Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 13, 2026 DIDOMENICO | FROM PAGE 1 a safety net for our poorest residents, I was inspired by this policy dialogue centered around our clear-eyed report and how we can make transformative change on the state level,” said Senator DiDomenico. “I am proud of this Poverty Commission report because it dissects the state of poverty in our state and takes a longterm view on what Massachusetts can do across all sectors and government bodies to methodically address the fundamental causes of poverty. Amid rising costs, widening inequality, and federal cuts to social services, it is absolutely essential that we follow through on the report’s recommendations to ensure all our neighbors can access nutritious Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Senator Sal DiDomenico alongside most of the policy dialogue panelists (from left to right): Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Executive Director Georgia Katsoulomitis, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition Executive Director Liz Sweet, Senator DiDomenico, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Shupin, Project Bread President/CEO Erin McAleer, BU School of Public Health Associate Dean of Practice & Professor of Community Health Sciences Dr. Craig Andrade, Representative Marjorie Decker, Massachusetts Association for Community Action Executive Director Joe Diamond, Massachusetts AFL-CIO Legislative Director Lindsay Kenney, and Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Acting Commissioner Michael Cole. foods, live in a safe home, earn a stable income, get the medical care they need, and build wealth for themselves and their families.” “This Commission is an important tool that affirms that poverty is not a state of permanence, but a condition that we can meaningfully alleviate through evidence-based budget and policy choices,” said Rep. Decker. “In tough fiscal times it may be counterintuitive, but we need to invest more now in order to avoid even greater costs in the long term.” The Special Legislative Commission to Study Poverty was established by statute in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and carried out its comprehensive study between April 2024 and June 2025. The 34-member Commission, which is chaired by Senator DiDomenico and Representative Decker, was tasked with studying poverty in the Commonwealth and developing recommendations to significantly reduce poverty over the next 10 years. The Poverty Commission’s final report, which was issued in August 2025, provides a comprehensive assessment of poverty in Massachusetts and outlines forward-looking policy recommendations. MCGONAGLE | FROM PAGE 3 trade or scope of work. Any construction manager, general contractor and subcontractor who fails to maintain or participate in an apprentice program and is not exempt cannot be deemed a responsible and eligible bidder. The bill also requires prevailing wage payments by employers to include apprenticeship programs approved by DAS and operated in compliance with DAS. The bill establishes a Special Commission on Apprenticeships to study and make recommendations on the development, accessibility, quality, funding and utilization of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across all industry sectors.
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