Next week, the State House will be holding hearings on several key progressive priorities. Read on to find out how to show your support.
Show Your Support for Universal School Meals
Over 1 in 5 households with children in Massachusetts are struggling to put food on the table. School meals take the pressure off family budgets and allow families to put food on the table day-to-day.
Ensuring that students receive proper nutrition would reduce health care costs, improve student attendance, improve socio-emotional health, and improve student performance. We have seen the success of the program already, and it’s time to make it permanent.
The House included tuition equity in its FY 2024 budget, but the Senate did not, and it has been a sticking point in ongoing negotiations.
The Joint Education Committee will be having a hearing on the Universal School Meals bill on Monday at 11:00 AM in Gardner Auditorium.
Sign up to testify (virtual or in-person) at the hearing on Monday at 11:00 AM.
Can’t testify to the hearing? You can still submit written testimony! See the instructions on the link above or use our template here.
The Feed Kids Coalition also has a social media toolkit to help amplify support for universal school meals.
Show Your Support for Tuition Equity
From a recent coalition letter organized by our friends at the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition: Immigrant advocates and higher education leaders in Massachusetts have long supported broad access to an affordable public college education for immigrant youth, particularly those without status who arrived in the U.S. as children and have been educated in our public schools. Currently these students are required to pay out-of-state or international tuition rates (up to four times the in-state rate). They are overwhelmingly from low-income, hardworking families, often with substantial responsibilities to contribute to family income, but lack access to both federal and state student financial aid. This combination effectively denies some of our most ambitious and talented high school graduates from continuing their education and contributing to the Massachusetts economy.
The Senate included tuition equity in its FY 2024 budget, but the House did not, and it has been a sticking point in ongoing negotiations.
The Joint Higher Education Committee will be holding a hearing on Tuition Equity legislation next Tuesday at 1 PM.
Sign up to testify (virtual or in-person) at the hearing here.
Can’t testify at the hearing? You can still submit written testimony! See the instructions on the link above and craft your own testimony with MIRA’s toolkit, or use our template here.
Show Your Support for a Zero-Carbon Renovation Fund
With extreme heat and extreme flooding already, this summer has shown that we are already living with the realities of climate change.
The Zero-Carbon Renovation Fund (ZCRF) bill would jumpstart the market for zero carbon renovations with a $300 million fund devoted to (1) maximizing energy efficiency through building envelope upgrades, (2) electrification of building systems, (3) maximizing usage of on-site renewable energy, wherever possible, and (4) use of building retrofit materials that are low embodied carbon.
With an understanding that our sustainability transition must be an equitable one to be successful, the ZCRF would prioritize affordable housing, public housing, low- and moderate-income homes, schools, BIPOC- and women-owned businesses, and buildings located in Environmental Justice communities.
Due to the ongoing internal fight within the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, the bill has TWO hearings next week: a Senate hearing on Monday and a House hearing on Wednesday.
Sign up to testify (virtual or in-person) at the Senate hearing on Monday at 9:30 AM.
Sign up to testify (virtual or in-person) at the House hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
Not able to testify? You can still submit written testimony! The Zero-Carbon Renovation Fund Coalition has a useful toolkit for submitting written testimony here.
Want sample testimony? We’ve got you covered: sample Senate testimony and sample House testimony.
What’s Coming Up Later This Month?
The Gas Moratorium bill will be having hearings on Wednesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 27.
The Yes in My Backyard bill will be having a hearing on Wednesday, July 26.
Stay tuned for more info on all three hearings and how to get involved!
