2021-2022 Commonwealth Peace and Justice Agenda
The Massachusetts Peace & Justice Network has partnered with allied legislators to submit a set of bills to the Massachusetts state legislature concerning nuclear disarmament, Yemen, transparency in politics, and the budget. Below are the 7 bills that we have submitted to the state legislature.
Watch a playlist of legislators talking about each of the 7 bills!
Nuclear Disarmament Initiative
The Massachusetts Peace & Justice Network is introducing a three-part Nuclear Weapons initiative to protect Massachusetts citizens from the threat posed by nuclear weapons. The three parts are as follows:
1. Back from the Brink Resolution (S.1556);
RESOLUTIONS RELATIVE TO THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT POSED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS: Officially congratulate the 51 countries which have signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as well as commend the state and local authorities which have supported the treaty and Back from the Brink platform.
Assigned to Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Jo Comerford
Advocate Coordinator: Ira Helfand
Back from the Brink Resolution Fact Sheet
2. Nuclear Weapons Divestment (S.1703/ H.2597);
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE DIVESTMENT OF STATE PENSION FUNDS FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Divest state pension funds from corporations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of nuclear weapons. #DivestNuclearWeapons
Assigned to Committee: Public Service
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Mike Connolly, Sen. Jamie Eldridge.
Advocate Coordinators: Jonathan King
Nuclear Weapons Divestment Fact Sheet
3. Nuclear Weapons Commission (S.1555/ H.3688);
RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT POSED BY NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS: Establish a citizen’s commission to research and recommend actions for the state to take to better protect its citizens from nuclear weapons.
Assigned to Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Sen. Jo Comerford
Advocate Coordinators: Timmon Wallis & Vicki Elson
Nuclear Weapons Commission Fact Sheet
Yemen War
Divest from the Yemen War/Raytheon (S.1735 / H.2636);
AN ACT RELATIVE TO PENSION DIVESTMENT FROM COMPANIES SELLING WEAPONS TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA: Divest state pension funds from companies selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. #DivestFromRaytheon
Assigned to Committee: Public Service
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Nika Elugardo, Sen. Pat Jehlen
Advocate Coordinator: Paul Shannon
Divestment from the Yemen War Fact Sheet
Budget & Taxes
Moral Budget for Massachusetts (S.1866 / H.2989);
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO REPORT ON THE MORAL BUDGET TO REVIVE, REPAIR AND REBUILD OUR ECONOMY: This Act calls on Congress to pass a federal MORAL BUDGET that creates millions of jobs, invests in infrastructure, moves towards single-payer healthcare, makes college free, expands housing, makes corporations and those with high incomes pay their fair share, and reduces military spending. This Act also forms a commission to report on the impact this re-prioritized budget would have on Massachusetts.
Assigned to Committee: Revenue
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Jay Livingstone, Sen. Paul Feeney
Advocate Coordinators: Jonathan King, Andrea Burns, Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign
Taxpayers’ Right to Know (S.2031 / H.3123);
AN ACT PROVIDING FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH: Send Massachusetts residents a summary of where their tax dollars have gone each year in an effort to educate citizens on how their money is being spent.
Assigned to Committee: State Administration & Regulatory Oversight
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Carol A. Doherty, Sen. Jo Comerford
Advocate Coordinators: Jonathan King
Taxpayers’ Right to Know Fact Sheet
Ethics & Transparency
Travel Conflict of Interest (H.3240);
A MEASURE TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN STATE POLITICS: Ban travel paid for by lobbying interests for Massachusetts legislators.
Assigned to Committee: State Administration & Regulatory Oversight
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Maria D. Robinson, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
Advocate Coordinators: Jeff Klein
Travel Conflict of Interest Fact Sheet
What Comes Next:
The life of a bill is long, and this process needs public support and advocates to make sure the legislators know the people want peace!
1. Feb 19th, 2021 – All bills for the 2021-2022 session must be filed with a lead sponsor from the state house or state senate (preferably both).
2. Legislators sign on as cosponsors.
3. Each bill is assigned to a committee and receives a new number.
4. Each committee has a hearing concerning each bill.
5. Advocates attend hearings to testify to the committee the importance of the bill. They also meet with legislators individually to advocate for the bill.
This Agenda is cosponsored by:
Massachusetts Peace Action
Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
NuclearBan.US
The House of Peace
Veterans for Peace (North Shore)
Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Newton Dialogues on Peace and War
Center for Nonviolent Solutions
The Smedley Butler Brigade Chapter 9 of Veterans For Peace
MVPP, Merrimack Valley People For Peace
