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Dear Women's Caucus Members, Legislative Colleagues, and Partners,

Happy New Year from the MA Caucus of Women Legislators! We hope that you all had a restful holiday season. 2023 was an incredibly productive year for the Caucus--we onboarded a new Board of Directors, engaged in a thorough and inclusive priority-setting process, worked with our partners in the Governor's office and legislative leadership, and consistently engaged with our 62 members and 200+ external partners.

As we begin the final year of this legislative session, we are laser-focused on advancing our strategic and legislative priorities. Please read below for updates on all of these priorities.

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with you. We encourage you to reach out to our Executive Director Nora Bent to connect, share your ideas, and think about how we can continue to work together.


Sincerely,

Senator Joan Lovely & Representative Hannah Kane
MCWL Co-Chairs
Strategic Priorities
  • Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity & Eliminating Barriers
  • Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care 
  • Empowering Women in Government
     
  • PASSED THE HOUSE & SENATE: An Act relative to salary range transparency
    • This bill passed the House of Representatives and the Senate in October. The bill is now before a Conference Committee.
       
  • PASSED THE SENATE: An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products
    • This bill passed the Senate in October. It is currently before the House Committee on Ways & Means, and we look forward to continuing to advocate for its passage.
       
  • An Act relative to a livable wage for human service workers
  • An Act relative to postpartum depression screening
  • An Act supporting parents running for public office 
    • H.669, Rep. Meschino and Rep. Connolly & S.422, Sen. Jehlen
       
Endorsed Legislation

We recently held our 2024 Annual Meeting. This was an opportunity to (virtually!) connect and review our accomplishments in 2023, preview the work that is to come in 2024, and engage in conversations to begin planning our celebrations for our upcoming 50th anniversary in 2025.

  • "Life on the campaign trail, with kids" was recently published in Politico's Women Rule newsletter. This article looks at one of our priority bills to support parents running for public office. 
    • "When Patricia Jehlen first ran for school committee in Somerville, Massachusetts in the mid-1970s, she got lucky. She had a friend who ran a daycare out of her house, who offered to look after Jehlen’s two small children while she campaigned. Her husband worked full-time, and she needed to knock on thousands of doors to secure her seat, making child care a necessity. Without the help of her friend, Jehlen says she would not have been able to run — a catalyst that sparked her half-a-century-long career in Massachusetts politics."
       
  • January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
    • Learn more about human trafficking, including how to identify and prevent this crime. 
    • Learn more about cervical health, including steps that you can take to protect yourself from this preventable cancer.
       
  • Did you know that you can access a 12-month supply of no-cost birth control at once? Learn more here about MA's Access law, which was a past priority of the Women's Caucus.
     
  • The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts recently released a report entitled "Gender Equity in Western Massachusetts." You can read the report here, and see key findings here.
     
  • The MA Commission on the Status of Women recently launched a scholarship program, to support emerging leaders in MA who are enrolled in a Massachusetts higher education institution. You can see more details here--please share widely!

     
Please let us know if you have articles or social media that you would like to share in the next newsletter or on social media.
  • The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, MA Department of Public Health, and the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression will host the first in a series of roundtable discussions on the State of Black Maternal Health in MA. The first event will be on Wednesday, January 24 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Register here to receive a Teams link to join the meeting.
     
  • The MA Commission on the Status of Women is hosting a virtual housing hearing on Thursday, January 25th from 5:00-7:00 pm. See more details and register here.

     
Please let us know if you have upcoming events that you would like to be included in the next newsletter or on social media.
Our partners at the MA Commission on the Status of Women are accepting nominations for the 2024 Commonwealth Heroine class!

Legislators are invited to nominate an amazing woman in your community to honor their contributions. Nominations are due by April 1, 2024. Learn more and submit your nomination here!
Please let us know if you have accomplishments that you would like to be highlighted in the next newsletter or shared on social media. 
Please send relevant articles, upcoming events, social media you would like shared, accomplishments, or other updates that you think MCWL members and our partners would find helpful. All updates should be sent to Nora.Bent@MALegislature.gov
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