Linda Dorcena Forry

Historic Legislation Signed:
Last week Representative Linda Dorcena Forry joined Governor Patrick and her colleagues at the Senate Reading Room for the signing of H3810, An Act Relative to Gender Identity, also known as the Transgender Bill. “This is an amazing step forward for our state. I was happy to work in many legislative planning meetings with my colleagues to draft a well-thought-out piece of legislation that is sensitive to the needs of the transgender community,” Rep. Forry stated.  “Having heard the stories of many transgender residents, I know this bill will really make a positive difference in their lives,  and especially for the youth.” The bill, passed in November of 2011, ensures greater protection for the the transgender community against discrimination when seeking employment, education, housing, insurance, and credit by inserting “gender identity” into the non-discrimination laws. The bill further protection against violence to the transgender community by considering any violence perpetuated against transgender residents to be a hate crime.

In Tough Economic Times, Key Funding Preserved: Fuel Assistance, Adult Day Health Services, Unemployment Insurance Freeze
Last week the House and Senate passed versions of a supplemental budget (H3878), an additional funding proposal designed to allocate more funding to towns and cities for fiscal year 2012 (FY2012), totaling $131 million to revitalize and maintain vital programs and services needed most by the people of the Commonwealth. Key programs and services supported by Rep. Forry in the House budget include:

• Increased funding for the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  The House approved a $21.2 million appropriation (budget line item 7004-1000) to bolster funding for this crucial fuel assistance program. As the federal government recently made devastating cutbacks to public assistance programs like LIHEAP and the price of oil for heating homes continues to dramatically rise, the Massachusetts Legislature has made it a top priority to assist Massachusetts families and households with rising oil costs during the coldest time of the year.  Representative Forry and her colleagues also continue to push for stable federal funding to this critical program.  She signed a letter to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation in December of 2011.
• A freeze on increasing the unemployment insurance rate
  The inclusion of a mandatory moratorium on increasing the unemployment insurance rate in the budget offers economic relief to local small businesses, who often struggle to maintain and run their businesses with the pressures of high employment expenses and rising health care costs. To counteract these issues, the temporary freeze on increasing unemployment insurance rates (up to 25%) will save employers an average of $220 per employee per year while still preserving employee benefits.
• Increased funding for Adult Day Services
  The House also agreed on a $35 million allocation to the Adult Day Health program, a multifaceted program that provides the medical and social services needed by senior citizens and people with disabilities to live in good health. Representative Forry has worked diligently to protect the program since learning of the potential cuts in early 2011. She signed a letter along with her colleagues to former Commissioner Morales from the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy to prevent cuts and ensure funding in the FY2012 budget.

Education Initiatives:
In addition to the supplemental budget, the Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge federal grant for which Massachusetts was awarded $50 million was celebrated last week during a State House event.  Representative Forry joined her colleagues and early education advocates to commemorate the momentous occasion.  “The program is designed to prepare young children for succes at the most critical time in their early development,” said Rep. Forry who also filed legislation ( H2992 An Act creating an earned income tax credit for early educators) this session that would establish an Early Educators Earned Income Tax Credit.  The tax credit will lighten the financial burden on early educators and increase their ability to provide quality care.  Not only will the bill maintain high educational standards, but it will also contribute to creating and maintaining jobs in the small business sectors. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Revenue.

This week, the House will take up legislation regarding education collaboratives oversight.