Senator Cyr Secured $640,000 in Local Funding for the Cape and Islands and $8.6 Million for Statewide Programs

(Boston, Mass.) – The Massachusetts Legislature passed a $42 billion FY19 State Budget yesterday when the State Senate adopted the conference budget (H.4800) on a 36 to 1 vote. The FY19 budget is fiscally responsible, based on realistic revenue that did not involve painful cuts to programs nor raised taxes.  Revenue and investments will go to agencies, residents and municipalities across the Commonwealth.  Additionally, the FY19 budget deposit of approximately $350 million to the state’s rainy day fund will increase the state’s reserves to approximately $2 billion.

(Boston, MA)  – The Massachusetts State Senate passed House Bill 4516 today to create a dedicated revenue source for the Commonwealth’s municipal police training committee.  With today’s vote, the legislation will head to Governor Baker for his signature. Today’s legislation passed (unanimously) and will fund critical needs for police training.  Throughout the current legislative session the Senate has led the effort to create dedicated funding for this critical public safety need by including this legislation as amendments in the Senate’s version of the FY18 supplemental budget and the Senate’s version of the FY19 budget. The Senate passed the amendments, both introduced by Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), unanimously each time they were offered.   

“I am grateful to my colleagues who unanimously supported dedicated revenue for the municipal police training committee from the moment I introduced it earlier this session. It’s excellent news for the Commonwealth that the House and Senate have done their part to recognize the sacrifice and service of police across Massachusetts,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) “It’s important that our Police Departments, and the men and women who serve in blue, have the best available tools to keep our communities safe and prosperous.  I am proud that the legislature worked collectively and swiftly to secure stable funding for their training.”

Senator Cyr secures $6 million in funding for local projects on the Cape & Islands

(Boston, MA) – The Massachusetts State Senate passed H.4613, An Act Promoting Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, and Investment in Recreational Assets and Opportunity, on Thursday evening, which will authorize $2 billion in bond revenue in the coming years. State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) successfully secured $6 million in funding in the bill for environmental infrastructure projects for the Cape and Islands District. 

Massachusetts has continually demonstrated leadership in the fight against global climate change, and the investments authorized in this legislation ensure that cities and towns across the Commonwealth are protected and that public spaces and infrastructure are improved and maintained for the public good.

Letter supported 38-0 by members of the Senate; letter now being sent the President and members of the Trump administration

(Boston, MA.) — State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) introduced a letter, to be printed in the journal of the Massachusetts State Senate, during the Senate’s session on June 20, 2018. The letter is addressed to President Trump and among other requests, asks that all children who have been separated from their parents by federal officials at the border in recent weeks be returned to the custody of their parents as soon as possible. Now that the letter was unanimously supported by the Senate, a copy of the letter signed by all members will be sent to President Trump tomorrow.

“I am grateful to my colleagues for standing with me in support of this letter, and most importantly for standing for family re-unification and common sense humane treatment of children who have been separated from their families by federal officials at the United State border with Mexico,” said State Senator Julian Cyr. “Now that President Trump has signed an Executive Order ending this practice going forward, the federal government needs to reunite children with their parents immediately and ensure that nothing like this happens again. This policy was shameful and un-American.”

To view the letter, click "read more" below.

Cyr successfully proposes three amendments to the bill, including the ‘Community Empowerment’ proposal championed by Martha’s Vineyard residents

 (Boston, MA) - Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate voted to pass S.2545, An Act to promote a clean energy future, sponsored by Senators Marc Pacheco and Mike Barrett. This legislation represents a firm stand by the Senate to ensure a healthier, cleaner Commonwealth for future generations of Massachusetts residents. Most importantly, the policies enacted in this legislation will have measurable benefits in the health of the global environment.

This legislation is a forward looking plan that prepares Massachusetts for the inevitable obstacles that will come with climate change. The policies and programs will protect public health, increase the use of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse emissions, implement a price on carbon, and create jobs in the innovative green-energy economy.

Capital Projects that are focused on geographical equity and balancing district needs are included in the Capital Bonding Bill headed to Governor Baker. 

(Boston, Mass.) - The $53 million in funding for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard’s regional infrastructure projects, spearheaded by state Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) and successfully adopted as part of the Senate Capital Bonding Bill, were preserved in the final capital bonding bill that emerged from a House/Senate conference committee.  The bill, known as An Act providing for capital facility repairs and improvements for the Commonwealth (H.4549), will now head to Governor Baker’s desk for signature.

Report outlines findings on the challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts retailers, with a particular focus on the Cape and Islands

BOSTON – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate Task Force on Strengthening Local Retail unanimously approved its final report. The Task Force was charged with assessing the economic health of the Massachusetts retail sector, and identifying challenges and opportunities facing retail communities. Senator Cyr served as a member of the panel.

 “I’m thrilled that the Task Force report includes significant detail on the challenges facing the unique seasonal economy on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “This report benefited tremendously from the day my colleagues spent on Cape Cod earlier this year meeting with local retail business owners. This report provides a roadmap for how we can better support small retailers across the Commonwealth. I am grateful to my colleagues Senator Rodrigues and Senator deMacedo for their leadership of the task force, and to the members for delving into these issues with a spirit of bipartisanship to craft this report.”

Senator Cyr’s FY19 Budget Priorities Deliver Tax Relief for Small Business Owners, Revenue to Fund Critical Public Safety Initiatives, Housing Programs, and Efforts to Stem the Opioid Epidemic

(Boston, Mass.) – Budget amendments addressing the opioid epidemic, offering tax relief to small and seasonal business owners, funding municipal police and firefighter training, child advocacy programs and other public safety programs offered by state Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) were successfully adopted this week by the State Senate and included in its FY2019 budget, which was passed after three full days of debate at appx. 1:00 AM on May 25^th.

Senator Cyr successfully secured $640,000 in local funding for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and $8.6 million in funding for statewide programs.

Massachusetts Senate Unanimously Approves Foundation Budget Reforms, now sends bill to House

(BOSTON)  – On Thursday, students, parents, and teachers filled the State House as the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to pass a key education reform bill to update the state’s 25-year-old funding formula.

The bill, An Act Modernizing the Foundation Budget for the 21st Century (S.2506), was introduced by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz (D-Boston) and was co-sponsored by 36 senators. The bill would implement the recommendations of the bipartisan Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) which found that the foundation budget formula is drastically underestimating education costs. This has forced deep cuts to classrooms and critical programs, and one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation.

“Today the Senate went on record that we need to do more to support K-12 education in the Commonwealth and that we have a plan to do it,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “Public schools on the Cape & Islands haven’t received their fair share of state resources. Today’s action is a promise to voters that if they pass the Fair Share Amendment at the ballot this November, we are committed to using those new dollars to fully fund K-12 education.”

Cyr Amendments to Expand Benefits for National Guard members and Reserves are included in the Legislation

(Boston, Mass.) – The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously passed “The Brave Act” – new legislation that will expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military and their families, Senator Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) announced.

Understanding the sacrifice that military personnel and their families make not only while on active duty, but also after returning home, the Massachusetts Legislature has consistently provided a continuum of major veteran legislation to help with those who sacrifice the most for our freedoms.