of the legislative process, where we can disagree while holding mutual respect, and come together to better understand each other’s point of view.
I am disappointed to see that for the second year in a row, our most economically vulnerable families who receive TAFDC (Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children) have not been centered and are on the receiving end of cuts. I will continue to advocate for the increases that were passed and signed into law in the FY24 and FY25 budgets but have now been cut by this Administration. I have been in touch with the Administration and advocates and will continue advocating for these families.
I am also disappointed to see her proposed cut to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. These changes would transition assistance from up to $7,000 over 12 months to up to $7,000 over 24 months. I have been filing legislation and budget amendments to codify and increase financial support for this program for many sessions, knowing how essential upstream homelessness prevention is in keeping vulnerable people housed, especially as the emergency assistance shelter remains overburdened.
I am concerned about the proposed closures of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton and the Pocasset Mental Health Center in Cape Cod as well as the proposed layoff of 170 Department of Mental Health case workers, both in regard to the accessibility of essential services for patients as well as the implications for the workforce that will be impacted. These are complicated decisions, and I will continue to stay in communication with the Administration about how these decisions will impact the families served by these institutions and the hundreds of workers affected. Our overwhelmed healthcare system has been a long-term challenge for the state. It would have been helpful to have stakeholders from Pappas and Pocasset at the table to try and figure out a solution prior to this decision being made, knowing it will impact hundreds of workers and the many families whose children and adolescents are receiving care. I’m confident we will continue to find ways to work through this.
The Governor has also recently filed two separate supplemental budgets. The first surrounds funding for the emergency assistance shelter system, and the second spends down $1.32 billion of surplus Fair Share revenue on transportation and education initiatives. I will describe these in greater detail when they come before the House for debate.
Digesting President Trump’s Inauguration and Early Executive Orders
This has been a hard week. We have already seen attacks on the transgender community and DEI efforts, promises of mass deportations and an attempted repeal of birthright citizenship, the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, and the pardoning of January 6th defendants, among other actions.
While it is easy to get lost in the deluge of harm and punitive policies coming out of D.C. in the early days of the Trump Administration, it is important that we build in time to unplug and take care of our physical and mental health. We are in for a long fight in support of our neighbors, friends, and community over the next four years. I will continue to work with my colleagues in both the Legislature and at the local level, meet with and listen to constituents and advocates from across Massachusetts, to work to understand the challenges ahead and identify potential solutions.
Many of us are experiencing or will experience pain from the policies of this Administration, and many others of us have deep relationships and empathy for those being harmed. It is always essential to find ways to authentically remain in conversation. Our ability to stay at the table and not give up on each other, have hard conversations, and work together is so important. That is how I have and will continue to navigate these trying times.
Related to the previous section, as I have written about in previous newsletters, last session I worked with my colleague Chairwoman Mindy Domb to pass legislation enabling folks to utilize the gender-neutral “X” marker on driver’s licenses and birth certificates. This important policy ensures that important state documents contain gender-affirming demarcations for non-binary and genderqueer folks. Luckily, as WBUR reports, it seems as though these changes will remain valid on state documents despite federal restrictions outlined by the new president.
Public Health Updates
Trump Signs Executive Order to Withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the agency's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises, its failure to implement urgently needed reforms, and the "unfairly onerous payments" demanded from the US. The US was a founding member of the WHO in 1948. As an agency of the United Nations, WHO plays a crucial role in protecting public health and responding to health emergencies, including leading global efforts to eradicate smallpox and polio. During his first term as president, Trump took formal steps to withdraw from the agency, but President Biden reversed the decision on his first day in office before the one-year mark and restored the decades-long partnership.
Closure of Two Massachusetts Health Facilities
The Healey Administration plans for the closure of two health facilities in Massachusetts: Pocasset Mental Health Center — also known as the Cape Cod & Islands Community Mental Health Center — which is run by the state's Department of Mental Health (DMH), as well as Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital in Canton, operated by the state's Department of Public Health (DPH). Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital provides medical, rehabilitative, and educational services to children and young adults aged 7 to 22+, operating 24/7 to help patients achieve their optimal level of independence in all aspects of life. Currently, Pappas has 36 patients, with more than half being over the age of 18. A program review by DPH found that the Canton facility is unable to meet the technological and care standards required for high-acuity patients with significant disabilities, underscoring the need for a more focused and modernized care model to address the growing needs of children in Massachusetts.
Trump Administration Directs HHS to Pause Public Communications
The Trump administration instructed all agencies housed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pause external communications, such as press releases, regulations, guidance, notices, and social media posts until a Trump appointee can review them. According to a memo issued by Dr. Dorothy Fink, the acting head of HHS, this directive aligns with the precedent set by previous incoming administrations. It is expected to remain in place until February 1 of this year. Agencies impacted by this order include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Although directing agencies to refrain from disseminating public communications is not unheard of, the Trump administration issued this directive without warning or explanation, delaying the flow of information agencies had already planned to share with the public.
Tanzania Declares Outbreak of Marburg Virus
After a case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) was confirmed in a remote region of Tanzania, the country has officially declared an outbreak of the highly infectious illness. MVD is a rare type of hemorrhagic fever caused by orthomarburgviruses, Marburg virus, or Ravn virus, and it is known to infect humans and primates. After someone is exposed to the virus, typically through an infected fruit bat or another infected human, symptoms can take anywhere between 2 and 21 days to develop. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, rash, sore throat, nausea, and diarrhea. As MVD progresses, symptoms become more severe and can include hemorrhaging, multi-organ dysfunction, liver failure, and shock. If symptoms are left untreated, MVD can result in death in upwards of 88% of cases. Currently, no authorized vaccine or antiviral treatment is approved to treat MVD.
U.S. Government Releases First National One Health Plan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of the Interior (DOI) have released the first-ever National One Health Framework. The OneHealth approach outlines a comprehensive plan to protect humans, animals, and the environment from shared health threats. The initiative was implemented after Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2023, aimed at addressing zoonotic diseases and improving public health preparedness. Zoonotic diseases are illnesses caused by the spread of germs between humans and animals, including COVID-19, Ebola, and more. The plan is designed to encourage collaboration across various U.S. government agencies over the next five years, taking an interdisciplinary approach to tackle these complex issues.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Monday, I was fortunate to spend the day steeped in the life of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and work. Coinciding with the inauguration of President Trump, it could not have been a more salient time to be reminded of the shameful, violent days of our country’s history when our laws and culture affirmatively harmed African Americans and to reflect and be reminded of that struggle to call on people of conscience to be brave, sacrifice, and to organize.
Thank you to Mayor Denise Simmons, Pastor Jeremy Battle of the Western Avenue Baptist Church, and Many Helping Hands 365 for their incredible work on these events. It was also great to see City Councilors Ayesha Wilson and Sumbul Siddiqui School Committee Member David Weinstein, Bishop Brian Greene of Pentecostal Tabernacle Church, and my colleagues, Representative Steve Owens and Senator Sal DiDomenico.
I was also happy to pop over to the Boston Symphony Youth Orchestra’s performance at The Strand Theatre.
I am thankful to see our Cambridge community committed to knitting us together in a day of reading and listening to Dr. King’s words and service learning. I am privileged to represent a community dedicated to honoring Dr. King’s work through our values, priorities, and efforts. It is my greatest joy to know that I can continue to carry your commitment to racial, economic, and environmental justice thanks to your support in electing me to serve as your State Representative.
On Tuesday, I attended the 585 Kendall Topping Off Ceremony. Thank you to 585 Arts for inviting me to the ceremony, where it was great to see Mayor Denise Simmons, President of Global Arts Live Nagesh Mahanthappa, CEO of Global Arts Live Connie Chin, Founder and Director of Artistic Programs at Global Arts Live Maure Aronson, my colleague Senator Sal DiDomenico, and workers from IBEW Local 103 and Iron Workers Local 7.
An arts space in Kendall Square like this one has been almost 25 years in the making. When these conversations began, I was on the City Council. A key question we asked was how this development would benefit our community; in addition to the significant tax revenue it would provide, there was a commitment to build a community space. While it is disappointing that it has taken this long, I am excited to witness these efforts come to fruition.
This new Global Arts Live space at 585 Kendall will offer a unique performance space to bring musicians from around the world to Cambridge. I am particularly excited about this opportunity for Global Arts Live to partner with the Cambridge community, making music more accessible and offering young people an opportunity to explore careers in the industry.
I cannot wait to attend performances and events alongside our community members and yell “encore.” As always, but especially now, the arts and music are essential in creating spaces for reflection, contemplation, healing, hope, inspiration, and change. I am inspired and hopeful about the impact and exposure this performing arts space will have on the Cambridge community, especially for those who are often not included in these spaces.
On Thursday, I attended the Equal Justice Coalition (EJC) and Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) 26th Walk to the Hill for the Civil Legal Aid kickoff.
MLAC provides support for civil legal aid organizations. In these organizations, legal aid attorneys assist residents with various issues such as housing preservation, domestic violence, unemployment claims, and access to education, health care, and veterans’ benefits daily. In 2024, MLAC-funded organizations handled nearly 37,000 cases, benefitting 82,000 people who otherwise would not have access to counsel in civil legal matters.
It’s always exciting for me to attend this event as a Representative knowing that as a young 24-year-old, I created it as the EJC Executive Director. Since then, it has become an annual event working in partnership with the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association (BBA). It secured the first significant increase in civil law in the Massachusetts budget. It was an honor to be recognized for my work during the program.
Fun Fact — I was able to work with Hill Holiday who helped design the EJC logo pro bono. It is fun to still see it being used.
It was great to see Laura Booth, Director of EJC; Jamie Sabino, Deputy Director of Advocacy of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute — with whom I have filed a bill that would require the rights of each parent in custody disputes to be equal and child welfare to determine the distribution of parental responsibility for the past five sessions —; Anna Krieger, Executive Director of Massachusetts Advocates for Children; Todd Kaplan, a longtime housing and legal services attorney and advocate; and Mojdeh Rohani, Executive Director of De Novo. I also spoke with the president-elect of the BBA, Suma Nair, about the need for civil legal aid in the coming years.
I was honored to participate in My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge’s 5th Annual Radical King Symposium on Thursday evening at the Cambridge Public Library. Panelists from government, academia, and healthcare spoke about the gaps in equity they see in their respective sectors, and we reflected on where we were falling short of achieving Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on the city, state, and federal levels. It was a moving and thought-provoking conversation, and I’m grateful to Ty Bellitti and Tony Clark of My Brother’s Keeper for hosting this event.
On Friday, I attended the Black Lion Strategies 2025 New Year's Breakfast Reception. I was pleased to be recognized for their 2024 “Good Troublemaker of the Year” Award alongside Keith Ellison, the Attorney General of Minnesota, and Ruth Zakarin, CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. It was nice to see some familiar and new faces and learn and discuss the incredible work of people and organizations in Massachusetts and across our country. Thank you to Sam Gebru and Black Lion Strategies for hosting the event and highlighting the work I have done.
Know Your Immigration Rights
The ACLU has compiled a thorough list of immigration-related scenarios — including being asked about immigration status, being stopped, or detained by ICE — and the rights everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status, is granted. The list details how to express your rights and reduce risk to yourself and others in each scenario.
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.
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