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State Rep. Thomas M. Stanley
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
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Rep. Stanley met with officials from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Workforce Solutions Group and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable to discuss improving workforce development programs in the Commonwealth.
Rep. Stanley speaking with MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack.
Rep. Stanley Delivers Meals on Wheels with Lynne LaSpina and Ronald Boisseau in Lincoln.
Two local advocates from the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation Timmothy Seale of Waltham and Susan Doubek of Bedford, came in to visit as part of Massachusetts Agriculture Day at the State House.
Rep. Stanley with Isaiah Johnson & Marie-Steffi Dol at Student Government Day at the State House.
Student Government Day at the State House, House Chamber.
Rep. Stanley hosted Chairwoman Williamson from Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) on his cable show.
Rep. Stanley and the MBTA Caucus working group.
Rep. Stanley met with Lauren Palumbo (left), COO, and Ashley Stanley (right), Founder and Executive Director of Lovin' Spoonfuls to discuss their mission to facilitate the rescue and distribution of healthy, fresh food that would otherwise be discarded.
Rep. Stanley presented Charles Webster Potter Place's "Employer of the Year" award to Home Depot at the 2016 Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Award Ceremony.
Gold Dome
State House
State House gates opened to welcome Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Boston.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visits the Commonwealth.
Go Celts! |
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House Ways & Means Committee releases budget proposal with increases for public education, local aid and Councils On Aging
The House Ways and Means Committee this week held a press conference on the Committee's fiscal year 2017 budget proposal. As a member of the Committee, Rep. Stanley is pleased to announce that Lincoln will receive $967,000 in Chapter 70 funds and $654,000 in unrestricted aid; a combined increase of $135,000 over last year.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and seniors will also see a boost. Rep. Stanley helped lead the charge in securing over 130 signatures from House members in a letter to leadership to increase the formula grant multiplier from $9 per senior per year to $10 per senior. This measure was included in the fiscal year 2017 House Ways and Means budget, giving our Councils on Aging the resources needed to serve the Commonwealth's aging population.
Chairman Brian Dempsey, Rep. Stanley and the House Ways & Means Committee Present budget proposal at press conference.
House Approves $200 million for Local Infrastructure Needs
Rep. Stanley joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing legislation that includes a $200 million bond authorization for Chapter 90 funding to help municipalities complete road, bridge and infrastructure improvement projects. Waltham is expected to receive $1.62 million and Lincoln $267,633 in Chaper 90 funds with passage of this bill.
Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Legislation Reducing Barriers to Re-Entry for Individuals Convicted of Drug Offenses
The Legislature unanimously passed legislation to ease the transition for those convicted of drug offenses to re-enter society, hold employment and care for their families by repealing the automatic suspension of drivers licenses and a subsequent $500 reinstatement fee for all drug convictions. The legislation provides certain exceptions for drug trafficking convictions and takes effect immediately. Governor Charlie Baker signed the legislation into law.
Rep. Stanley and MBTA Caucus Meet with Sec. Pollack
The MBTA Caucus, of which Rep. Stanley is a member, met with MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack to get an update on the MBTA's operating budget and investment in maintenance and reliability in FY17. Rep. Stanley had the opportunity to discuss highway, transit and rail networks/services expansion projects as well as increasing bicycle and pedestrian networks to divert traffic from Waltham neighborhoods with the Secretary.
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| | Rep. Stanley, Sec. Pollack and the MBTA Caucus |
Survey! Massachusetts English Language Arts and Math Standards Review The Department of Education (DOE) has been focused on reviewing English Language Arts (ELA) and math learning standards to help develop the next-generation MCAS, which is scheduled for administration in classrooms across the Commonwealth in the spring of next year. To solicit feedback from a wider range of educators, parents, and the broader public, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), has created an online survey to allow individuals to make suggestions about specific aspects of the standards. It's important that we all make our voices heard. Click here and respond to the survey by the end of May 2016. All feedback will be shared with the educators on the review panel.
Rep. Stanley Supports Adult Day Health Rate Increases For Seniors
Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the House signed and sent a letter to Secretary Marylou Sudders to encourage MassHealth to include a rate increase for Adult Day Health programs. This rate increase is important to help Adult Day Health programs across the state provide valuable services to our communities and some of our most vulnerable populations. By providing health care support, seniors in our community are able to avoid entering expensive nursing homes, and prevent or delay more expensive health care services. Despite the great resources that Adult Day Health programs provide, they are not being adequately supported by MassHealth. Adult Day Health provides services to 14,200 participants and their families through 149 programs state-wide. The program provides crucial support to some of our most vulnerable populations and aids the overall health of our communities.
MWRA Board Approves $100 Million in Funding To Remove Lead Service Lines
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) announced that it has approved a program to make available $100 million in interest-free loans to its member water communities to fully replace lead service lines. Waltham and Lexington are eligible for this program. MWRA is the process of updating a survey of community lead service lines, but current estimates are that as many as 28,000 - or 5.6 percent of the total 500,000 service lines - contain lead.
MWRA has an aggressive and effective program to address lead in customers' homes which includes a stable and well-protected water supply and an effective corrosion control program begun in 1996. These efforts have resulted in the MWRA system, as a whole, being consistently below the Lead Action Level since 2004. However, some individual communities have exceeded the Lead Action Level and many homes still have lead service lines.
The estimated average cost to fully replace a lead service is typically between $3,000 and $5,000. Based on that estimate, MWRA believes the $100 million program should cover removal of all lead services in its service area. Partial replacements which remove only the portion in the street, but leave the portion on private property would not be eligible for the new program, as current research clearly indicates little public health benefit from a partial replacement.
Under the proposal, each community would develop its own program, tailored to their local circumstances. The pace of spending will depend on the level of interest by both communities and homeowners, and on any future regulatory requirements for lead service line replacement. The funds will be paid back to MWRA by communities over 10 years at zero interest.
MA Selected to Lead National Revolutionary Fiber and Textile Manufacturing Innovation Institute
Massachusetts will serve as the national center for the nation's first Revolutionary Fiber and Textile Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), an independent nonprofit founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been selected to run a new, $317 million public-private partnership announced today by US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. The AFFOA-led project is part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), a federal advanced manufacturing initiative. Key participants in the project include MIT, the University of Massachusetts, Quinsigamond Community College, and fiber and textile industry partners throughout the Commonwealth. The institute also includes several other key public and private sector partners from across the nation, focused on a common goal of revolutionary fiber and textile manufacturing.
As part of the Commonwealth's commitment to innovation in advanced manufacturing, the Baker- Administration is pledging $40 million in matching funds to support capital projects at the Manufacturing Innovation Institute.
Rep. Stanley Fights to Protect Ratepayers and our Environment
With an omnibus energy bill coming up for consideration in the near future, Rep. Stanley signed onto a letter to Speaker DeLeo requesting that this legislation not include any provisions for constituent ratepayers to bear the cost of any proposed natural gas pipelines in the state. Rep. Stanley and other cosigners of the letter feel that this energy legislation should be focused on off-shore wind energy and increased transmission capacity of hydropower and that additional pipeline capacity with costs borne by ratepayers should not be part of this proposal.
Rep. Stanley Supports Nursing Home Quality Jobs Initiative
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter to Speaker DeLeo and Chairman Dempsey urging them to include the Nursing Home Quality Jobs Initiative in the House Ways and Means Committee's FY2017 budget recommendation. The Nursing Home Quality Jobs Initiative provides both policy and funding solutions that would ensure a "quality job" for our state's dedicated nursing home workforce. The initiative will benefit the Commonwealth's nursing home residents, their families and the dedicated direct care workers who provide high quality, compassionate care to individuals who can no longer live safely in the community.
This multi-pronged Initiative provides nursing home workers a pathway to a living wage by funding an immediate and accountable $90 million direct care wage pass through and requires the state to fund an annual inflationary wage increase in subsequent years. In addition, the Initiative seeks to increase the number of direct care staff working in nursing facilities by funding a Certified Nurse Aid Scholarship Training Program and additional training opportunities to enhance supervisory and leadership skills within nursing facilities, which will help to retain staff--a key measure of quality.
Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter Supporting the Councils on Aging Budget; Line Item Receives Boost in Budget
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter to Chairman Dempsey asking him to raise the Council of Aging budget in Line Item 9110-9002 from $9 per elder per year to $10 per elder per year. The number of seniors in MA is surging and by 2020 older adults will comprise 24 percent of the Commonwealth's population. The current funding is based on the 2010 census and the senior population has grown by approximately 220,000 older adults since the census. More individuals are stepping through the doors of our local councils on aging each day and they deserve our full support.
This week, the House Ways and means Committee announced that the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and seniors will see a boost in funding. This measure was included in the fiscal year 2017 House Ways and Means budget, giving our Councils on Aging the resources needed to serve the Commonwealth's aging population.
Rep. Stanley Sponsors Senior Circuit Breakers Tax Credit Presentation
Rep. Stanley sponsored a Department of Revenue (DOR) presentation at the Waltham Council on Aging where a representative from the DOR spoke about the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. Learn more about the credit.
Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter Supporting Community Mediation Grant Program Funding
In a letter to Chairman Dempsey and Chairwoman Spilka, Rep. Stanley and other legislators requested a FY17 appropriation of $991,000 for the MA Community Mediation Center (CMC) Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) as the state dispute resolution agency.
The CMC Grant Program was established in FY13 to broaden access to dispute resolution for all Massachusetts citizens. Data reported in MOPC's Annual Program Evaluations for the past three years demonstrates that community mediation continues to be a cost-effective public service with a substantial return on investment. For every $1 dollar invested by the State in community mediation through this grant program, there has been $15 returned to the State in cost-savings and leveraged resources.
This community mediation infrastructure funded through the operational grants provided by this grant program is currently being utilized by the MA Trial Court, the MA Attorney General's Office, the MA Department of Revenue and the Department of Corrections, as well as by local police departments, county sheriffs, housing authorities, public schools and community colleges. The $241,000 increase requested over $750,000 appropriated in FY 2016 would fund more staff hours at local centers to further serve these agencies. It would also enable the centers to do more outreach to increase access to services statewide for primarily low income citizens and conduct more fundraising to stabilize their operations and further leverage the State's investment.
2016 Firefighter Exam
The state's Human Resources Division (HRD) announced that the 2016 Municipal Firefighter examination and our recruitment campaign is underway. The written examination is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2016 with a last filing date of March 1, 2016. An additional processing fee will be applied to applications filed after March 1, 2016, so we ask that candidates be encouraged to apply early. Applications will not be accepted after March 21, 2016. Additionally, candidates are encouraged to apply early because the physical component of the examination, known as the ELPAT, is already underway in Hudson, MA. Learn more.
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NEWS FROM LINCOLN & LEXINGTON
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 Publish your events in The Stanley Report! We want to hear from you! The Stanley Report is a great way to spread the word about an upcoming event. Please forward any community, civic or nonprofit upcoming events that you would like included in next month's Stanley Report. If interested, please email Mark Phillips, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your event.
Meals on Wheels program
Through Minuteman Senior Services, the Meals on Wheels (MOW) program delivers lunch to homebound seniors who are unable to provide their own meals, and who meet certain guidelines. Special dietary considerations are available for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. This daily check in by a volunteer driver may be the only social contact an elder has and helps reduce the isolation often experienced by disabled seniors. Drivers are trained to identify and report observations or emergencies that might indicate a medical problem or the need for more intervention. Learn more.
Rep. Stanley Delivers Meals on Wheels with Lynne LaSpina and Ronald Boisseau in Lincoln.
Rep. Stanley Meets with Loving Spoonfuls
Rep. Stanley recently met Lauren Palumbo COO, and Ashley Stanley, Founder and Executive Director of Lovin' Spoonfuls. Lovin' Spoonfuls is dedicated to food recovery in the Greater Boston area, facilitating the rescue and distribution of perishable, prepared and unserved foods that would otherwise be thrown away and wasted.
Lovin' Spoonfuls collects fresh food from dozens of food retail locations including Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joe's, and Hannaford Supermarkets, as well as multiple local farms, wholesalers, and bakeries. This food goes directly to local food assistance entities including Pine Street Inn, Boston Rescue Mission, Haley House, and Community Servings, among many others. Founded in 2010, it has rescued more than 3,500,000 pounds of fresh food in the Greater Boston area. Learn more.
Rep. Stanley met with Lauren Palumbo, COO, and Ashley Stanley, Founder and Executive Director of Lovin' Spoonfuls
Boston Brain Tumor Ride
The Boston Brain Tumor Ride is an event to raise awareness and much-needed resources to fund critical brain tumor-specific programs to improve the lives of all those affected by brain tumors. This year's ride starts and ends at 200 West Street in Waltham on Sunday, May 15, 2016, and is expected to draw over 700 riders, 64+ volunteers, and 100+ spectators. Hosted by the National Brain Tumor Society, the Boston Brain Tumor Ride offers individuals and teams a chance to honor and remember loved ones, connect with others interested in the brain tumor cause, and helps to educate the local community on the diverse needs of the brain tumor community. Learn more.
Kids Cooking Green Hosts Events
Kids Cooking Green is the educational arm of the Lexington, MA Farmers' Market. Classes are designed for kids as young as Pre-K through 8th grade, and there are some classes for adults. Kids Cooking Green also provides programming through its Fund for City Schools, which brings classes to communities that could otherwise not afford it. Click here to learn more.
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 State Representative: 2001 - Present City Council: 1998 - 2004, 2006 - 2015 Council President: 2003 State Committees: Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government Joint Committee on Ways and Means House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight Education: Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration) Board Member: Waltham Partnership for Youth, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe and Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Waltham Community Day Center (Honorary), Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative, Waltham Community, Enough Abuse Campaign, Waltham Drug Task Force Awards: Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, 2008 COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, 2003 MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, 2007 Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, 2006 Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, 2003 Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center Personal: Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss Children: Ryan, age 22, Parker, age 13 |
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