Education

• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in student achievement.
• Fought to secure more than $603 million dollars for 42 school construction and renovation projects in the district.
• Successfully fought for funding to construct a state-of-the-art Math & Science Center at Bridgewater State University.
• Fought to expand opportunities for higher education by playing a major role in the establishment of one, central Bristol Community College location in downtown Taunton, as well as in the expansion of Massasoit Community College in downtown Middleboro.
• Successfully fought to help establish the state’s first public law school at UMass Dartmouth.
• Fought for the passage of strong anti-bullying legislation and funding for suicide prevention programs.
• Fought for and supports legislation that establishes a universal pre-kindergarten program.
• Fought to secure funding for early intervention, head start and after school programs.
• Supported legislation that authorizes spending on improved information technology equipment to help Massachusetts compete in the 21st century economy.
• Supported fiscal 2015 budget which included $945.8 million to Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) and $4.4 billion for Chapter 70, after boosting investments in these areas in the fiscal 2014 budget.
• Supported funding that has allowed University of Massachusetts to freeze tuition and fees for two years. 
• Supported added Regional School Transportation funding.
• Supported legislation to address deferred maintenance at state universities and community colleges in the Commonwealth.
• Supported funding for a grant program to vocational schools and community colleges to prepare  students for 21st century jobs.
• Supported legislation that promotes a successful learning environment for individuals with autism or a developmental disability in the Commonwealth.
• Supported legislation to bolster the public school district broadband access improvement grant program.
• Supported legislation to update the state’s anti-bullying law to better protect vulnerable students across the Commonwealth.
• Supported legislation to help students prepare for college and higher education after high school.
• Supported the establishment of the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund to give grants to nonprofit childcare organizations to make capital improvements to facilities.
• Fought to increase the head start capacity and to allow for greater separation for animals as part of bio-security protocol of the Natural Resources Management Program at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought to support the creation of an Eastern Regional Center for Urban Sustainability at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought for the creation of a UMASS Cranberry Research Station in East Wareham
• Fought to keep Bristol Law Library in Taunton open.
• Fought for the creation of an energy efficiency and clean energy bond program to help retrofit schools in Massachusetts to cut back on energy costs.
• Fought to promote the safety of schoolchildren on school buses.
• Fought to promote citizen service through a Commonwealth Student Corps that would connect supervised students with professionals in order to address societal needs.
• Supported funding to improve early education and after school activities for low-income children at statewide facilities.
• Supported added funding for special education in the Commonwealth.

• Fought for $2 billion in needed capital improvements to public colleges and universities by supporting the passage of the Higher Education Bond Bill, which also created hundreds of jobs.
• Fought to secure funding for early intervention, head start and after school programs.
• Fought for the passage of historic legislation that re-organized the state’s educational system, thereby increasing efficiency and improving the quality of education throughout the Commonwealth.

Environment & Natural Resources

• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in energy efficiency.
• Fought for a $2.2 billion energy and environmental bond, which includes investments in state parks and recreational areas, and an Eastern Regional Center for Urban Sustainability at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought for the preservation and rehabilitation of thousands of acres in the Southeast for hunting, fishing, agriculture and passive recreation.
• Fought for initiatives that have helped create more than 88,000 clean energy jobs and nearly 6,000 clean energy jobs across the Commonwealth, including 22 percent clean energy job growth in Southeastern Massachusetts from 2013-2014, representing the fastest growth of any region of the state.
• Fought for conservation district grant program in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for funding to restore fresh water aquatic fisheries.
• Fought for funding to design, construct and rehabilitate dams in the First Plymouth and Bristol District and across the Commonwealth.
• Fought for $57 million for the Water Pollution Abatement Trust
• Fought for funding for the Accelerated Energy Program.
• Helped establish the Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investment Fund.
• Fought for Massachusetts Food Trust Program to increase access to healthy food options within the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities.
• Fought for safer dams across the Commonwealth as chief sponsor of legislation to establish a revolving loan fund for dams.
• Supported funding for dredging projects on coastal public harbors.
• Supported the Department of Agriculture Resources’ Agricultural and Environmental Enhancement Program, which provided grants to 10 farms in the First Plymouth and Bristol District to help mitigate harm to natural resources from agricultural practices.
• Fought for funding to design, construct, improve or remove coastal infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
• Supported Department of Agricultural Resources’ agricultural preservation restriction program.
• Fought for improvements to parks and open space in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for increased access to ponds and state parks in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought to protect drinking water well field resources in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for flood management mitigation measures in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for a UMASS Cranberry Research Station in East Wareham.
• Fought for a flood management study and related flood management and mitigation measures for the Assawompset Pond Complex that is part of the Taunton River Watershed.
• Fought to increase the head start capacity and allow for greater separation for animals as part of bio-security protocol of the Natural Resources Management Program at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought for UMass Amherst Northeast Climate Science Center to support federal, state and other agencies by studying the effects of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife, water and other resources in the region.
• Fought to protect Massachusetts’ economy and its built and natural infrastructure from the threats of climate change as chief sponsor of legislation to establish a comprehensive climate adaptation management plan in the Commonwealth.
• Fought to establish the Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investment Fund for projects related to seawalls, jetties, revetments, retaining walls, and inland flood control.
• Supported legislation to support thermal energy’s inclusion in the alternative energy portfolio standard and to increase the net metering cap for public and private projects.
• Chief sponsor of legislation to establish a mercury management program in the Commonwealth to help eliminate the substance from the environment.
• Fought to establish recycling performance standards in the Commonwealth to help reduce municipal solid waste, protect the environment, preserve resources, save money, reduce greenhouse gases and create jobs in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure across the Commonwealth, and to promote green infrastructure opportunities.
• Supported legislation to establish natural gas leak classification standards to reduce gas leak costs and to promote public safety and environmental protection.
• Supported legislation prohibiting the possession, sale, selling, trade, or distribution of a shark fin.
• Fought for the creation of a sales tax holiday that would promote spending on energy efficient appliances in Massachusetts to support the economy as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases.
• Fought for manufacturer responsibility, consumer convenience, accountability, transparency, education and enforcement into an IT collection and recovery system to encourage the recycling of e-waste in the Commonwealth.
• Supported the cleanup of contamination at Rockland Industries in Middleborough.
• Fought for a Department of Public Health report evaluating deaths relative to the EEE virus.
• Supported green repair projects and sustainable programs at Mark K. Goode Elementary School in Middleboro, among schools across the state, as Chair of the Green Schools Caucus.
• Hosted state executive, legislative and judicial officials in Boston for a forum on severe weather resiliency called “Weathering the Storm” as Co-Chair of the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference’s Energy and Environment Committee.
• Awarded MassRecyle’s “Public Servant Award” for prioritizing recycling in the Commonwealth.ENVIRONMENT
• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in energy efficiency.
• Fought for a $2.2 billion energy and environmental bond, which includes investments in state parks and recreational areas, and an Eastern Regional Center for Urban Sustainability at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought for the preservation and rehabilitation of thousands of acres in the Southeast for hunting, fishing, agriculture and passive recreation.
• Fought for initiatives that have helped create more than 88,000 clean energy jobs and nearly 6,000 clean energy jobs across the Commonwealth, including 22 percent clean energy job growth in Southeastern Massachusetts from 2013-2014, representing the fastest growth of any region of the state.
• Fought for conservation district grant program in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for funding to restore fresh water aquatic fisheries.
• Fought for funding to design, construct and rehabilitate dams in the First Plymouth and Bristol District and across the Commonwealth.
• Fought for $57 million for the Water Pollution Abatement Trust
• Fought for funding for the Accelerated Energy Program.
• Helped establish the Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investment Fund.
• Fought for Massachusetts Food Trust Program to increase access to healthy food options within the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities.
• Fought for safer dams across the Commonwealth as chief sponsor of legislation to establish a revolving loan fund for dams.
• Supported funding for dredging projects on coastal public harbors.
• Supported the Department of Agriculture Resources’ Agricultural and Environmental Enhancement Program, which provided grants to 10 farms in the First Plymouth and Bristol District to help mitigate harm to natural resources from agricultural practices.
• Fought for funding to design, construct, improve or remove coastal infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
• Supported Department of Agricultural Resources’ agricultural preservation restriction program.
• Fought for improvements to parks and open space in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for increased access to ponds and state parks in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought to protect drinking water well field resources in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for flood management mitigation measures in the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Fought for a UMASS Cranberry Research Station in East Wareham.
• Fought for a flood management study and related flood management and mitigation measures for the Assawompset Pond Complex that is part of the Taunton River Watershed.
• Fought to increase the head start capacity and allow for greater separation for animals as part of bio-security protocol of the Natural Resources Management Program at Bristol County Agricultural High School.
• Fought for UMass Amherst Northeast Climate Science Center to support federal, state and other agencies by studying the effects of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife, water and other resources in the region.
• Fought to protect Massachusetts’ economy and its built and natural infrastructure from the threats of climate change as chief sponsor of legislation to establish a comprehensive climate adaptation management plan in the Commonwealth.
• Fought to establish the Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investment Fund for projects related to seawalls, jetties, revetments, retaining walls, and inland flood control.
• Supported legislation to support thermal energy’s inclusion in the alternative energy portfolio standard and to increase the net metering cap for public and private projects.
• Chief sponsor of legislation to establish a mercury management program in the Commonwealth to help eliminate the substance from the environment.
• Fought to establish recycling performance standards in the Commonwealth to help reduce municipal solid waste, protect the environment, preserve resources, save money, reduce greenhouse gases and create jobs in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure across the Commonwealth, and to promote green infrastructure opportunities.
• Supported legislation to establish natural gas leak classification standards to reduce gas leak costs and to promote public safety and environmental protection.
• Supported legislation prohibiting the possession, sale, selling, trade, or distribution of a shark fin.
• Fought for the creation of a sales tax holiday that would promote spending on energy efficient appliances in Massachusetts to support the economy as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases.
• Fought for manufacturer responsibility, consumer convenience, accountability, transparency, education and enforcement into an IT collection and recovery system to encourage the recycling of e-waste in the Commonwealth.
• Supported the cleanup of contamination at Rockland Industries in Middleborough.
• Fought for a Department of Public Health report evaluating deaths relative to the EEE virus.
• Supported green repair projects and sustainable programs at Mark K. Goode Elementary School in Middleboro, among schools across the state, as Chair of the Green Schools Caucus.
• Hosted state executive, legislative and judicial officials in Boston for a forum on severe weather resiliency called “Weathering the Storm” as Co-Chair of the Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference’s Energy and Environment Committee.
• Awarded MassRecyle’s “Public Servant Award” for prioritizing recycling in the Commonwealth.

Health Care

• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in health care coverage.
• Supported legislation to prevent prescription drug abuse deaths by strengthening the state's Prescription Monitoring Program and improving prevention programs.
• Supported legislation to improve substance abuse treatment and recovery in Massachusetts by setting forth a continuum of care and eliminating barriers in the system that prevent long-term treatment.
• Fought to strengthen mental health parity in Massachusetts and to enforce state and federal parity laws.
• Fought to keep Taunton State Hospital open and to reposition the facility as a national hospital focused on mental health care education.
• Supported increases to the Department of Mental Health budget and the Bureau of Substance Abuse budgets.
• Supported legislation to bolster domestic violence prevention in the Commonwealth, to elevate penalties for criminal offenses and to support victims in recovery.
• Supported “Real Lives” legislation allowing Department of Development Services-eligible individuals to participate in self-determined and person-centered plans.
• Supported uniform guardianship legislation that clarifies a family caregiver’s ability to provide care across state lines.
• Supported the expansion of health care access for Massachusetts residents.
• Supported funding to increase rates paid to Disproportionate Share Hospitals to help struggling hospitals with modernization assistance and funding payment reform.
• Chief sponsor of patient safety legislation that sets standards for nurse to patient ratios in hospital intensive care units across the Commonwealth.
• Supported legislation that protects a woman’s right to access reproductive health care facilities in the Commonwealth while promoting public safety.
• Supported legislation to improve regulatory oversight of compounding pharmacies in the Commonwealth.
• Supported legislation to expand treatment and support for individuals with autism or a developmental disability.
• Fought to support research into treatment and care for spinal cord injury patients in Massachusetts through chief sponsorship of legislation to reinvigorate the state spinal cord injury trust fund. 
• Fought to establish a board of registration in naturopathy in Massachusetts and to set licensing procedures that protect doctors and patients.
• Fought to establish mandatory baseline concussion testing for all high-school aged student athletes in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for the safe collection and disposal of home-generate sharps waste in the Commonwealth.
• Fought against the closure of Morton Hospital’s pediatric unit.
• Received NAMI Greater Fall River’s 2013 “Hero in the Fight” award for his nearly three decades of public service raising awareness and advocating for the mental health community in Massachusetts.
• Secured a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Office of Housing and Community Development for construction of a new senior center in Lakeville.
• Secured a combination of Council on Aging Grants for First Plymouth and Bristol District.
• Secured funding for a public health study to be conducted for the Town of Middleborough to determine if the there is an underlying environmental cause for the cases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
• Cosponsored Legislation mandating that all agencies that serve individuals with disabilities to prepare an annual report detailing the agency's proposed plan to coordinate, enhance and expand services to people with disabilities (Ch. 171 of the Acts of 2002)
• Cosponsored legislation to protect the privacy of seniors by exempting personal information in the possession of local Councils on Aging from public records law (Ch. 41 of the Acts of 2002)
• Sponsored legislation extending enhanced 911 services to cellular phones (Ch. 61 of the Acts of 2002)
• Supported legislation requiring license requirements for certain drug and alcohol counselors (Ch. 60 of the Acts of 2002)
• Supported legislation to prevent school districts from prohibiting the possession of prescription asthma inhalers by students (Ch. 258 of the Acts of 2002)
• Supported Health and Human Service reforms in the FY04 budget in order to consolidate and streamline state offices and make better use of resources.
• Fought the Romney Administration’s attempts to cut Prescription Advantage by fully funding the program in the FY04 Senate budget and supporting the implementation of a bulk purchasing program to help bring down costs to taxpayers.
• Saved funding in the FY04 Budget for the Taunton Nursing Home by calling for an override of Governor Romney’s veto
• Cosponsored legislation that established a Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund which will help raise money for spinal cord research (Ch. 276 of the Acts of 2004)
• Received the 2004 Legislator of the Year Award from the Mass Nurses Association.
• Supported legislation to prohibit smoking in the workplace (Ch. 137 of the Acts of 2004)
• Supported legislation to require college students to be immunized against meningitis (Ch 229 of the Acts of 2004)
• Supported legislation to prevent school districts from prohibiting the possession of glucose monitoring devices and insulin delivery devices by students with diabetes (Ch 465 of the Acts of 2004)
• Supported increased funding for MassHealth in the FY06 Budget, including funding for breast and cervical cancer programs, HIV programs, stroke awareness and prostrate screening initiatives.
• Secured $44 million in subsidies to small businesses for health insurance costs and $47 million for substance abuse prevention in the FY06 Budget.
• Secured funding for the Taunton Oral Health Clinic in the FY06 Budget.
• Ensured that the Prescription Advantage program remained fully funded for FY06.
• Secured $300,000 in additional funding for Morton Hospital in the FY06 Budget.
• Supported “Nicole’s Law” which requires carbon monoxide in all residential buildings that contain fossil fuel burning equipment as well as other measures to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. (Ch. 123 of the Acts of 2005)
• Supported Stem Cell research legislation to ensure that research is conducted within a structured regulatory framework. (Ch 27 of the Acts of 2005)
• Supported the Commonwealth’s landmark Health Care Reform legislation that extends health care access to approximately hundreds of thousands of uninsured individuals. (Ch 58 of the Acts of 2006)
• Supported the restoration of dental and vision benefits to Masshealth recipients in the FY07 budget.
• Secured $151,340 in grants for Local Councils on Aging.
• Supported legislation in the Senate to allows individuals with clinical eligibility with income and resources insufficient to meet the cost of their care who seek admission to long-term care facilities to be given the choice of care setting that is the least restrictive and most appropriate to meet their needs. (Ch 211 of the Acts of 2006)
• Supported legislation to implement a comprehensive, statewide plan to reduce deaths and injuries due to shaken baby syndrome. (Ch. 356 of the Acts of 2006)
• Supported legislation requiring Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) at local health clubs. (Ch 420 of the Acts of 2006)
• Sponsored legislation to create a Personal Care Attendant Quality Home Care Workforce Council aimed at helping seniors and people with disabilities to determine for themselves the care that best meets their needs. (Ch 268 of the Acts of 2006)
• Supported legislation to license genetic counselors. (Ch 170 of the Acts of 2006)
• Supported legislation expanding the buffer zones around reproductive health clinics to 35 feet. (Ch. 155 of the Acts of 2007)
• Supported legislation to create a task force to move medical records to an electronic format. (Ch 130 of the Acts of 2007)
• Supported technical changes to the Health Care Reform law in order to address disparities and strengthen the Health Care Quality and Cost Council. (Ch 205 of the Acts of 2007)
• Supported legislation to extend confidentiality protections enjoyed by patients of psychiatrists and psychologists to the clients of mental health counselors. (Ch 142 of the Acts of 2007)
• Supported legislation to give cities and towns the local option of purchasing health insurance for employees through the Group Insurance Commission. (Ch. 67 of the Acts of 2007)
• Supported legislation to repeal the sunset provision for the 2004 law regarding the placement of newborns (Ch 86 of the Acts of 2007)
• Sponsored an amendment to the FY08 Budget to create a Kidney Disease Task Force.
• Sponsored an amendment to the FY08 Budget to secure $100,000 for a renal disease program administered by the National Kidney Foundation of Massachusetts.
• Supported legislation protecting mothers who breastfeed in public from criminal charges (Ch 466 of the Acts of 2008).
• As Vice Chair of Health Care Financing, worked to pass the Senate President’s Health Care Cost Containment package; Promotes the modernization of the health care system to reduce waste and inefficiencies; includes the adoption of electronic health records and uniform billing standards (Ch 305 of the Acts of 2008).
• Supported Senate passage of a Human Service Provider rate adjustment (Ch 257 of the Acts of 2008).
• Supported Senate passage of mental health parity legislation to include nine additional biologically based disorders into the State’s mental health parity laws (Ch 256 of the Acts of 2008).
• Supported legislation to improve mental health services for children through increased screening and earlier identification of mental illnesses (Ch 321 of the Acts of 2008).
• Secured a $300,000 grant from the state’s Essential Community Provider Trust Fund for Morton Hospital.
• Supported legislation to prohibit a health care facility from charging a patient for services that resulted from a hospital acquired infection or other serious reportable event (Ch 58 of the Acts of 2009).
• Supported legislation to improve access to oral health care by allowing dental hygienists to practice in public health settings, such as schools and nursing homes under dentists' supervision (Ch 70 of the Acts of 2009).
• Sponsored legislation to allow for the licensure of volunteer dentists in order to improve access to dental services in low income or underserved areas (Ch 265 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to increase penalties for individuals that commit assault and battery on certain health care providers (Ch 151 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation establishing an organ and tissue donor registration fund to facilitate the registration of residents as organ and tissue donors (Ch 190 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation requiring the licensing of Nurse anesthetists by the Board of Registration in Nursing (Ch 191 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to protect nursing home residents by requiring that long term care facilities distribute to all residents, or their health care proxy, an informational document about the laws and regulations that govern nursing homes, rest homes and long-term care facilities (Ch 198 of the Acts of 2010).
• Cosponsored legislation requiring insurance companies to cover evidence based treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Ch 207 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to improve access to emergency mental health services by allowing licensed clinical social workers to apply for the emergency hospitalization of individuals that pose a danger to themselves or others (Ch 278 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to add additional safeguards to the Prescription Monitoring Program and furthering substance abuse education and prevention (Ch 238 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to allow relatives, doctors, or law enforcement officials to petition a court to have minors that abuse inhalants committed for up to 30 days of treatment in a state-approved rehabilitation facility (Ch 292 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported legislation to create a Silver Alert community response system to be used when an adult with serious memory impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease or other dementia is reported as a missing person to any police department in Massachusetts (Ch 300 of the Acts of 2010).
• Supported a comprehensive legislative package aimed at stabilizing and controlling the health insurance costs for individuals and small businesses (Ch 288 of the Acts of 2010).

Jobs & The Economy

• Fought for legislation that helped establish Massachusetts as No. 1 for economic competitiveness.
• Key sponsor of legislation to increase the minimum wage in Massachusetts.
• Fought for the expansion of the Myles Standish Industrial Park, attracting 100 companies and creating more than 7,400 private sector jobs.
• Fought for commuter rail access to Southeastern Massachusetts, which is estimated to create nearly 12,000 jobs and generate $500 million in economic activity per year.
• Supported funding to assist cities and towns with local transportation projects such as rebuilding and repairing roads and bridges.
• Chief sponsor of legislation to extend OSHA protections to state employees.
• Fought for legislation that eliminates loopholes in the state welfare system and provides resources to help residents gain economic independence through a welfare-to-work program.
• Fought for a domestic workers' bill of rights in Massachusetts, establishing deserved basic workplace protections to nannies, caretakers and housekeepers in the Commonwealth.
• Fought for the establishment of the Life Sciences Education and Training Center at Myles Standish Industrial Park as part of the Life Sciences bill, which invests $1 billion into the state's life science industry through tax credits, direct research grants and capital investments that create jobs.
• Supported expanded gaming legislation to bring economic development, taxable revenue, tourism and new jobs to Southeastern Massachusetts and to the state.
• Supported a gaming compact between the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and the Commonwealth to help bring the state's Region C casino to Taunton.
• Supported legislation that authorizes spending on improved information technology equipment and projects to help Massachusetts compete in the 21st century economy.
• Supported a capital bond bill that includes $50 million for cultural facilities funded through the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund.
• Supported bond bill that includes $10 million for Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund to revitalize and support residential, commercial, industrial and institutional development and financial assistance.
• Supported added funding for local tourism councils in Massachusetts. 
• Fought for improvements to Middleboro Rotary, including the establishment of a citizens' advisory committee to ensure the project includes input from impacted communities.
• Supported a housing bond bill to produce and preserve affordable housing in Massachusetts.
• Chief sponsor of legislation that strengthens local housing authorities through increased accountability and transparency and improved management and collaboration between housing authorities.
• Supported legislation to bolster the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund.
• Fought for a Home Rule Petition to allow Trinity Financial and the Taunton Housing Authority to utilize Hope VI funding to create 190 revitalized public housing and mixed-income affordable homes.
• Fought to protect municipal workers' collective bargaining rights.
• Fought against proposals to cut local aid in state budgets.
• Supported initiatives to bolster tourism in the Southeast, including funding for Wareham's 275th anniversary celebration.
• Led the fight and secured funding for the construction of an $80 million judicial complex in downtown Taunton, creating hundreds of new construction jobs and helping to revitalizing the local economy.
• Fought to promote job retention and job creation by passing legislation that reduces health insurance costs for small businesses.
• Led the fight to provide a living wage for hard-working men and women by authoring and securing the passage of legislation that raised the minimum wage to its current level.
• Fought to help displaced workers by investing more than $7.8 billion in workforce training programs and extending needed unemployment benefits.

Seniors

• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in health care coverage.
• Fought for the Senior Prescription Advantage Program to reduce out-of-pocket prescription expenses for seniors.
• Fought for the Elder Crime Bill making it a crime to abuse, mistreat or neglect seniors.
• Fought for tax relief for seniors by supporting the Circuit Breaker tax credit.
• Consistently fought for fuel assistance for seniors and families in need.
• Fought for legislation in the Senate allowing “spouses” to be paid as caregivers, allowing seniors to live in the least restrictive settings.
• Fought for legislation establishing standards for dementia-specific training at health care facilities.
• Fought for uniform guardianship legislation that clarifies a family caregiver’s ability to provide care across state lines.
• Supported added investments in elder home care services.
• Supported funding for Elder Affairs programs and local councils on aging at the highest level of state support ever.
• Fought for funding to assist low-income elders, working families and other households with the purchase of heating oil, propane, and natural gas and electricity and other heating sources.
• Voted for legislation establishing the Elder Economic Security Commission, which collects information necessary to assess older adults, current-level of economic security, identify policies and programs currently in place to assist older adults, assess the needs of state/local programs to increase elder economic security and make recommendations to the legislature for action.
• Voted for legislation creating the Elder Protective Services Commission, charged with drafting recommendations to develop a multidisciplinary approach and standardized training and coordination procedures to enhance the effectiveness of the protective service program and reducing and addressing neglect, abuse and financial exploitation.
• Fought to require the state to hold nursing home beds for seniors for up to 10 days when hospitalized.
• Successfully fought for the establishment of a “Silver Alert” community response system, which is used when any adult with a serious memory impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, is reported as a missing person to any police department in Massachusetts.

Veterans

• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in veterans services.
• Fought for the creation and expansion of the Veterans Welcome Home Bonus Bill and the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund.
• Fought for property tax relief for veterans and surviving spouses active on or after 9/11/01 by supporting the adoption of the MERIT bill.
• Voted to pass VALOR Act and VALOR Act II, which expand benefits, increase access to services and strengthen the recognition and honors for military members and family.
• Chief sponsor of legislation designating May as “Blue Star Mothers Month” to honor military mothers and their service to troops and veterans.
• Fought for funding to Veterans Outreach Centers and Veterans Homeless Shelters in Massachusetts.
• Received the Massachusetts National Guard “Legislator of the Year” Award.
• Supported initiatives that have allowed Massachusetts to spend more than two times as much per veteran as any other state in terms of local and state government expenditures, ranking Massachusetts first in the nation in this regard.
• Supported initiatives that established Massachusetts as leading the nation for benefits programs for veterans, offering 67 unique services targeting veterans, more than the second closet state and nearly double the number of financial assistance programs any other state offers.
• Supported a military bond bill to promote domestic security, to protect jobs and to spur economic growth by investing in military installations.
• Supported added funding to Veterans Outreach Centers and Veterans Homeless Shelters in Massachusetts.
• Supported funding for the Train Vets to Treat Vets program, which helps recently returned veterans become behavioral health counselors.
• Supported the creation of a new War Memorial budget line item, providing grant funding for municipal war memorial restoration.
• Supported a veteran’s ability to obtain a special “veteran” designation on a driver’s license or state ID.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of SFC Jared C. Monti Bridge in Raynham in honor of fallen soldier and Medal of Honor recipient SFC Jared C. Monti.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Fernand Medeiros POW Bridge in Taunton in honor of Fernand Medeiros, who was a prisoner of war during World War II and a former member of the Taunton Municipal Council.
• Sponsored legislation to dedicate Sergeant Shane Duffy Bridge in Taunton in honor of late Sergeant Shane Duffy who served his country in Iraq.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of the Sgt. Bruce Rushforth Bridge in Middleborough in honor of the late Sgt. Bruce A. Rushforth Jr. who served as a member of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of the Lance Corporal Kevin Preach Bridge in Bridgewater, in honor of the late Kevin Preach who served his country in Afghanistan.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Frank “Gasper” Sylvia Bridge, in honor of the late Frank “Gasper” Sylvia, in recognition of his service to his country in World War II as well as his service as a Councilor to the City of Taunton.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Julian M. Southworth and Nelson J. Garnett Bridge in Carver, in memory of Julian M. Southworth and Nelson J. Garnett, veterans from the town of Carver who served their country during World War II.
• Fought to establish tuition and fee waivers for Massachuetts National Guard members and the children of fallen soldiers and immediate family members.
• Authored and fought for legislation that lowers the cost of insurance for veterans, by allowing them to take advantage of group insurance discounts.
• Fought to give veteran-owned business the same benefits that are afforded to minority-owned businesses.
• Fought to ensure funding for the Middleborough Veterans Outreach Center.

Manheim New England auto auction in Dighton dedicates solar project

The Manheim New England auto auction in Dighton held a dedication for a major ground-mounted solar energy installation on its Route 44 property Monday morning.

Officials from the company, which is owned by Cox Enterprises, said that they decided to construct the 3-megawatt, 10,000-solar panel installation for both economic and environmental reasons.

“First, we wanted a legacy of doing what’s right for our customers and the community,” said Keith Mask, vice president for energy and engineering for Cox Enterprises. “I wouldn’t say that the environment or the financial benefit takes priority over one or the other. We can have the best of both.”

Pacheco talks resiliency at “Weathering the Storm” conference in Boston

BOSTON — Officials from the eastern region of the United States, Canada and the Netherlands, including state Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, gathered for a Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference’s Energy and Environment Committee weather resiliency conference called, “Weathering the Storm: Moving Forward on Regional Resilience” at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill on Friday.

The conference, which attracted more than 80 people representing all branches of state government as well as leaders from the private and higher-education sector, aimed to discuss solutions for the increasing economic and environmental threats posed by extreme weather. The Council of State Governments/Eastern Regional Conference is comprised of state officials from 11 Northeastern states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Québec.

Raynham college student to testify on behalf of concussion bill

RAYNHAM--After taking a knee to the head in a high school soccer game, student-athlete Molly Caron suffered months of chronic migraines, experienced lapses in concentration and saw her grades slip.

The Raynham resident, a Former Miss Easton Outstanding Teen, now hopes sharing her experiences will help reduce the chances of other student-athletes suffering brain injuries. Second-impact concussions, which can occur when a player returns to the field too soon after suffering a concussion, can be particularly serious.

“It’s really, really dangerous,” said Caron, who is now a freshman soccer player at Emerson College. “It’s something you don’t want to mess around with.”

Caron is expected to testify on Beacon Hill today in support of a bill state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, is sponsoring to make baseline concussion testing mandatory for all high school athletes statewide.