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Page 22 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen A note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There are many ways you can listen to the show from anywhere in the world: If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on Audacy.com” Download the free Audacy app on your phone or tablet Listen online at HYPERLINK “http://www.wmexboston.com” www.wmexboston.com Or tune into 1510 AM if you have an AM radio. Visit us at www.bobkatzenshow.com THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of May 17-21. $400 MILLION FOR NEW SOLDIERS’ HOME IN HOLYOKE (H 3770) House 160-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a bill authorizing $400 million to fund the construction of a new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The push to construct the new home follows the deaths of 77 veteran residents last year as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at the current facility. A House-Senate conference committee hammered out this compromise version after the House and Senate approved different versions of the measure. The bill also provides $200 million to increase geographic equity and accessibility of longterm care services for Bay State veterans with a focus on areas that are not primarily served by the soldiers’ homes in Chelsea or Holyoke. The Baker administration and House and Senate leaders have urged speedy passage of the proposal in order to meet deadlines to apply for as much as $260 million in funding from the federal government, which would leave state taxpayers with a $140 million bill. “Rebuilding the soldiers’ home in Holyoke and increasing access to services for our veterans is necessary and long overdue, especially after tragically losing many residents of the soldiers’ home to a COVID-19 outbreak last year,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) who served as the lead Senate negotiator of the conference committee. “This funding will ensure that the commonwealth’s veterans are met with the services that they deserve and that address their unique and changing needs.” “Our veterans throughout the commonwealth deserve the very best in care and treatment as they age,” said Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough), another member of the conference committee. The bill that we enacted today will ensure that their needs are met for generations to come in a safe, comfortable and welcoming soldiers’ home. Additionally, it is critical that this vital taxpayer-funded facility be built efficiently by a local, welltrained, safe and diverse workforce that provides a career pipeline for skilled craftspeople in Western Massachusetts. The bipartisan and collaborative bond authorization bill we sent to the governor is reflective of DCR needs lifeguards for summer season Apply online; lifeguards earn up to $18 per hour T he state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) announced that the agency is actively recruiting individuals to become a lifeguard at DCR-managed inland and coastal waterfronts, and deep water swimming pools in Central and Eastern Massachusetts. DCR lifeguards are professional rescuers who are trained to prevent injuries, and they respond in the event of an emergency to help save a life. As part of a team, lifeguards must work together calmly and efficiently to manage potential crisis situations and ensure the safety of all visitors at DCR-managed waterfronts. DCR lifeguards make a difference and enjoy a fulfilling summer job while earning $17 per hour – or $18 per hour for head lifeguards. “Every year, Massachusetts residents and visitors travel to DCR beaches, lakes, ponds, and pools seeking relief from the summer heat and time with friends and family outdoors,” said DCR Commissioner James Montgomery. “DCR lifeguards are absolutely critical to ensuring the public can safely enjoy our popular swimming locations, and make a real difference by dedicating their summer days to safeguarding the public.” DCR trains and certifies its lifeguards prior to opening designated swimming areas, and it provides certification free of charge to those who commit to working for DCR. To be considered for a DCR lifeguard position, applicants must be at least 16 years of age, must complete lifeguard training and must be certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Furthermore, candidates must be able to complete the following: • A timed 500-yard swim • Recover a 10-pound object in nine to 12 feet of water DCR is currently recruiting in Central and Eastern Massachusetts with a focus on the Boston Metro area, North of Boston to Salisbury and South of Boston to the Cape and the Islands. Candidate training and certification dates and locations in these areas can be found below. Please note that all interested candidates must register with DCR aquatics staff to be placed in the appropriate course before arriving. Boston Region • May 28 and 30 – Somerville YMCA in Somerville, Lifeguard Certification • June 12 – Connell Pool in Weymouth, Lifeguard and CPR Recertifications North Region • May 30 – Somerville YMCA in Somerville, Lifeguard Certification • June 5 – Somerville YMCA in Somerville, Lifeguard Recertification • June 7 and 10 – North Shore Swim Club Partnership in Medford, Lifeguard Certification (tentative) • June 11 and13 – Somerville YMCA in Somerville, Lifeguard Certification South Region • June 5 – Horseneck Beach in Westport, CPR and Waterfront Certifications • June 12 – Houghton’s Pond in Canton, CPR and Waterfront Certifications Interested individuals can apply online and are strongly encouraged to call James Esposito at 857-214-0400 or visit the DCR’s lifeguarding webpage and recruitment flyer, where certification dates and locations, application information and lifeguard requirements can be found. our values and consistent with our focus on providing equitable and top-notch care to every veteran in the commonwealth.” “As the senator for the city of Holyoke and the Soldiers’ Home, I know what this new home means to so many in our community,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield), Senate chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “This has truly been a long and emotional process that started well before this legislation was first filed. From the very start, families and veterans gave me a very clear message: ‘Get this done.’ We could not let them down and I am proud to say that we have not let them down … The funding authorized in this bill will ensure that the future residents of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and veterans across our commonwealth receive the care with honor and dignity that they have earned in service to our nation. Today’s vote brings us one step closer towards fulfilling that mission.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes COVID-19 EMERGENCY SICK LEAVE AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CHANGES (H 3771) House 157-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would provide qualified workers with up to five days of paid leave for COVID-related emergencies including workers who are sick with the virus, under a quarantine order, recovering from receiving a vaccine or caring for a family member ill with the virus. The measure is also designed to relieve employers this spring from expensive unexpected unemployment system costs. Many businesses were shocked when they saw their first-quarter unemployment contribution bills and found the solvency assessment rate had jumped from 0.58 percent in 2020 to 9.23 percent in 2021, raising costs in many cases by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Under the proposal, the state BHRC | SEE PAGE 23 would shift all COVID-related unemployment claims from the solvency fund into a new COVID claims fund and the solvency fund would revert to its original function. Employers, who fund the state’s jobless aid system, will still be on the hook in the long term, and a COVID-related assessment on businesses will kick into effect for 2021 and 2022. “In order for us to fully recover from the pandemic, all Massachusetts workers need access to emergency paid sick time if they are sick with COVID-19, quarantined or need to care for a sick family member,” said Deb Fastino, Executive Director of the Coalition for Social Justice and a member of the Raise Up Massachusetts Steering Committee. “Many essential frontline workers need paid sick time so they can recover from the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.” “Massachusetts workers and businesses share the same goal of restoring jobs lost during the COVID pandemic and getting back to work,” said Steve Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “By spreading this year’s solvency assessment over the next two decades using already authorized borrowing, the House took the necessary step at this time to enable that continued economic recovery. Moving forward, it is critical that we take a hard look at the way we fund our Unemployment Insurance system to ensure that costs are fairly spread out across businesses; that we build substantial reserves during good economic times in order to weather the bad without relying on costly borrowing; and that workers can continue to count on UI benefits

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