11

THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 19 2022 Page 11 BEACON | FROM PAGE 10 lion for airport improvements; $25 million for municipal road pavement improvements; $20 million for municipalities under the Complete Streets Funding Program; $25.5 million for the Mobility Assistance Program; mandating the MBTA to establish a 3-year safety improvement plan with measurable safety objectives; and directing the MBTA to contract with an independent third-party auditor to conduct annual safety audits. Gov. Baker said the legislation supports significant investments in the state’s roads, bridges, railways, transit agencies and environmental infrastructure, including investments made possible by the historic federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted on November 15, 2021.He noted the legislation represents a crucial next step implementing critical infrastructure investments designed to modernize the state’s transportation network while supporting carbon reduction and resiliency goals. “Overall, this legislation represents a crucial next step implementing critical infrastructure investments designed to modernize the state’s transportation network while supporting carbon reduction and resiliency goal,” said Baker. “[It] also includes funding for initial implementation efforts in support of new East-West passenger rail service. It will also enable us to increase clean energy efforts, including the expansion of our electric vehicle charging infrastructure to facilitate long- distance travel and provide additional convenient charging options.” CLEAN ENERGY AND REDUCED EMISSIONS (H 5060) – Gov. Baker signed into law legislation that would expand the clean energy industry and reduce emissions from the transportation and building sectors across the state with the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Baker said he signed the bill to ensure the Bay State retains its standing as a national leader in securing renewable energy. “However, because the Legislature rejected virtually every meaningful amendment I put forth, this bill does not have the same shared sense of purpose that all previous climate legislation embodied, which is unfortunate,” said Baker. “We all know the commonwealth faces significant challenges in dealing with two existential threats—climate change and housing supply and affordability. This bill does not move Massachusetts in the right direction on housing. And the process by which many provisions in this bill are implemented will determine if this bill will make significant progress toward our climate goals.” “This law builds on existing climate policy and accelerates our transition to local, clean energy, setting us on a course toward a sustainable, healthy future,” said Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund Executive Director Casey Bowers. “Recent heatwaves and drought conditions have made the immediate need to reduce emissions and protect vulnerable communities even clearer.” “This new law takes some great steps on biomass and offshore wind, but it’s sorely lacking when it comes to environmental justice,” said Staci Rubin, Vice President of Environmental Justice at the Conservation Law Foundation. “For too long, these communities have been overburdened and overlooked when it comes to air quality, access to transit and toxic pollution. We need to put a much larger focus on protecting Environmental Justice neighborhoods and phasing out fossil fuels once and for all when the Legislature reconvenes.” Mass Audubon President David O’Neill said, “This new law will propel the commonwealth’s efforts to meet its climate goals by scaling up offshore wind, stepping on the accelerator for more clean cars and clean energy buildings and making sure we create equitable access to the green jobs of the future.” BENEFITS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES (S 3075) – Gov. Baker signed into law legislation that would support military families who relocate to the Bay State by providing career stability for the spouses of service members and education for their children. Provisions include making it easier for military personnel and their spouses who move to the Bay State to get a Massachusetts professional license, if their job requires one, so that they can continue their civilian careers and provide for their families without interruption; requiring the Commissioner of Education to issue a military spouse a valid certificate for teaching if he or she holds a valid teaching license from another state; allowing children of military members to register and enroll in a school district at the same time it is open to the general population by waiving the proof of residency requirement until the student actually begins school; creating a purple-star campus designation for certain schools that are military-kid friendly and show a major commitment to students and families connected to the nation’s military; and requiring that a child or spouse of an active-duty service member in Massachusetts continue to pay the in-state, less expensive tuition rate at state universities even if the service member is assigned to move out of the state. “The [measure] is a truly momenEverett residents named to Tufts University’s Spring 2022 Dean’s List T ufts University recently announced the Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester. Everett students earning Dean’s List honors are as follows: Brendan Amorin – class of 2022 Vicki Do – class of 2023 Ilisa Lama – class of 2024 Sandra Le – class of 2024 Yosselin Perez Ascencio – class of 2023 Fre Tachbele – class of 2025 Dean’s List honors at Tufts University requires a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater. Tufts University, which is located on campuses in Bostous bill and I am thrilled that the governor has signed it into law for our service members, veterans and military families,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield), the Senate Chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “From supporting our military families in their transition to Massachusetts, to creating new benefits and services for veterans and National Guard members, this law will ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in taking care of our service members and their families.” “This is a historic bill,” said Major General Gary Keefe, Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. “This is most likely the most encompassing military and veterans bill passed in the commonwealth in the last century. This bill recognizes both the sacrifice of our military service members, as well as veterans and their families, and it establishes programs that will recruit and retain service members, attract future military missions and continue to provide for our growing veteran population. This bill will make it clear to every state in the republic that Massachusetts is unmatched in its care and support of its military members, veterans, and their families.” MARIJUANA LAWS (S 3096) – Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that makes changes in the cannabis industry including a section that would require the state to put some of its tax and licensing revenue from the sales of marijuana revenue into a newly created Social Equity Trust Fund to provide grants and loans, including forgivable and no-interest loans, designed to assist entrepreneurs and businesses from communities disproportionately harmed by the decades of marijuana prohibition. The measure would also allow municipalities to vote by a local referendum or through a vote of the municipal government for social consumption of marijuana to take place in their community. Supporters explained that opening an average cannabis retail shop can require up to $1.5 million. They noted that since federal cannabis laws prevent these businesses from accessing traditional bank loans, lack of capital can pose an insurmountable barrier. They noted that less than 20 (6 percent) of the 346 marijuana businesses are connected to participants in the Cannabis Control Commission’s current social equity program or economic empowerment entrepreneurs. “I am thrilled to see this legislation become law as we continue to build a budding and more equitable cannabis industry,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “Under the new law, the Cannabis Control Commission can establish guardBEACON | SEE PAGE 21 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net ton, Medford/Somerville and Grafton, Mass., and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all Tufts campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university’s schools is widely encouraged.

12 Publizr Home