State House Spotlight: Lawmakers and advocates collaborate
Several women-focused events took place on Beacon Hill, including a yearly advocacy day for the Commission on the Status of Women, which is focusing on resistance to federal changes this year.
The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is turning 50 this year and they celebrated their origins in the State House library on Wednesday.
'It's because of their resilience, of the women who came before, and what they have fought for, that we are able to lead today,' said Representative Christine Barber, house chair of the caucus.
This caucus was integral in passing the Equal Rights Amendment in 1976, and has worked on women and family rights in every legislative session since. A group of western Massachusetts medical students came to the building to advocate for issues facing their patients, including a Southwick native who plans to practice in the area.
'I've gone to Baystate as a patient, I've gone there as a learner, and I just wanted to continue my education through the Baystate health system to hopefully one day serve as a physician in western Mass,' said Southwick's Olivia Raymond, a rising 3rd year at UMass Medical School.
Another local issue was brought to the State House, as a Springfield Representative is working on a petition that will keep illegal dirt bikes off the streets.
'What we're trying to avoid is for these illegal dirt bikes, illegal off-highway vehicles, to end up back on the road,' said Representative Orlando Ramos.
Also this week, advocates and lawmakers came together to raise awareness about crucial health concerns, including prostate cancer and endometriosis briefings. Looking ahead to next week, lawmakers will likely need to make progress on their joint rules package, which will need to be passed before any substantive laws can be done.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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