Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with Cambridge, legislative, and public health updates. You’ll also see a highlight of the amazing interns in my office this spring, as well as a spotlight on a Harvard Crimson article I was interviewed for this week.
Table of Contents
Intern Spotlight
Cambridge Updates
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
Recent Press
Services and Resources
Intern Spotlight
My office hosts several interns who get an opportunity to learn about the legislative process, explore their policy interests, and hear from legislators, agency officials, and advocates. Each of the four interns has been invaluable in assisting my staff with constituent, legislative, and public health-related responsibilities. I am thrilled to have them as part of the team through the next several weeks.
Sarah Baker
Sarah Baker, originally from Danbury, Connecticut, is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at Brown University. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist and the owner of a mobile private practice that provides speech-language therapy across Boston and the Greater Boston area, with a focus on improving accessibility to therapy services for all populations. In addition to her practice, she works part-time as a speech-language pathologist at a charter school in Cambridge, MA. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys traveling, running, hiking, skiing and spending time with family and friends. As a Public Health Committee intern, Sarah is eager to deepen her understanding of the legislative process and advocate for more equitable and accessible healthcare services.
Rowen Lee
J. Rowen Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Bellevue, Washington. Currently, she is a senior at Boston University, pursuing a BS in Health Science. At BU, Rowen plays an active role on campus as the Sargent Class of ‘25 president and as a representative for both the Sargent Student Government in the budget committee and for BU during prospective student information sessions. Having participated in policy implementation as an intern at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Rowen is excited to explore policy development as part of the Joint Committee on Public Health.
Carlos Sevilla
Carlos Sevilla, originally from New York City, is a sophomore at Harvard College concentrating in Human Development and Regenerative Biology with a secondary focus in Astrophysics. During his studies, Carlos is passionate about addressing homelessness and housing initiatives. He staffs the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter and volunteers with Boston Health Care for the Homeless, where he works to support underserved populations. As an intern with Representative Marjorie Decker, Carlos is eager to contribute to legislative efforts that promote housing stability and advocate for vulnerable communities.
Jaclyn Geiger
Jaclyn is a third-year Public Health student at Simmons University and a Barbara Lee Foundation fellow. Her interests lie in the intersection of public health and public policy, and she hopes to continue her education in graduate school to study population health. Outside of class, she works as a research assistant with the Harvard Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital and is an executive board member of Democracy Matters at Simmons. Jaclyn is a native New Yorker and enjoys reading and baking in her free time. She is most excited to research legislative issues and attend hearings.
Cambridge Updates
Join the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) for a workshop about sexually transmitted infections (STI) and a free STI testing clinic at the Cambridge Public Library Community Room on Monday, February 3rd. Learn about prevention testing, treatment, and strategies for maintaining sexual health.
Legislative Updates
EA Shelter Supplemental Budget
I continue to have conversations with colleagues and advocates about the upcoming supplemental budget to continue to fund the emergency assistance (EA) shelter system. As I have shared in previous newsletters, I worked for years to reverse the punitive and inhumane policy that forced families to spend at least one night in a space not meant for human habitation in order to qualify for emergency assistance (EA) shelter. With the help of the Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means, Aaron Michlewitz, I secured language in the FY 2020 budget to eliminate that requirement and ensure it could never be reinstated. I have continued to be a leading voice advocating to protect the right to shelter and to center the parents and children living in our EA system as we discuss any further restrictions, as the Governor proposed.
Closure of Pocasset Mental Health Center and Relocation of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital
I continue to meet with stakeholders and advocates to better understand the impacts of the proposed closures of Pocasset Mental Health Center and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital. As a reminder, Governor Healey announced these proposals the FY26 budget proposal that was released last Wednesday.
Lift Our Kids Lobby Day
On Thursday, advocates from the Lift Our Kids coalition came to the State House to lobby in favor of increased cash assistance to people living in deep poverty through the Temporary Aid for Families and Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Assistance for the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) programs. I have filed An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty along with Senator DiDomenico since 2019, and we have secured five increases since 2021. Prior to our efforts, TAFDC and EAEDC cash grants hadn’t been increased in 33 and 21 years, respectively!
As I shared in the last newsletter, the Governor has again proposed to slash the cash assistance grant increases. I will both continue to advocate against these cuts, in parallel with my advocacy for continued increases in the FY26 budget.
Fentanyl Drug Overdoses Rise in Older Black Men
This week, the Boston Globe ran a story highlighting that new studies from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show a concerning and abrupt increase in overdose deaths among Black men 55 and older. The article cites Department of Public Health data that reveals that “statewide, the rate of deadly overdoses among Black men over 55 soared 242 percent between 2017 and 2023, while overall, the rate for men of all races declined over the same period.” The fentanyl crisis has largely contributed to this, as fentanyl is increasingly laced with other drugs.
In my work on substance use policy, I have and will continue to elevate the disproportionate rate that communities of color are impacted by overdose-related tragedies, and center equity and access as I work on harm reduction strategies.
For the past several sessions, I have filed An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment. This bill would legalize overdose prevention centers (OPCs) and add liability protection for care providers working at OPCs. Harm reduction tools like OPCs as well as access to naloxone, clean needles, and fentanyl test strips save lives. I am proud that harm reduction strategies were centered in the substance use omnibus package we passed last session, and it is imperative that we continue to invest in them to ensure that folks can begin the journey to recovery when they are ready to do so. You can read about the bill and learn more about OPCs here.
I encourage you to read this article, and am always available to discuss ways the state continues to support folks struggling with substance use disorder in our community and state.
Public Health Updates
CDC Ordered to Stop Collaboration with the WHO
A memo sent by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the agency's senior leaders orders public health officials to stop working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and await further guidance. The two agencies work together on worldwide efforts to monitor and contain infectious diseases and emerging outbreaks. The CDC communicates daily with the WHO, assigns nearly 30 personnel to the organization, and contributes millions of dollars to its programs. The directive was made in accordance with President Trump’s executive order issued on January 20 to withdraw the US from the WHO. While federal law requires the US to provide one year of notice before terminating its WHO membership, the ban on communication is effective immediately and does not allow for a transition period. Health experts express concern that this decision could jeopardize efforts to respond to various diseases and hinder investigations into outbreaks, such as bird flu, Marburg virus, and mpox, as well as other global health threats.
Massachusetts Officials Respond to Surge in Wild Bird Deaths with Updated Avian Flu Guidance
The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued updated guidance regarding suspected cases of avian flu. Across the state, between 500 and 1,000 wild bird deaths have been reported, which are suspected to be due to avian flu. The risk of humans contracting HPAI from infected birds remains low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been a total of 68 reported human infections nationwide, none of which occurred in Massachusetts. However, individuals who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds, as well as raptors, waterfowl, and other aquatic birds, are most at risk of becoming infected. MassWildlife, MDAR, and DPH encourage the public to report groups of five or more dead birds found at a single location to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, recommend notifying the state’s Division of Animal Health about possibly infected poultry, and recommend keeping pets away from wildlife.
Trump Signs an Order Restricting Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order to end gender-affirming care for children and teenagers under 19 years of age. The order is the administration’s latest in a series of attacks aimed at transgender people in the U.S. and restricts the federal government from funding, sponsoring, promoting, assisting, or supporting gender-affirming care for children. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), while few executive orders change policy immediately, the most immediate impacts of this executive order will be felt by the more than 2,000 transgender people currently held in federal custody. The order specifically directs the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security to ignore Prison Rape Elimination Act guidelines and enforce a policy of forcing transgender women into men’s prisons and detention centers against their will. If you or a loved one have been impacted by this executive order, you can report LGBTQ/HIV discrimination to the ACLU here.
BPHC Launches New Fund for Families of Drug Overdose Victims
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), there were over 2,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in the state in 2023. A recent Globe analysis reveals that the overdose death rate among Black men aged 55 and older has surged by 242% from 2017 to 2023. In Boston, middle-aged and elderly Black men are overdosing at rates significantly higher than any other demographic group. In response to the opioid crisis, state health officials are working to utilize multibillion-dollar settlements with the opioid industry for their role in the epidemic. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced the launch of the Family Overdose Support Fund, a new support fund to support Boston residents who have lost an immediate family member to opioid overdose. This fund offers financial assistance to offset financial hardships families face after losing a loved one and address immediate needs and long-term challenges related to health, healing, and community connection. The fund is the first municipal fund in the nation specifically dedicated to families of overdose victims. According to BPHC, over 50 families will receive financial assistance through this program.
MassDOT Launches Naloxone Pilot Program to Address Opioid Crisis
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), has announced the launch of a new naloxone program to address the opioid crisis by installing naloxone stations at select MassDOT facilities. The primary goals of the program are to expand access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose (often available as the nasal spray Narcan), improve public health and safety, integrate harm reduction strategies, and enhance emergency response capabilities. The program will launch at three locations: two RMV locations, including Haymarket in Boston and Springfield, as well as MassDOT’s headquarters in Boston. In addition, MassDOT has been training security personnel on how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses and how to administer naloxone. The program’s launch follows a similar program, the Public Access Naloxone Pilot, from July 2024, making naloxone available at MBTA stations along the Red Line.
Adult ADHD Diagnoses are Rising
On Monday, U.S. Health News reported a rise in ADHD diagnoses among adults. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood and impacts more than 15 million U.S. adults. A recent study suggested that roughly 1 in every 17 people have been diagnosed with ADHD, which makes it difficult for individuals to focus, manage impulsive behaviors, plan and organize their time, and juggle multiple responsibilities. The study also found that ADHD diagnoses surged in 2020, partly due to the challenges of working from home and managing family responsibilities, which exacerbated symptoms for some people with mild ADHD. Other factors, including better awareness and recognition of ADHD, have contributed to the rise in diagnosis. The increase in diagnoses has further complicated the ongoing Adderall shortage, which has led doctors to switch children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to other stimulant medications. The shortage began in October 2022, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited production challenges in response to a surge in demand.
Recent Press
Cambridge State Rep Says State Legislature Will Work to Protect Residents under Trump by Megan Blonigen (Harvard Crimson)
“The Massachusetts state legislature is preparing to use its power to shield residents while looking to the state Attorney General as the ‘first line of defense’ against executive orders signed by President Donald Trump in his first week of office, state representative Marjorie C. Decker said in an interview Thursday.
While acknowledging that a number of residents may be ‘in danger’ given vows from the presidency to deport all unauthorized immigrants — of which Massachusetts hosts over 350,000 — and end birthright citizenship for others, Decker said the legislature ‘will be carefully digesting what these actions are” and “how they harm Massachusetts residents.’ …
Decker pointed out that under Trump’s first term, the state legislature created a special committee to hear from advocates concerned about his presidency’s impacts on issues like reproductive rights. That resulted in the Roe Act, which codified abortions rights and access to birth control in Massachusetts.
Decker said it was possible a similar committee would be formed this time around, too, as Beacon Hill leadership decide committee assignments for the coming term.”
I continue to be in touch with local and statewide organizations to learn more about the impact of Trump’s executive orders and to find resources to send to constituents.
De Novo: Know Your Rights cards and free legal assistance to low-income immigrants and asylum seekers.
MIRA Coalition: Know Your Rights resources, upcoming trainings, and immigration helpline.
ACLU MA: Know Your Rights resources
I want to also flag for you that the Children’s Trust, a public-private organization working toward a Massachusetts free from child abuse and neglect, is conducting research to examine ways to prevent reports of child neglect (known as 51A). They are looking for families with lived experience interacting with the Department of Children and Families, who will be asked to share their experiences with an advocate and will be offered compensation for their time. See the flyer below for more information.
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