Governor Healey's Ceremonial Bill Signing to rename Rehabilitation Commission

Yesterday, I attended Governor Healey's Ceremonial Bill Signing of H.4528, An Act to rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, MassAbility which renames the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) to MassAbility, a change that will define the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities to live independently. 

The legislation also removes offensive terminology in the Massachusetts General Laws referring to people with disabilities in sections of the law that pertain to MassAbility.

#MassAbility #Mapoli #SignedIntoLAW #statesenatorbrucetarr

Essex and Middlesex District Medical Society

Honored to have spoken to a full house at the Health Care Improvement Forum: Addiction hosted by the Essex South, Essex North & Middlesex North District Medical Societies.

Like the United Nations in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the policies of the Massachusetts Medical Society, they believe that healthcare is a human right.

Networks can span the globe, but healthcare always starts locally believing that by listening to a plurality of voices, we can better understand and address the health care needs of those who we serve.

Since 2016 we have lost around 2,000 souls in our Commonwealth every year to opioid overdoses. 

But there is hope because we know that the antidote to addiction is connection.

Addressing addictions from a public health standpoint is a complex problem requiring a multifaceted approach. These organizations  gather a wide range of perspectives from individuals who can articulate the needs of their extended families and the trust communities they care about.

Massachusetts Medical Society

Essex County Outreach

Tarr in the News 9.12.24

TARR IN THE NEWS 9.12.24

Recently interviewed by State House News Service’s Sam Doran RE: State Wire Tap Law.

“The existing law is "clearly out of touch with the development of technology and the changes in circumstances that have occurred since it was originally enacted in 1968," Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said this week.

Tarr and Rep. Jeffrey Turco, a Winthrop Democrat, refiled Baker's text this session (S 1128 / H 1786). Both bills were killed by the Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

Massachusetts is an "outlier with regard to the obsolescence of our statute and the need to modify it," Tarr said, pointing not just to technological advancements but also to the reliance on proving an "organized crime" connection in order to obtain a wiretap warrant. That nexus can be "difficult to establish," the Gloucester Republican said.

"Murder, manslaughter, rape, drug trafficking. Those things do not necessarily involve organized crime, but they pose a serious threat to public safety. And so the law should be changed to encompass them as it is likely the case in many other states," Tarr said.”

Link to full article: https://www.statehousenews.com/.../article_26c87378-7091...

National Police Woman Day 2024

Today is National Police Woman Day - thank to our female officers for their service and for keeping our communities safe!

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) celebrates annually National Police Woman Day in recognition of the contributions of past and current law enforcement officers.

In 1884 the agency recognized the first female deputy U.S. Marshal, Phoebe Couzins.

#NationalPoliceWomanDay #policewoman #statesenatorbrucetarr

North Shore 9/11 Memorial Service

“The best way to honor those lost on 9/11 is to be the people we were on 9/12.” – Karyn Belanger, EMS in Michigan

It was an honor to participate in the 9/11 Memorial Services yesterday in Ipswich, Newbury, and Rockport. Thank you to all of the local first responders and many others, as well as others across the Commonwealth who brought us together yesterday to remember those who were lost, to inspire us by honoring the acts of courage on that day in 2001, and the days that followed, and to support those who carry on despite the loss of a loved one.

May we forever be guided by the examples of courage, compassion, and kindness that followed in the wake of this terrible tragedy.

#WeWillRemember #NeverForget #USA #September11 #firstresponders #statesenatorbrucetarr

Legislative Update 9.12.24

It is anticipated that the Senate is going to be taking up a FY’24 Supplemental Budget in today’s informal session.

We worked to ensure that it is now online for public inspection at the following link: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H5050.

Patriot Day 2024

9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance

On September 11, 2001, we rose up as a nation to face tragedy and loss and to combat hate with strength, unity, and an unyielding faith in the power of liberty and in each other. 

Together we will never forget, together we are strong, and together we will renew commitments to honor the memory of those lost 23 years ago.

#NeverForget #September11 #statesenatorbrucetarr