Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 16, 2024 CELEBRATE | FROM PAGE 1 Special to The Advocate O n August 8, 2024, State Representative Joe McGonagle attended the ceremonial signing of the HERO Act by Governor Maura Healey at Battin Hall in historic Lexington. The law, which is formally called An Act honoring, empowering, and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans, boosts support for hundreds of thousands of individuals in the Commonwealth who have served in the United States military, including 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans. McGonagle sponsored an amendment in the bill to increase veterans’ awareness and accessibility to their benefits. “I am so grateful to my colleagues in the Massachusetts legislature for prioritizing and passing this bill and to Governor Healey for inviting me to the signing,” said McGonagle. “Though not a veteran myself, I am the son of a Lieutenant Colonel and was raised with immense respect for the military and our veterans. Since Day 1 on Beacon Hill, I have made sure to do all I can to support Massachusetts’s veterans and military families. They have served us and we must serve them. The HERO Act is another example of Massachusetts leading the way in veteran care. These new laws will help continue to make State Representative Joe McGonagle (second from left), Governor Maura Healey (center right) and fellow legislators after the signing. (Courtesy photo) Massachusetts the best place to live. The amendment I sponsored will help veterans gain easier access to understanding their benefits and how we can help them.” The bill signing was attended by many leaders, including the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veteran and Federal Affairs Co-Chairpersons Senator John Velis and Representative Gerry Cassidy, Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services Jon Santiago, Gold Star father Representative Steven Xiarhos and Everett Director of Veterans Affairs Antoine Coleman. Other legislators, veterans, active military and Gold Star Family members Your Hometown News Delivered! EVERETT ADVOCATE MALDEN ADVOCATE REVERE ADVOCATE SAUGUS ADVOCATE One year subscription to The Advocate of your choice: $175 per paper in-town per year or $225 per paper out-of-town per year. Name_________________________________________ Address_______________________________________ City_______________ State_______ Zip ____________ CC# _______________________________ Exp. _____ Sec. code____ Advocate (City):___________________ Clip & Mail Coupon with Credit Card, Check or Money Order to: Advocate Newspapers Inc. PO Box 490407, Everett, MA 02149 also attended. This legislation increases and simplifies benefits and opportunities, modernizes services and promotes inclusivity for Massachusetts veterans while reaffirming the Commonwealth’s commitment to recognizing and serving all service members and their families. It increases benefits for disabled veterans and Gold Star family members, bolsters new and existing initiatives for municipalities and businesses to support veterans, creates comprehensive services for active-duty service members and military families, expands the scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board, updates the Chapter 115 definition of a veteran to expand eligibility, and codifies medical, behavioral health and dental benefits. Further, it establishes new recognitions for military ENERGY GRANTS | FROM PAGE 7 great presentation,” she feels. “We’re big on language equity so there are opportunities to ensure everyone has an equal support,” Sullivan said of the multilingual nature of the event. “There will be an impact on the environment,” Marut feels. There are other efficiency aid programs as well. “We’re seeing heavy discounts,” Sullivan explained. “We’re eligible for more than some of our surrounding communities because Everett is an Environmental Justice Community, a marginalized community historically burdened with industrial use and prone to health repercussions as a result.” The state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Office of Environmental Justice and Equity defines an State Representative Joe McGonagle (right), Everett Director of Veterans Affairs Antoine Coleman (left), John MacGilvary and another veteran. (Courtesy photo) service in the Commonwealth and requires several working groups to review post-traumatic stress disorder in veterEnvironmental Justice Population as one in which the annual median household income is 65% or less of the statewide annual median household income; minorities make up 40% or more of the population; 25% or more of households identify as speaking English less than very well or minorities make up 25% or more of the population and the annual median household income of the municipality in which the neighborhood is located doesn’t exceed 150% of the statewide annual median household income. Chelsea also falls into the category. State authorities may also designate parts of communities as meeting or not meeting the criteria based on income, the number of people in an area with a college education, an area not bearans, mental health treatments for veterans and overall quality of life for veterans in Massachusetts. ing an unfair burden of pollution, and its access to open space and water resources, playgrounds and other constructed outdoor recreational facilities and venues. A city with a small footprint like Everett would probably not be subject to that, whereas a city with a larger footprint like Lynn might be. On the federal level, the Biden administration has a Justice40 Initiative for 40% of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing and other investments to go to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Other investments include clean transit, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution and development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructures.
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