KATHERINE CLARK'S PRESS RELEASES

Opening the State’s Checkbook - Katherine Clark - Posted by Joe Cassia Dec 5, 2011 - One of the best ways to ensure transparent and open government is to clearly communicate how the state is spending your tax dollars. To do this, the state must make information readily available and easily accessible, and last year I was proud to co-sponsor new transparency and accountability reforms as part of the state's FY2011 Budget.   To carry out these new provisions, the state’s Open Checkbook Project was developed and went live this week at: www.mass.gov/OpenCheckbook.
Open Checkbook offers a window into state government by providing the public with a searchable online database of state spending information.  Among other things, you can find information about state agencies and the current salaries, titles and departments of state employees.  While much information is now available online, certain protections have been implemented, including measures to shield private information like social security numbers.  In addition, victims of domestic violence or other crimes may be exempt from disclosure when publicly displaying this type of information could compromise their personal safety.
In 2010, Massachusetts received a failing grade for transparency in Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group’s (MASSPIRG) “Follow the Money” report.  In 2011, Massachusetts was awarded a B+ as the new transparency law began to be implemented. The Executive Office of Administration and Finance launched a new transparency website, Massachusetts Transparency, bringing the state's spending information under one roof at: www.mass.gov/transparency.  MASSPIRG now ranks Massachusetts 6th among the leading states with the most open spending information.   
Massachusetts has made real progress as it implements the transparency law.  But we must continue to open the books, and especially, to make information on tax credits available. Massachusetts spends millions of dollars every year on economic development, and we must be able to easily track the money to ensure that it is being used to create jobs here in the Commonwealth.
Ensuring a government that works effectively and efficiently also requires an active citizenry.  I encourage you to take advantage of these new information sources to learn about what our state agencies are doing and how our government functions.  The launch of Open Checkbook is true progress as the Commonwealth moves toward a transparent, accountable system that will allow us all to invest in our financial health and future.

Collaboratives Reform Bill Receives Favorable Report from Education Committee - Legislation Will Increase Transparency, Set Clear Standards - Posted by Joe Cassia Nov 30, 2011 8:50AM - The Joint Committee on Education today reported out favorably a bill aiming to improve the fiscal accountability of Massachusetts' network of education collaboratives. "This is an important step to increase the accountability and transparency surrounding our education collaboratives," said Senator Katherine Clark. "As a member of the Joint Committee on Education, I am proud to support this comprehensive legislation that will help strengthen education collaboratives and the important work they do on behalf of special needs children."
"I commend Education Committee Chairwomen Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz and Representative Alice Peisch for their rigorous work and their embrace of our recommendations. Their leadership should be applauded. Our special needs students, as well as our taxpayers, deserve better governance and more accountability. Education collaborative administrators will benefit as well from enhanced guidance and oversight," said State Auditor Suzanne Bump.
Reports released this summer by the State Auditor and Inspector General documented financial mismanagement stemming from lax oversight and inappropriate relationships between some collaboratives and closely related nonprofit organizations. The most egregious examples centered around the Merrimack Special Educational Collaborative. In response to these investigations, the Joint Committee on Education held a series of oversight hearings this fall to gain input from community stakeholders and the general public about how to create better oversight of education collaboratives.
The bill addresses the conflicts of interest surrounding collaboratives and their related non-profits by creating clear requirements for the roles and responsibilities of collaborative board members and staff. The bill prohibits any collaborative board member, manager, or staff member from serving in any similar capacity in a related nonprofit.
The bill improves accountability and transparency by creating new reporting requirements for collaboratives and related nonprofits. It requires collaboratives to file with their member school districts and with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) an annual report and audited financial statement, and subjects collaboratives to periodic reviews by DESE at least once every six years—equivalent with traditional school districts. Related nonprofits must also submit annual audited financials to either the Attorney General or to DESE. And the bill makes explicit that collaboratives are subject to the same competitive bidding requirements that school districts must follow when contracting for goods and services.

Safer Alternatives Bill is Good for our Health and our Businesses - Katherine Clark - Posted by Joe Cassia November 27, 2011 - The Safer Alternatives legislation is a common sense proposal that protects our environment and improves our health by transitioning to safer, effective and affordable alternatives to toxic industrial chemicals. As a mom of three, I am concerned about the mounting evidence that dangerous toxic chemicals are common in household products and used on a regular basis. These chemicals include lead and cadmium in children's toys and hormone disrupters in baby bottles and infant formula containers.  While more research is needed to determine the prevalence and causal relationships, scientific evidence increasingly suggests links between repeated and increased exposure to toxic substances and chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes, as well as some cancers, birth defects and developmental disabilities.
I am proud to help lead efforts in the State Senate to pass the Safer Alternatives Bill, which aims to improve health and reduce health care costs while maintaining a competitive edge for Massachusetts businesses. This legislation supports innovation through a flexible, open and science-based process. A Science Advisory Board would evaluate chemicals based on two criteria: specific uses that damage the health of children, workers and other vulnerable populations, and opportunities to strengthen our state economy. Chemicals would be classified into four categories of risk; and each year, several chemicals at the highest level of concern would be chosen for in-depth study.
Once these priority chemicals are identified, researchers would identify feasible substitutes for specific uses of these chemicals based on an evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, availability and economic impact of the alternatives. The State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would also develop a chemical action plan to coordinate action among state agencies and transition industrial users of toxic substances as expeditiously as possible to safer alternatives.  Collaboration with Massachusetts businesses is critical to making this process work.  Our businesses would be offered technical and financial assistance to transition to safer alternatives, and priority chemicals would be selected at least two years in advance.
In addition, businesses required to undertake safer substitutions can decide what changes to make.  They can file a certificate of compliance with the state, or they can apply to use an alternative substance or method.   Businesses also have the option of applying for a waiver with the DEP if there is no safer alternative that is technically or economically feasible for their particular use of a substance.
This bill represents a good balance and a flexible approach.  It helps our companies transition to safer chemical alternatives, but does not propose banning these substances outright the way other countries and states have done.  In so doing, this bill gives our companies time to comply and assistance in getting a good result that does not harm their competitive position.  In fact, jobs will be created as Massachusetts based companies become global leaders in the development and adoption of innovative, safer products and technologies.
Most importantly, working together with our businesses, we will effectively and efficiently meet our shared responsibility of improving our environment and our children's health.

Reforming our Parole System - by Katherine Clark - Posted by Joe Cassia Nov 15, 2011 - Last year on the day after Christmas, Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire was shot and killed during a robbery.  The murderer was a violent criminal who was free on parole despite being sentenced to three sentences of fifteen-years-to-life.  Melissa Gosule, a Boston teacher and Randolph native, was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1999 after she accepted a ride from a passer-by after her car broke down in Bourne.  Her killer was a career criminal with a history of more than 20 arrests. Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to work with Officer Maguire’s brother Chuck on legislation to improve our parole system. The Maguire and Gosule families have suffered tremendously, but they have turned their grief into a tireless effort to change our criminal justice system. Last week, the Senate voted to pass a package of sweeping parole reforms that I believe will go a long way to improving public safety. In considering how a parole system should function, two goals must be considered.  First, we ensure the public is protected from violent, habitual offenders. Second, we must use taxpayer dollars wisely and ensure that our system is fair and transparent.  This bill represents a smart balance of the two.
The major provisions of this law would restrict parole eligibility for the most dangerous and violent criminals. Offenders who have previously committed two violent felonies would not be parole eligible upon conviction of a third offense.  And, inmates serving multiple fifteen-years-to-life sentences would also be ineligible for parole.  This law would also change how life sentences are implemented by judges and how parole is granted.  For example, the parole board would be required to include a risk and needs assessment of potential parolees when making its determinations. This bill also incorporates two separate pieces of legislation I filed regarding domestic violence: creating a criminal offense of strangulation and adding pets to restraining orders.  Choking a victim and abusing pets are two indicators that a domestic violence situation is becoming lethal.  Both of these provisions would extend protections to those in dangerous situations and help prosecutors and judges effectively intervene in domestic violence cases before a death occurs.   
At the same time that we have taken legislative action to strengthen our laws and keep violent, dangerous criminals off the street, we also have examined the system as a whole and taken steps to make it more cost-effective.  This bill reduces some minimum mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.  As many states consider options in sentencing for nonviolent offenders, this is a first step in building a corrections system that provides cost effective sentencing and supervision that will reduce recidivism and improve public safety. As we move forward in the legislative process, I will continue to work to create a system that keeps the most violent criminals behind bars while creating opportunity for meaningful rehabilitation for nonviolent drug offenders.

Honor our Veterans by Katherine Clark - Posted by Joe Cassia Nov 7, 2011 This week we celebrate Veterans Day, a national day of honor for the brave men and women who have served our country in uniform.  On this day, we remember those who have lost their lives, and we recognize and thank those who have returned home.  Approximately 420,000 veterans currently reside in Massachusetts, and together they represent decades of service and sacrifice.  On Veterans Day we also acknowledge our military families, who have stood by our troops during and after their service and, in too many cases, have lost loved ones.  We share in their grief and honor their loss.
As a community, we share a responsibility to show our veterans and their families how much we value their service to us all.  Part of our commitment is making sure that all veterans, whether Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard, receive the benefits and services they deserve to transition back to life and work in Massachusetts.  This includes assisting veterans in obtaining health care, mental health and counseling services, housing support, childcare, and education, job training and placement services so that they can find high-quality, 21st century jobs.   
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans who have served in the military over the past decade was 11.5 percent in 2010.   In addition, it is estimated that on any given night, there are about 1,890 veterans experiencing homelessness right here in Massachusetts.  As these alarming statistics make clear, we can and must do better by our veterans.
As a member on the Joint Committee of Veterans and Federal Affairs, I have had the opportunity to work with my colleagues to support and fund programs like “Train Vets to Treat Vets,” that trains returning veterans in mental health counseling so they can provide services to others.  I have also worked to ensure funding for North Shore Veterans Counseling Services. This outreach center delivers critical counseling and housing services to our local veterans.  In addition, earlier this year I filed a jobs bill that includes a veteran’s tax credit to provide incentives for employers to hire qualified veterans.
It’s clear that these efforts will take on additional urgency as more of our troops return home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Approximately 37,000 Massachusetts residents have deployed around the world since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and there are about 11,000 Massachusetts residents currently deployed.  As they return, we must ensure that they receive the help and support they need, even in a challenging fiscal environment.  To that end, Governor Patrick has announced a series of new initiatives to better serve our veterans, including a bill to train and employ military veterans who qualify for state benefits.  I look forward to working with the Governor and others to get these programs in place as quickly as possible.
The past decade has been marked by war and conflict.  Indeed, my three sons have never known a country that is not at war.  Like so many of our sons and daughters, they have grown up in the shadow of conflict and have watched young people not much older than them head off to foreign lands to defend our freedom.
But that also means that our children have grown up with the opportunity to witness many brave and selfless acts of patriotism.  They have seen not only the loss of war, but the heroism as well.  On this Veterans Day, let’s recommit to our veterans that we will never forget their service and their sacrifice, and we will provide for  our national heroes and their families.

Advocates Join Senator Katherine Clark to Testify on Media Literacy Bill - Posted by Joe Cassia Nov 2, 2011 8:35AM – Senator Katherine Clark testified in front of the Joint Committee on Education on behalf of her bill that would provide comprehensive media literacy education for children in schools. This legislation would develop within the existing curriculum standards and objectives for media literacy.
“We know that children are highly influenced by many different forms of media that affect their behavior and contribute to issues that include aggression, violence and bullying, depression, body image issues, and obesity,” said Senator Clark. “In this 21st century media saturated culture we must provide our children with the tools and resources that will help them think critically about what they see in the media.”
This legislation aims to empower students with the knowledge to make decisions independent of popular media culture. This includes accessing and evaluating from the internet and other media sources, understanding how advertising messages are constructed and for what purposes, evaluating media’s explicit and implicit messages, creating media and messages using a variety of media tools, and participating in a global media culture.
A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the amount of time young people spend with entertainment media has risen dramatically over the past five years. Today, 8-18 year-olds devote more than 7 hours in a day and 53 hours a week with some type of entertainment media.
“Well-financed marketers prey on children’s vulnerabilities in the drive for profit,” said Erin McNeill, a founder of the Massachusetts Media Literacy Consortium. “It is wrong to leave them unprotected to fend for themselves in this environment of wall-to-wall media.”
“Modern media can inform us, entertain us and bring us together, but it also inundates us with sensationalism, stereotypes, misinformation and outright lies.  Students need our help with this.   Otherwise, it’s an unfair battle – in one corner, teams of skilled adult creators of ads and other media, with degrees in marketing, communication and psychology, and, in the other, children with no tools to defend against the power of the images and ideas with which they are bombarded on a daily basis,” according to Melrose resident and Swampscott High School Media Literacy Teacher Thomas Reid.

Emergency Response Plans for Schools - By Senator Katherine Clark - Posted by Joe Cassia Nov 1, 2011 11:25AM
I recently met the family of Michael Ellsessar, a 16-year-old sophomore at Sutton Memorial High School, who died suddenly last year during a football game.  Michael, a wide receiver, sustained a hit to the chest during a game and collapsed on the field.  He suffered what is known as a sudden cardiac arrest. During a sudden cardiac arrest (or SCA), the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.  An SCA is different from a heart attack and can strike without warning.  The American Heart Association reports that in the U.S. there are an estimated 295,000 occurrences of SCA (outside of hospitals) every year.  Tragically, the national survival rate is only about 8 percent.  The key to preventing death is immediately treating victims with an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restore normal heart rhythm before emergency personnel arrive.  Communities with comprehensive AED programs have achieved survival rates of 40 percent or higher. 
Though Michael received CPR almost immediately, a portable AED was not available on the field.  Sadly, when paramedics arrived just 15 minutes later, it was too late to save Michael’s life.  Michael’s parents and others are courageously channeling their own grief and loss towards enacting legislation aimed at preventing more deaths. They are joined in this effort by several other families, including Tyler Symes and his parents.  Tyler suffered a sudden cardiac arrest last December after being hit in the chest by a puck during a hockey game; he was 15 years old at the time and playing forward for Milford High School.  His life was saved by the fact that there was a portable AED to shock his heart right at the rink. 
These two stories demonstrate that the availability of portable AEDs is a matter of life and death.  These devices need to be where the students, spectators and players are – not only in nurses’ offices and school buildings.  A pending bill, a Petition Relative to Emergency Response Plans for Schools, would help to make sure that this occurs.
The bill would require every school in the state to have a written medical emergency response plan to reduce the incidence of these life-threatening emergencies and promote efficient responses if they do occur.  A school’s plan would be developed in consultation with the school nurse, coaches and trainers, as well as local first responders, and each school would practice their response sequence every year, much like a fire drill.  To assist school districts, the state would develop a model plan containing best practices, would assist with plan development and training, and would provide incentives for the purchase of AEDs by school districts.
No family should have to experience the loss that the Ellsessars and others have endured.  Though this legislation was born of unbearably sad circumstances, it serves as a powerful reminder that we all can take action to improve the lives of those around us.  I am proud to support this bill and to work for its passage. For more information about sudden cardiac arrest, please contact the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

Preventing and Prosecuting Domestic Violence - Katherine Clark - October is domestic violence awareness month. Each year, more than 3 million women in this country are victims of domestic violence, making it the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44.  In the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten every 9 seconds.  And, although the majority of domestic violence victims are women, men are victims as well, and relationship violence affects all communities and people of all backgrounds and income levels.  These sobering statistics remind us that we have much more work to do to prevent violence, effectively prosecute offenders, and lower the barriers that victims face when trying to leave dangerous environments.
Last week I had the privilege of participating in a policy briefing with several legislative colleagues and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone to champion a set of bills that would strengthen our current laws and implement a more comprehensive approach to the prevention and prosecution of domestic violence.  And I was proud to sponsor several of these bills and to testify in support of them before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary last week.
First, in order to strengthen our legal protections for victims, I’ve introduced An Act Relative to Strangulation, legislation that would establish an independent offense of strangulation and suffocation punishable by up to 5 years in prison.  Under current law, this type of very serious violence is often difficult to prosecute – because it must either be categorized as a simple assault and battery (a misdemeanor charge) or as attempted murder.  But in domestic violence cases, many offenders strangle their partner as a form of control and power, but then argue that they had no intent to murder.  We have heard harrowing testimony about tragic cases in which perpetrators were able to defend themselves against this charge by arguing that they did not intend to kill the victim – in effect, that they let go of the victims throat before they perished.  This bill would close this legal loophole and would also allow for greater punishment (up to 10 years in prison) for aggravating factors, including if serious bodily injury is caused, if the victim is pregnant, or if restraining orders are active at the time of the assault.   
Another component to domestic violence that we must address is the troubling connection between animal abuse and domestic violence.  Studies by the American Humane Society show that nearly half of battered women delay leaving an abusive environment, or will return to it, because they fear for a pet’s safety.  Among women seeking a safe shelter, 85 percent also reported pet abuse in their home.  In addition to being beloved members of the family, pets often represent a source of comfort and emotional attachment in a frightening, unsafe environment.  That is why I introduced An Act Relative to Domestic Violence and Animals, which would allow pets to be included in restraining orders and allow the court to order the defendant to refrain from abusing, threatening or disposing of the animal.  In recent years, 17 other states have passed laws that specifically include animals in protective orders, and Massachusetts should do the same.  This bill should be passed swiftly so that law enforcement can use this additional tool and we can reduce another barrier to leaving abusive relationships.
Even as we strengthen our laws, we know that prevention and training are two of the best tools we have to break the cycle of violence.  Many organizations and individuals in our district are actively working to raise awareness and prevent violence.  Our local Alliances Against Violence are such organizations, and I’m proud to support their ongoing efforts to reduce relationship violence in our communities.  I will be participating in Melrose Alliance Against Violence’s Walk & Candlelight Vigil on Sunday, October 23, and I encourage others to join me.  The walk begins at 4:00 pm at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  This month – and throughout the year – I hope we can continue to take action to prevent violence in our communities, assist and support those who are victims, and pass legislation that will help to effectively prosecute these crimes and keep families safe.

Senator Katherine Clark Joins Senate to Pass Pension Reform Bill - Posted by Joe Cassia September 16, 2011 – Senator Katherine Clark joined the Senate on Thursday to pass major reforms to the state pension system, including anti-salary-spiking provisions and the elimination of a controversial early retirement loophole. The vote was 24-10. The Senate plan is projected to save the Commonwealth $5 billion over 30 years. This is the third consecutive year the Senate has passed significant pension reforms. Senator Katherine Clark, Senate chair of the Public Service Committee, said: "This legislation strengthens our system in order to maintain the financial health of the Commonwealth. The Senate version realizes significant savings while maintaining a healthy benefit for our current and future retirees." "We made a commitment, after eliminating many the worst offenses two years ago, to come back and address the more complicated issues in our pension system," Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). "This bill makes changes that are necessary for reducing our unfunded pension and retiree health liabilities and contains realistic modifications for modernizing our system. A modern pension system is essential to maintaining and improving the Commonwealth's already strong bond rating." President Murray and other state leaders met last week with representatives of the nation's three rating agencies to discuss the Massachusetts economy and the state's extensive record of reform legislation. "A strong bond rating saves the Commonwealth millions of dollars a year in interest payments and increases funding available for our schools, roads and bridges," Murray said. "And these latest reforms will help sustain and protect our system for hard-working, deserving employees. "We worked hard to improve this bill for long serving employees and those employees who contribute the most to the system," said Senator Clark. "Employees and teachers who have worked at least 30 years will see lower early retirement penalties and contribution rates. The Senate bill also raises the state's cost of living allowance for the first time since 1998 to help our most vulnerable retirees struggling on a fixed income." The bill prevents inappropriate salary spiking in two ways. First, it increases the career "look back" period from 3 years to 5 years to more accurately reflect an employee's career earnings and provide a more equitable calculation of retirement benefits. Second, in calculating the average annual rate for retirement compensation, regular earnings in any year cannot include pay that exceeds average earnings from the previous two years by more than 10 percent. The bill also expands on a reform passed by the legislature two years ago which eliminated the so-called "Section 10" loophole that allowed elected officials to claim a "termination allowance" based on the failure to be nominated or re-elected. The bill eliminates that option entirely for all new employees and states that a retirement benefit cannot be received until the individual has reached the minimum retirement age. Another major component of the bill is the increase in retirement age for all new employees, reconciling the fact that people are living and working longer than when the retirement ages were set in state law in the 1950s and 1960s. This change will move the state system closer to the retirement ages already set by the federal government for Social Security benefits. The bill does the following in this area:

• Group 1 (elected officials and most general employees): Increases the retirement age to 60-67 from the current 55-65
• Group 2 (employees with titles reflecting hazardous duties): Increases the retirement age to 55-62 from the current 55-60
• Group 4 (firefighters, police officers, some corrections officers): Increases the retirement age to 50-57 from the current 45-55; and
• For state police employees to maximize their benefits, the bill raises the required minimum time of service to 30 years from the current 25 years.

Additionally, the bill marginally increases the cost-of-living allowance base for retirees from $12,000 to $13,000. Current law provides an annual COLA increase up to 3 percent on a base of the first $12,000 of benefit. The current $12,000 base became effective in 1998. The bill also does the following:

• Pro-rates benefits based on entire employment history of employees who have worked in more than one service Group rather than calculating benefits only by the Group from which the employee retires
• Requires retired employees who are elected to a new office or become a judge and reenter the system to repay received benefits with buyback interest; · Clarifies that retirement boards must require retirees convicted of a criminal offense to repay all benefits received since the date of the offense, not just the date of conviction
• Provides an option for retirees who married a person of the same sex, within the first year after it became legal, to change their retirement option in order to provide a benefit to their spouse
• Requires a one-year cooling-off period before a public retiree can seek the same position previously held; and
• Establishes a special commission to study the Massachusetts public employees' group classification system and make recommendations for changing it.

Under the Senate bill, changes would take effect for new employees beginning January 1, 2012. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further action.

Support Recovery - Senator Katherine Clark - September is Recovery Month, a time to recognize those in our lives who have overcome substance abuse and are living healthy, productive lives.  The Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) estimates that alcoholism and other drug dependencies affect over 400,000 men and women in Massachusetts. We are all too familiar with their heartbreaking stories and the tremendous toll that addiction and substance abuse takes on too many families. As a community, we also know that alcohol and drug abuse can lead to physical and emotional violence, homelessness and other devastating outcomes. But we also know so many people – our friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues – whose lives have been saved and fundamentally transformed because of their own hard work, their will to recover, and the treatment services they received.   Recovery Month recognizes the contributions of those in recovery, promotes the essential ideas that addiction services and mental health treatments are effective, and that those who need help can recover. This month is also a time to acknowledge the caregivers throughout our district – doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, educators, family members and friends – who treat and support people as they work to achieve recovery and maintain strong mental health.
Even as we recognize the positive stories of recovery, we also must face the difficult truth that we are not doing enough to support them and the thousands of others in Massachusetts who are suffering and in need of addiction services.  According to the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the number of treatment facilities in Massachusetts decreased from 352 in 2002 to 312 in 2006.  SAMHSA also reports that, when compared to other states, Massachusetts consistently ranks among the highest in the country for the number of young people aged 18-25 who need treatment, but are not receiving it. The fact is, we must do better.  We need more treatment options and should expand the number of spaces available in our existing, effective programs – at all stages of recovery, both in-patient and out-patient, and across the state.  And we must do this while also increasing and improving our prevention and education efforts.  This will require public resources, even in a time of fiscal constraint. Addiction is a major public health issue. We all have a stake in adequately funding services and expanding opportunities for treatment.  If we don’t, we will continue to see more emergency room visits, more inpatient admissions, and ever staggering healthcare costs. Most importantly, the human costs will remain much too high: the lives lost or ruined, the opportunities wasted, the creativity and value never realized, the violence and the pain.  And that is the most compelling reason to support – and celebrate – recovery.

The True Legacy of September 11th - By Senator Katherine Clark - This Sunday we will mark the tenth anniversary of the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001. As we do, we will remember the shock, anguish and uncertainty of that tragic day. Those in this community who lost family members and dear friends had their lives irreparably altered in an instant. We all shared their sadness and grieved for the thousands of Americans killed or injured. We watched the selfless acts of heroism of first responders and everyday citizens. Collectively, we felt a profound sense of injustice and insecurity. But that wasn't all we felt. In the weeks and months after the attacks, we experienced a national wave of patriotism, resolve, and even hope. We pulled together to volunteer, raise money, and support each other. I witnessed countless acts of compassion and giving from every corner of our community – our families, our school children, our houses of worship and our civic organizations. Together we embraced one of the most fundamental tenets of a successful democracy: that our neighbor's well-being is as vital as our own. As we now acknowledge this somber anniversary, I hope we will remember that spirit and challenge ourselves to support community over divisiveness. To be sure, Massachusetts residents have confronted tremendous difficulties in the past decade. The courageous men and women of our military have valiantly fought two long, difficult wars, and many have come home injured or not returned at all. Their families have sacrificed and endured so much. At the same time, the continued aftermath of the housing crisis and recession have put enormous strain on our families and increased the vulnerability of too many throughout this state and in this district. We had every reason to turn inward after that tragic day ten years ago. But we didn't. Our shared challenges now provide even more reasons to come together to build communities that are less fractured and a political climate that is less divisive. Our ability to do that will represent the true legacy of September 11th. I believe that we can work together to build communities in this Commonwealth that protect and educate every child, that encourage economic opportunity and support working families, that provide for our troops, our military families and our veterans, that honor our commitments to our seniors, and that look on our most vulnerable citizens not as a burden but as people of value who deserve our respect even when they are in need. Just recently, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial opened in Washington, DC. One of the quotes etched on the memorial wall is from Dr. King's famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and reads: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Those words are very much alive today. We must – and always will – honor the memory of the loved ones we lost on 9/11/01 and in its aftermath. As we do, we have the ability to ensure that the legacy of September 11th is a better, safer, more compassionate, more just and more equal American community.

Local Autism Advocate - By Senator Katherine Clark - This session I have been fortunate for the opportunity to work with a high school student from Melrose who has been a dedicated advocate on issues affecting the Autism community in Massachusetts and around the country. Lydia Brown, who just graduated from high school this spring, has used her personal experience to serve as an effective leader on legislation in the Massachusetts State House. 
This session, I filed legislation drafted by Lydia that targets autism awareness among law enforcement.  This bill would establish within the recruit basic training curriculum a course for regional and municipal police training schools for the training of law enforcement officers and correction officers in the Commonwealth. The curriculum would include guidelines for appropriate interactions with individuals with ASD, as well as guidelines for law enforcement’s response to ASD individuals who are victims, witnesses or suspects of a crime. The legislation has gained the support of many in the local law enforcement community as well as advocates for supports for those on the autism spectrum.
Autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys.  This rate is higher than the rates of childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. National statistics show that the rate of autism is increasing between 10 and 17 percent each year with an estimated 1.5 million diagnosed cases in the United States.
One of my priorities during this budget season was ensuring adequate funding on behalf of the Autism Spectrum Disorder community. These individuals have symptoms that range from mild to very severe and maintaining funding for these services is critical. As the rate of ASD cases continues to increase, we must invest in the important programs and services helping many children and adults statewide.  It is critical that we continue this advocacy as we recognize the increasing severity of the growing number of ASD cases in Massachusetts and around the country. Through hard work and inspiration, Lydia has already made a difference for those with autism and challenged Beacon Hill to the same.

Senator Clark Advances Tax Credit Bill - The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business has given its approval to a significant tax credit bill that encourages private investment in localities that have been hit the hardest by the economic turmoil. Senator Clark serves as Vice Chairman of the Committee. "Developing economic opportunity is one of the most important things we can do in this economy," Senator Clark stated. "Right now, low and moderate-income communities really need a helping hand, and these bills provide some necessary relief." The Community Development Partnership Act has cleared the legislative committee, and supporters expect it to be reviewed next by the Revenue Committee this fall. Under the bill, community development corporations certified under a 2010 law would develop multi-year business plans for economic development in their local communities. Within the local communities, community-based non-profit organizations selected by the Department of Housing and Community Development will receive an allocation of investment tax credits through a competitive bid process. Tax credit allocations will range from $50,000 to $150,000 per organization each year, and credits can be awarded for up to three years before the community development corporations must reapply. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) and Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester) and 46 co-sponsors.?

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