Page 20 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2023 By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 25,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in - LEGAL NOTICE - Estate of: Also Known As Date of Death: To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner of a will has been admitted to informal probate. of has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve on the bond. American Exterior and Window Corporation Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by MASSterlist’s editor, Erin Tiernan, with help from Matt Murphy. Both are pros, with a wealth of experience, who introduce each article in their own clever way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the recent debate on the Senate’s version of a $55.9 billion fi scal 2024 state budget. $300,000 FOR FIREFIGHTERS’ CANCER SCREENINGS (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would provide $300,000 for a municipal grant program for firefighter cancer screenings, including advance blood testing and imaging. Amendment supporters say the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health undertook two large studies focused on fi refi ghter cancer, concluding that firefighters experienced a 9 percent increase in cancer diagnoses and a 14 percent increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the nation’s general population. “Early screening of firefighters is so particularly important in the fi ght against cancer,” said sponsor Sen. Walter Timilty (DMilton). “Quite simply, our fi refi ghters experience a higher risk of cancer as a result of the work that they so courageously perform to both protect and care for us. Truly, fi refi ghters both need and must have access to life-saving cancer screenings.” “Furthermore, the chances Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities Telephone: 617-699-1782 Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 Email: info@americanexteriorandwindow.com All estimates, consultations or inspections Insured and Registered Complete Financing of fi refi ghters being diagnosed with terminal leukemia increases with the number of fi re-related call responses,” continued Timilty. “In addition, the chance of a lung cancer diagnosis, an insidious disease, and subsequent death, increases with the amount of time a fi refi ghter combats a blaze. In short, fi refi ghting is a dangerous profession. Therefore, we must do everything we can to ensure that fi refi ghters experience the same safety, security and protections they aff ord to us.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $250,000 FOR PROTECTION OF RIGHT WHALES (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would provide $250,000 for the protection of right whales by increasing the patrols of offi cers to identify and remove abandoned fi shing gear and to enhance their ability to enforce speed restrictions through use of drone technologies to minimize potentially harmful interactions between vessels and right whales. Amendment supporters say more than 90 whales have either died or been injured since 2017 and that that there are fewer than 340 right whales remaining today. “Since its incorporation in 2005, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) group’s North American offi ce has run a dedicated program to save this imperiled species and implement protective measures to save right whales from those threats,” says the group’s website. “WDC has worked to develop and implement rules to reduce vessel strikes, successfully reducing the risk of a fatal collision by 80 percent to 90 percent in U.S. waters, and to increase federally designated critical habitat to cover nearly 40,000 square miles of the U.S. East Coast.” Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the $250,000.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment mandating that the state’s Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health conduct a study on the occurrence and impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome in the Bay State. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is a treatable condition that newborns may experience as a result of prenatal exposure to opioids and other drugs the mothers might take. Babies can then go through painful and diffi cult drug withdrawal after birth. Amendment supporters say this has become a big problem in the Bay State and across the nation. “Pregnant women who use drugs, smoke or drink alcohol put their unborn babies at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome and other problems,” says Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s website. “Women who use drugs also may be less likely to get prenatal care. This can also increase the risks for both mother and baby.” Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL The Public Health Committee held a hearing on 54 bills including these four that deal with smoking laws in the Bay State. PHARMACISTS AND SMOKING CESSATION MEDICINE (S 1428) – Would authorize licensed pharmacists to dispense medications to help individuals quit smoking. The pharmacist must fi rst complete a training program which would include proper documentation, quality assurance and referral to additional services, including recommendations that the patient follows up with a medical practitioner. “Despite decades of public health campaigns and legislation, smoking remains one of the most common causes of death in the United States,” said sponsor Sen. Mike Moore (D-Millbury). “The good news is that we have powerful tools to help individuals overcome their addiction to nicotine through several safe and eff ective smoking cessation medications – though access can be a key barrier for many. This critical legislation would expand access to lifesaving anti-smoking drugs by allowing trained pharmacists to dispense medications to qualifying patients looking to live longer and healthier lives.” REPEAL THE MENTHOL BAN (S 1364) – Would repeal the state’s 2000 law that bans fl avored vaping and tobacco products—including mint and menthol cigarettes. BEACON | SEE Page 22
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