Winter 2020 Newsletter
Dear Friends and Neighbors:Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season. After four years, Caitlin Duffy has left my office to join Elizabeth Warren’s campaign for President. While I am disappointed to lose Caitlin, I am excited about the addition of Sarah Mills to my office. I hope you get to meet her soon.The House was very productive in 2019 and passed several bills including most recently, legislation to improve education funding: An Act Relative to Educational Opportunity for Students. The House passed many bills that are aimed at improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents including a ban on flavored tobacco products, a ban on conversion therapy, and a lift on the welfare cap for families. While I am proud of what we accomplished to date, a lot remains to be done this term.This week committees face a deadline (2/5/20) for reporting legislation out of committee or asking for an extension. I have been meeting with chairs to advocate for favorable reports on my legislation as well as legislation filed by others that I support. I have written letters for some legislation, which you can find below or on my website, www.jaylivingstone.com. I look forward to continuing to prioritize my work addressing the climate crisis, improving transportation, and securing and expanding reproductive justice.In other news, a bill I filed along with Representative Christine Barber, H.1959 An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters, and public schools, was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health on 12/26/2019. It was referred to the committee on Health Care Financing. This bill has shown great momentum. If enacted, it will require schools, homeless shelters, and jails to have available menstrual products in bathrooms.As always, I appreciate everyone who has called my office to let me know which legislation they care about and about which issues cause them concern. I encourage all constituents of the 8th Suffolk district to continue to reach out with any questions and am announcing new office hours in the community to make it easier to meet. Stop in to discuss an issue or just say hi. If you cannot make the specific times listed below, I am always available to schedule an individual meeting in the community or at the Statehouse.As always, I can be reached by email Jay.Livingstone@MAhouse.gov), phone (617-722-2013), or in person in Room 472. You can also reach out to my new legislative aide Sarah Mills (Sarah.Mills@MAhouse.gov) with any questions or scheduling inquiries.Best,Jay Livingstone
