Massachusetts Senate Boosts Reproductive and Transgender Care Protections Amid Federal Threats

 Massachusetts Senate Boosts Reproductive and Transgender Care Protections Amid Federal Threats 

Response 2025 legislation bans data sharing and shields providers from legal threats 

(BOSTON—6/26/2025) Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed the An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth—otherwise known as the Shield Act 2.0—legislation that would fortify protections for those seeking and providing reproductive and transgender care.  

The bill, S.2538, which was approved by a vote of 37-3, adds a layer of protection for patients and providers at a time when attacks on reproductive and transgender rights are escalating on multiple fronts, including executive orders from the Trump Administration, federal funding freezes for care providers, a Supreme Court decision ruling against transgender care, and other states bringing lawsuits against physicians providing reproductive health care.  

“This bill makes it clear that the Massachusetts Senate will not back down when it comes to protecting our residents and defending our values,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Our residents—indeed all Americans—deserve the right to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their providers. In Massachusetts, we do not discriminate based on the type of care you seek, and this bill strengthens protections for transgender people and those who have the ability to get pregnant. I applaud Senator Cindy Friedman and the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy for coalescing around this bill at this crucial time as part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. I’d also like to thank Senate Judiciary Chair Edwards, Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, and my Senate colleagues, as well as the stakeholders, advocates and members of the public who helped to craft this important legislation.” 

“As we face new, more unpredictable threats from a hostile federal government that is targeting those engaged in care that is legally protected under Massachusetts law, we must again stand up to defend our autonomy and the rights of Massachusetts residents,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “The passage of the Shield Act 2.0 upholds the Senate’s commitment to always keep the health and safety of Massachusetts residents at the forefront of our work. I want to thank Attorney General Campbell and the many advocates for their collaboration in crafting this bill, Senator Edwards and Chair Rodrigues for their attention to this matter and helping move the bill to the Senate floor, and Senate President Spilka for her commitment through the Response 2025 to respond to the unpredictable and often deplorable actions of the Trump Administration.”  

“At a time when access to essential health care is under attack across the country, Massachusetts is making a clear commitment to protect the rights, safety, and privacy of our residents,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “This legislation ensures that patients and providers are shielded from political interference and unlawful, out-of-state overreach. We want our communities to know that in Massachusetts, your health care decisions remain between you and your doctor.” 

Boosting protections that were first passed by the Legislature in 2022 as part of a Shield Act, the legislation prohibits state agencies and law enforcement from cooperating with other states or federal investigations into legally-protected reproductive or transgender health care provided in Massachusetts. Businesses that manage electronic health information would similarly be limited in sharing patient data connected to these services. 

It makes practical updates to protect providers, including allowing prescriptions to be issued with the name of a healthcare practice rather than an individual practitioner, excluding certain reproductive and gender-affirming medications from the state’s drug monitoring programs, and limiting third-party access to related medical records.  

Additionally, the legislation: 

• Enhances license protections for anyone providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive or transgender health care services. 
• Protects attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on the topics of reproductive or transgender health care services. 
• Forbids insurance companies from discriminating against or penalizing providers who offer reproductive and transgender health services. 
• Prohibits courts from admitting or considering cases of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment brought against parents because they support their child in seeking reproductive or transgender care.
  
  
  The legislation mandates that acute-care hospitals provide emergency services—including abortion care when necessary—to any patient who is injured or seeking emergency treatment. The measure comes in response to the Trump Administration’s rollback of Biden-era requirements that required hospitals to deliver abortion care in cases of emergency. 

 

The legislation, a part of the Massachusetts Senate’s Response 2025 initiative to protect the Commonwealth from federal threats, was reported out of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on June16, 2025, and then reported out of the Committee on Ways and Means on June 18, 2025. Votes of each committee are available on the Legislature’s website, along with a full summary of the bill and a recording of the Senate’s livestreamed debate on amendments.    

Having passed the Senate, the bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for their consideration.   

中華表演藝術基金會第34屆國畫書法比賽結果揭曉。16人獲金牌

           (Boston Orange)中華表演藝術基金會（Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts）主辦的第34屆（2025）全美及加拿大中華書畫比賽，結果揭曉，4名評審從來自美國8州及加拿大的共8組151件作品中，挑選出61名獲獎者，其中16人贏得金牌。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵表示，「看到美國和加拿大的師生們認真學習國畫和書法，努力推廣中華傳統文化，參賽作品的數量穩步增長，而且質量很高，確實令人印象深刻且感動。」。

 

151件作品分別來自加州、康乃狄克州、華盛頓特區、麻州、馬里蘭州、紐澤西州、紐約州、南卡羅來納州等美國8州，以及加拿大卑詩省的各級學校、藝術工作室、自學團體及個人。

 

蔣宗壬博士、杜瑋博士、畫家林浩宗和馬清雄等人再次應邀擔任評審，獲有藝術類博士學位的朱蓉，因病這次未能參與評審。

 

這比賽以國畫、書法兩個類別，依9 歲及以下（Ａ），10 至 13 歲（Ｂ），14 至 17 歲（Ｃ），18 至 22 歲（Ｄ）的年齡段，各分成4組。主辦單位共收到151件作品，其中國畫115件，書法36件，共61人贏得金銀銅獎，以及榮譽獎，其中16人贏得金牌。

 

國畫組Ａ組有3人獲得金獎，依序7歲、8歲的黃欣然（Xinran Huang）和譚晴晴（Alison Antognini），是今年最年輕的參賽者。都以細膩筆觸，鮮豔色彩展現鋒芒。

 

            國畫Ｂ組有4人獲得金獎，都才十三歲的華府佛光會師慧柔（Mia Lyons），麻州布魯克萊恩中文學校張文蘭（Amanda Zhang），都展現了出色才華。

 

            國畫Ｃ組金獎得主，16歲，加州宜真美術學院的陳亦珂（Yike Chen），以及國畫Ｄ組金獎得主，19歲，加州宜真美術學院李清源（Janelle Lee），也都技巧嫻熟，讓人看到她們長年堅持不懈的成就。

 

            書法講究的是筆觸精準，字型優雅，書法Ｓ組金獎得主，9歲，北加州華風書法社楊思齊（Heather Yang）的字，在宣紙上翩翩起舞，美不勝收。來自同一書畫社，13歲的Ｔ組金獎得主趙彥晰（Elaina Zhao），展現出與其年齡不符的卓越控制力和藝術性。

            

            書法Ｕ組金獎得主，17歲，宜真美術學院鄺恩華（Enhua Khong），V組金獎得主，19歲，北加州華風書法社趙彥淇（Angela Zhao）也都展現了沾墨運筆的超凡技藝，有力的詮釋了書法之美。

            譚嘉陵預告道，第35屆國畫書法年度比賽的截止日期已定在2026年5月31日。

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第34屆（2025）全美及加拿大中華書畫比賽 得獎名單

I: 國畫 A 組 (9 歲及以下)

金獎:

Xinran Huang (黃欣然), 7 歲, 康州

Alison Antognini (譚晴晴), 8 歲, 加州茗方畫室

Fanya Yu (俞凡雅), 9 歲, 加州茗方畫室

銀獎:

Ava Jin (金瑞妍), 8 歲, 麻州布魯克萊恩中文學校

Katy Lian (連思齊), 9 歲, 康州東南康州中文學校

Chloe Ru, 7 歲, 康州李翟美術工作室

Candice Lei (侯欣妤), 9 歲, 華府佛光會

銅獎:

Grace Zheng (鄭嘉穎), 7 歲, 康州李翟美術工作室

Chloe Shen (沈怡雯), 6 歲, 康州李翟美術工作室

Clara Thornberry (唐恩沁), 7 歲, 加州茗方畫室

Kaite Lee (李若晨), 8 歲, 加州茗方畫室

Ranny Li (章亦然), 9 歲, 加州茗方畫室

Yichan Xu (許易禪), 9 歲, 麻州牛頓中文學校

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II. 國畫 B 

組 (10 至 13 歲)

金獎:

Mia Lyons (師慧柔), 13 歲, 華府佛光會

Amanda Zhang (張文蘭), 13 歲, 麻州布魯克萊恩中文學校

Allen Wang (王一帆), 12 歲, 南卡羅萊納州 東點小學王氏美術工作室

Yangbeixi Zhang (張楊貝希), 12 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

銀獎:

Tiffany Wu (吳蓓蓓), 10 歲, 華府佛光會

Julia Yu, 13 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Chloe Wang (王若燁), 13 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Ruozhu Wang (王若竹), 13 歲, 麻州牛頓中文學校

銅獎:

Dana Lin (古晴予), 11 歲, 加州 Little Art School

Yuanci Huang (黃沅慈), 10 歲, 康州

Yvonne Kao (高卓琰), 11 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

榮譽獎:

Bohao Jian (簡博昊), 12 歲, 紐澤西州 醉夢藝術工作室

Linda Li (李予希), 12 歲, 康州東南康州中文學校

Robin Ren (任文博), 11 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

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III. 國畫 C 組 (14 至 17 歲)

金獎:

Yike Chen (陳亦珂), 16 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Camellia Wang (王馨茗), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Shinher Jiang (蔣新禾), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

銀獎:

Olivia Li (李彤), 15 歲, 南卡羅萊納州 東點小學王氏美術工作室

Ching-Lin Tran (陳清琳), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Sophie Luo (羅曉彤), 16 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Bobby Lyons (師智勇), 15 歲, 華府佛光會

銅獎:

Jessica Chen (陳心玲), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Leyi Li (李樂儀), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

榮譽獎:

Christina Lin (林睿佳), 14 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Angie Li, 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Jonathan Ngoi (魏建盛), 16 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Huining Jian (簡慧寧), 17 歲, 紐澤西州 醉夢藝術工作室

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IV. 國畫 D 組 (18 至 22 歲)

金獎:

Janelle Lee (李清源), 19 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

銅獎:

Angela Shen (沈亦然), 22 歲, 加拿大卑詩省 Shadbolt Center of the Arts

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V: 書法 S 組 (9 歲及以下)

金獎:

Heather Yang (楊思齊), 9 歲, 北加州華風書法社

銀獎:

Shinyee Tang (唐辛夷), 9 歲, 北加州華風書法社

銅獎:

Muyuan Zhang (張慕遠), 9 歲, 麻州 Winchester School of Chinese Culture

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VI: 書法 T 組 (10 至 13 歲)

金獎:

Elaina Zhao (趙彥晰), 13 歲, 北加州華風書法社

Joyce Li (李昀晢), 12 歲, 北加州華風書法社

銀獎:

Lucas Wang (王冠荀), 11 歲, 北加州華風書法社

Mia Lyons (師慧柔), 13 歲, 華府佛光會

銅獎:

Robin Ren (任文博), 11 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Carin Foo (符睿瑛), 13 歲, 加州百度書屋

榮譽獎:

Yiyang Zhang (張益揚), 12 歲, 麻州 Winchester School of Chinese Culture

Evan You (由博凡), 10 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

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VII: 書法 U 組 (14 至 17 歲)

金獎:

Enhua Khong (鄺恩華), 17 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

銀獎:

Shinher Jiang (蔣新禾), 15 歲, 加州宜真美術學院

Bobby Lyons (師智勇), 15 歲, 華府佛光會

銅獎:

Azeri Foo (符睿思), 15 歲, 加州百度書屋

榮譽獎:

Zili Chang (昌子力), 16 歲, 紐澤西州 Millburn High School

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VIII. 書法 V 組 (18 至 22 歲)

金獎:

Angela Zhao (趙彥淇), 19 歲, 北加州華風書法社

銀獎:

Vincent Kwan (關明宇), 18 歲, 加州百度書屋

MAYOR WU AND OFFICE OF BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT AWARD CONTRACTS FOR EQUITY STUDY AND LAUNCH CITYWIDE SURVEY TO AMPLIFY BLACK MEN AND BOYS IN BOSTON

MAYOR WU AND OFFICE OF BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT AWARD CONTRACTS FOR EQUITY STUDY AND LAUNCH CITYWIDE SURVEY TO AMPLIFY BLACK MEN AND BOYS IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Thursday, June 26, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Black Male Advancement (BMA) today announced that Tury Research Institute and Roxbury USA have been awarded the contract for the Equity Study of Black Men and Boys. Tury Research Institute will serve as the lead research partner and Roxbury USA will lead community engagement for the study. This announcement was made in partnership with the Black Men and Boys Commission (BMBC). Building on this study, BMA also announced the launch of a citywide survey to amplify the voices of Black men and boys in Boston.

"The Equity Study of Black Men and Boys is an integral part of what steps are needed to continue making Boston a home for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This survey is vital in making effective investments and policies in our community of Black men and boys so that residents across our City can thrive.”

The Equity Study aims to detail, quantify, and evaluate the prevalence, significance, and scope of inequities within the city. This initial phase of the study will gather data to understand how the City's delivery of services impacts the social and economic conditions of Black males in Boston. This project will take a community first approach to help guide the City’s service delivery to Black men and boys across Boston’s neighborhoods and advance equity in city programs and policies.

“I’ve seen the pain and the disparities Black men in Boston face—whether it’s rising overdose deaths, mental health crises, or lack of access to opportunity. This Equity Study is a direct response to that reality,” said District 4 Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell. “The community engagement process is vital because the voices of Black men and boys must lead the solutions. I’m proud to have pushed for this study and encourage every Black man to take the survey and help drive the change we need.”

Selected as the lead research partner, Tury Research Institute brings over 20 years of experience in equity-focused research, public policy analysis, and community engagement across sectors such as education, health, criminal justice, and economic development. The City has also awarded a separate contract for community engagement to Roxbury USA, a Boston-based nonprofit led by Dr. Rufus J. Faulk. Known for its grassroots impact and cultural insight, Roxbury USA specializes in youth development, violence prevention, and civic engagement.

“With the investment and policy support from the City of Boston, the Black Male Equity Study has the potential to be one of the most consequential research initiatives of our time,” said Dr. Bindu Kalesan, Tury Research Institute.

“The most powerful part of this Equity Study is that it moves us beyond rhetoric and anecdotes,” said Dr. Rufus J. Faulk, Roxbury USA. “We now have the opportunity to gather real stories—of both triumph and struggle—from Black men across Boston and use that insight to shape policies that help every Black boy in the city thrive.”

The equity study is a priority recommendation outlined by the Black Men and Boys Commission, which identified the critical role of tracking data and outcomes in addressing the unique challenges faced by Black men and boys. As a result, the study will involve the creation of a database with disaggregated data on income, health, education, housing and other key indicators. A comprehensive data analysis will then be performed to identify trends, disparities, and areas of concern, using statistical and mixed methods to provide a comprehensive overview of the economic and social status of Black males in Boston.

“This moment marks a historic step forward in our commitment to equity and justice for Black men and boys in Boston,” said Commissioner Tito Jackson, Chair of The Black Men and Boys Commission. “The Equity Study represents the first time the City is investing at this scale to truly understand the systemic barriers facing our community—and to do something about them. The data we gather will not just sit on a shelf—it will be the foundation for bold, transformative policy and investment that centers healing, opportunity, and real change.”

Building on these contracts being awarded for the Equity Study RFP, the Office of Black Male Advancement is also launching an Equity Survey—a key component of their work that will inform broader study. The survey is open to Black men and boys living in Boston and is designed to collect insights on their lived experiences, both challenges and strengths.

“This survey is about more than collecting data — it’s about listening, understanding, and acting,” said Frank Farrow, Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Advancement. “By centering the voices of Black men and boys, we can create a more accurate picture of the issues they face and the strengths they bring to their communities. These insights will guide sustainable solutions for generations to come.”

The survey is completely confidential and available at this link. For more information about the Equity Study or to participate in the survey, please visit https://boston.gov/bma or email bma@boston.gov.  

The Office of Black Male Advancement works to empower Black men and boys in Boston by ensuring equitable access to opportunities and driving policies, programs, and partnerships that support their well-being. The office supports the work of the Black Men and Boys Commission and leads local initiatives aligned with My Brother’s Keeper Boston.

Paul Dabbar Confirmed as Commerce Deputy Secretary  WASHINGTON D.C.—The Senate confirmed Paul Dabbar as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 56-40 vote.   In this role, he will serve as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing its day-to-day management, a $11.4 billion annual budget, 12 operating units, and 47,000 employees. He is also a member of the President’s Management Council.    Most recently, Mr. Dabbar was President and CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology, where he led the development and deployment of technologies for emerging quantum networks.  Mr. Dabbar previously served as the Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy in the first Trump Administration. In this role, he was appointed as the principal leader on fundamental energy research, technologies, and science. He managed and directly led the majority of the U.S. National Labs, including programs that involved nuclear energy, advanced computing, quantum technologies, fusion, and fundamental physics research. Mr. Dabbar was also responsible for leading efforts to commercialize technologies from the Department’s 17 National Labs.  His experience in technology and energy extends beyond his time in government.   He has led global energy sector efforts that drove over $400 billion in investment across all energy sectors as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan. He has also led commodity trading efforts globally, including in energy and critical minerals. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Columbia University.  Mr. Dabbar’s blend of business acumen and scientific expertise brings renewed emphasis to the Department’s scientific and technological missions and will drive U.S. innovation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, and National Lab research areas.    “Paul brings a unique science-backed mindset and deep understanding of how the government and industry can work together to push the boundaries of American innovation and technology,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “His leadership will be critical in advancing cutting-edge research and technology.”  “I’m honored to serve in this role at a time when science and technology are fundamental to shaping our nation’s future,” said Commerce Deputy Secretary Paul Dabbar. “As a scientist, I’m eager to work alongside the dedicated teams and partners across the Department to accelerate research and drive innovation.”