全美亞裔總商會 「亞裔中小企業政策研討高峯會」 財政部長葉倫等政府首長 研討中小企業邁步向前之路

美國財政部長葉倫(Janey Yellen)

(全美亞裔總商會華府訊) 全美亞裔總商會 (National ACE) 於10月6至8日在線上舉辦首屆「亞裔中小企業政策研討高峯會 (AAPI Strong Legislative Conference) 」，邀得美國財政部長葉倫，貿易代表戴琪等數十名政府首長及國會議員，社區領袖，探討改善中小企業經營環境之道。

在一連3日的會議中，講者們依序以「一起恢復」，「找我們的聲音」，「創造邁步向前之路」等三大主題，從獲取資金、亞裔共同堅強對抗仇恨犯罪，未來企業成長方向等角度，做各種探討。

戴琪，孟昭文，以及多名聯邦參眾議員都提及聯邦政府正在制定，修繕細節的基礎建設法案(Infrastructure Bill)，「重建得更好(Build Back Better)」這兩大法案，將有許多企業可因此得到維持或發展的機會。他們也稱許全美亞裔總商會舉辦這樣的會議，聚集亞裔社區人士，和政府交流，分享經驗。

第一日會議的主題為「獲取資金研討日: 一起恢復企業」，由紐約PIX11新聞台主播Kaity Tong開場，全國亞裔總商會會長董繼玲，董事Karen Eng為開幕致詞，並歡迎各界與會人士。

美國財政部長葉倫(Janey Yellen)，貿易代表戴琪(Katherine Tai)先後發言。

財政部長葉倫(Janet Yellen)表示，過去這一去年對所有人來說都很艱難，但她知道對亞裔來說尤其困難。亞裔小企業受到的新冠病毒衝擊，比任何其他族群都重。紐約聯邦儲備局的一項調查顯示，業主為45歲以上的亞裔小企業數量在2020年1月至2021年1月之間，減少了19%。另外的氣人事情是今年3月16日在亞特蘭大發生的亞裔女性被殺，見證了美國境內高升，必須反轉的針對亞裔的種族歧視。這也是拜登總統致力要做的事，美國經濟也不能繼續容忍這樣長期的結構性問題。

葉倫指出，許多有色社區都覺得獲取資金很難，現在經由CDFI基金，銀行等貸款機構將有更多資金可以放貸。而這只是他們開始要進行的許多經濟改革方法之一。

戴琪在稱許全美亞裔總商會位亞裔企業，社區所做的各項努力，直言過去一年半來，新冠病毒大流行在各方面考驗著人們，有的企業關門，有的人失業，還有反亞裔仇恨犯罪增加了等情況。但是美國在對抗仇恨，仇外心理上都有了進步，很多工作也在繼續之中，而且今年稍早，還有更好的跡象出現。拜登總統簽署了新冠病毒仇恨犯罪法，將有助制止美國自5月以來面對的反亞裔暴力。拜登總統還重新設立的白宮亞太裔計畫，賦予其推進公平，正義及機會的議程。

戴琪稱諸如全美亞裔總商會「亞裔中小企業政策研討高峯會」這樣的會議十分重要，給社區一個聚集，彼此學習，分享經驗的機會，也給了她機會來分享美國貿易代表辦公室的工作如何為企業添加羽翼，尤其是”我們”有抱負的有色企業家。

戴琪指出，拜登哈里斯政府正在展示，美國政府能夠因應”我們”所面對的最大挑戰。她的辦公室正在專注於一個新的，以工人為中心的政策，要讓工人在討論桌上有一席之位，以聽取他們的觀點，了解貿易政策對他們有甚麼影響。換言之是要融合觀點和活生生的經驗。她也正在加強美國和42個有貿易合作夥伴關係國家之間現有的貿易及投資協議框架。

更重要的是拜登總統要讓美國在全球經濟中維持競爭力的基礎架構法，許多企業都將受益。一個世代只有一次的公共工程正在進中，許多亞太裔企業都將因為拜登總統的這把美國打造得比以前更好法案而欣欣向榮。

加州聯邦眾議員趙美心(Judy Chu)，新澤西州聯邦眾議員暨眾議院小企業委員會委員Andy Kim在CalAsian 商會會長暨執行長Pat Fong Kushida主持的「獲取合約機會」座談中，分別闡述了她們的看法。

趙美心指出，有2大法案非常重要，一是基礎建設法，一是重建得更好(Build Back Better)法案，已經在參議院通過了，眾議院也即將討論。關鍵點是這法案要求至少有10%的經費，必須流經在社會及經濟上處於不利地位個人所擁有的小企業，這將為亞裔社區提供許多機會。這些法案還將撥發3.5兆元辦理許多對小企業有幫助的項目，例如全國性的有薪家事假，可以幫助企業留住員工。她個人很高興的是小企業委員會還打算把她提議的有關社區利益法案，為獲得服務不足，不符合傳統小企業行政局7A貸款資格的企業提供貸款，還要求75%的7A貸款是發給這類企業。

在政府合約方面，原本已有規定有23%必須撥交給有色社區，但她認為這比率還應該要提高，才能幫助小企業。趙美心以有可能不需要償還的薪資保護法貸款(PPP)為例的指出，連全美亞裔總商會自己的調查也顯示，有許多小企業反映，因為不是銀行所重視的客戶，他們根本無法申請這些補助，反倒是大企業可以得到2千萬元，完全不是PPP當初設立的宗旨。為求補正，他們寫信給小企業行政局和財政部，慫恿他們推出新辦法，不讓銀行有機會基於他們和客戶的關係來挑選先辦理那些申請案。最後他們拿到600億元，只交給社區銀行及信用社，以及以任務為基礎的放款者，以為那些獲得服務不足的企業提供貸款。

Andy Kim在2019年1月加入眾議院小企業委員會，那時他還很興奮，完全沒預料到會發生新冠病毒大流行，對小企業有著前所未見的衝擊。在他和新澤西州小企業的互動中，他獲悉由於病毒大流行來得太突然，政府匆匆推出許多項目，彷彿一切發生得太快，英語不好的人又有語言障礙等因素，有些小企業連政府在提供補助都不知道，更別說申請做病毒檢測，申請薪資保護法補助等等。他和趙美心因此積極促使政府為小企業搭橋。他認為諸如全美亞裔總商會這樣的機構，就可以發揮很大的支持作用。

全美亞裔總商會政策委員會成員Albert Shen，聯邦參議員小企業及創業委員會委員譚美達克沃斯(Tammy Duckworth)，加州聯邦眾議員暨眾議院小企業委員會委員金映玉(Young Kim)，全美亞裔總商會營運長Daniel Oliver，國會亞裔核心小組執行主任Nisha Ramachandran，全美亞裔總商會董事會主席吳嘉琳(Karen Eng)，在另一個環節中分別闡述意見。

聯邦參議員譚美達克沃斯在會議中表示，公平的代表性及領導力已經一而再地被證實真的重要，我們國會議員們會捲起袖子來把事情做成，以真正幫助在美國的人，不論他們的皮膚是什麼顏色。我們知道有色社區是在新冠病毒大流型中受打擊最重的社區，今年早前，我們已經把美國援救法研議到最後階段了，以為掙扎中的企業主們提貢額外的緊急紓困，那包括額外的72.5億元的薪資保護項目。這裡面還包括2500萬元的少數族裔企業發展中心項目，570萬元的微型貸款，以及超過2840億元的薪資保護項目。這些都是國會一直以來在做的，幫助處於不利狀態小企業的行動。最近國會還加緊腳步，通過了不分黨派的基礎建設法，以協助創造更多薪資好的工作，此外還有早就該做的為工薪家庭減稅，提共有薪家事假等。譚美達克沃斯並指出，人們舉報的亞裔仇恨犯罪，已高達4500宗，但還有許多其實未舉報。這種針對亞太裔的歧視與仇恨的邪惡循環，必須停止。

聯邦眾議員金映玉指出。加州是受反亞裔仇恨衝擊最大的州之一，在將近4萬家受衝擊的小企業中，有將近一半已經關門大吉了。不過她也聽到了許多在掙扎求存中不忘向人伸出援手的故事。她相信團結互助，大家就能度過難關。

在美國銀行洛杉磯地方市場及公司事務資深副總裁Garrett Gin介紹，NMSDC企業聯盟基金董事長暨執行長Henry Childs主持的「獲取資金」座談中，富國集團(Wells Fargo)外部聯繫資深副總裁Ruben Barrales，美國小企業行政局企業家教育副局長Jack Bienko，Catalyte執行長Jacob Hsu等人分別發言。

聯邦眾議員暨眾議院小企業委員會主席Nydia M. Velázquez (紐約州)表示，她參與小企業委員會多年，十分了解對小企業來說，”現金就是王”，在合理條件中獲取營運所需資金十分重要，她正領導該委員會正致力要讓所有的企業家都有獲取資金的公平機會。今年眾議院通過4項重要法案來改革SBA的504微型貸款項目。把錢放進更多小企業的手中。

全美亞裔總商會另外邀請了NielsenIQ市場副總裁Mariko Carpenter，少數族裔企業發展署執行署長Miguel Estién，小企業行政局企業發展辦公室副局長Mark Madrid，聯邦眾議員暨眾議院小企業委員會主席Nydia M. Velazquez，GrubHub 政府事務主管Amy Healy也應邀做了特別講話。

少數族裔企業發展署代理署長Miguel Estién指出，MBDA是致力協助少數族裔企業的唯一聯邦政府機構。該局現有45個企業中心，主要服務有3個方面，獲取資金，獲取合約，以及進出口。

小企業行政局企業發展辦公室副局長Mark Madrid也指出亞裔企業是美國經濟恢復的重要推手之一，致力協助亞裔企業當然是SBA的重要任務之一。

第二日會議的主題為「亞裔堅強日: 尋找我們的聲音」，由MSNBC及NBC新聞台主播Richard Lui，AI Roker娛樂特別衝擊專員Susan Jin Davis致歡迎詞。首場座談以「制止仇恨亞裔的國會報告」為主題，由安永(Ernst & Young)會計師事務所美國組領導Deborah Byers主持，聯邦參議員暨小企業及創業委員會委員廣野慶子(Mazie Hirono)，紐約聯邦眾議員暨眾議院分配委員會委員孟昭文(Grace Meng)匯報及座談。

聯邦眾議員孟昭文很欣慰她推動的制止仇恨犯罪法通過了，但坦言還有很多關於這一法案該如何執行的指導細節，需要落實。在全美各地，許多時候執法人員是因為手邊沒有足夠的數據，資源，來對抗仇恨犯罪。不少市鎮在一個特定年份，甚至仇恨犯罪個案為零，因此就當作沒有任何事情發生。在這種情況下，很難提供解決辦法。那也是為什麼她們的法案邀邱司法部門就人們如何舉辦發放指導原則。

聯邦參議員廣野慶子也說，仇恨犯罪事件在亞裔社區舉報的數量太低了，諸如全美亞裔總商會舉辦的這場會議，就是很好的努力方向之一。她認為加強”旁觀者”訓練，以教育來提高人們對仇恨犯罪的認識也很重要。

聯邦參議員暨參議院小企業委員會主席Ben Cardin (馬里蘭州) 對亞裔小企業所表現的彈性，所面對的挑戰之大感到印象深刻。他指出少數族裔發展局(MBDA)是解決這些歷史問題的最佳途徑之一。他曾親眼看MBDA項目對少數族裔企業的幫助。他們將致力設立更多的MBDA區域辦公室，以為少數族裔及機構服務。

這天的會議，還有亞裔行動知識資源(PIK2AR)執行長Susi Feltch-Malohifo'ou，以及美國總統副助理暨亞太裔資深聯絡員Erika Moritsugu代表白宮致詞。

在Susan Jin Davis主持的「多元、公平及包容對話」中，全國少數族裔供應商發展協會會長暨執行長Ying McGuire，北美豐田汽車財務長兼集團副總裁Tracey Doi，UPS全球公共事務副總裁Dontai Smalls分別發言。

聯合醫療護理(UnitedHealthcare)亞裔計畫全國副總裁Chris Law，全美亞裔總商會會長董繼玲，沃爾瑪(Walmart)新興市場及企業發展、全球資源副總裁Michelle Mi，H2O臨床研究董事長暨共同創辦人Eugenia Henry，聯邦參議員暨參議院小企業及創業委員會主席Ben Cardin都分別發言。

全美亞裔總商會還在該會營運長Daniel Oliver主持中，邀麥當勞業主及營運者Jimmy Ferguson，APAICS董事長暨執行長Madalene Mielke，CAPACD全國執行主任Seema Agnani等人討論全美亞裔總商會應採行的政策。

最後Kiolbassa, Holmes & Anson律師事務所執行合夥人Donald Hyun Kiolbassa，聯邦眾議員Amata Radewagen，白宮亞裔，夏威夷土著，以及太平洋島民計畫執行主任Krystal Ka’ai，AI Roker娛樂特別衝擊專員Susan Jin Davis分別做簡短講話。

第三日會議的主題為「企業成長研討日: 開創向前道路」。第一場爐邊談話，由KITV4好奴魯魯新聞主播Pamela Young介紹，IW集團主席暨首席聯絡官，也是全美亞裔總商會董事的Bill Imada訪談美國小企業行政局局長Isabella Guzman。

小企業行政局局長Isabella Casillas Guzman表示，取得資金和取得市場對企業來說是一樣重要的。企業需要合約就項需要貸款一樣。小企業行政局正致力推動長期榮景，要讓小企業能充分利用可得到的機會，重新想像政府合約。就如那1.2兆元預算的重建基礎建設機會。在2020會計年度中，美國的企業家做了1457億元的生意，比之前一年增加130億元，就是政府努力的結果。她知道娛樂接待業受到病毒大流行的極大衝擊，所以小企業行政局10萬多家餐館提供了286億元的補助，感到很驕傲。當然她知道，有些人需要的資金比它們能拿到手的要高2倍，不過SBA正在力求改善，以更好的和小企業合作。她很高興，他們最近宣佈的一項計畫，將把撥發給符合資格申請者的經費限額，從50萬元提告道200萬元，而且還允許申請者把錢用在還債上，甚至可以展延24個月來償還。當然那些申請50萬元以下經費的人，將可獲得優先權。也因此這項目在推出的第一個月中，將只開放給申請50萬元以下機費的企業。SBA的目標就是要繼續支持小企業，以及其未來成長。

“下一代全美亞裔總商會(ACE NextGen)”的共同創辦人，也是”雞肉飯傢伙(Chicken & Rice Guy)”共同創辦人兼執行長蘇宇寅(Ian So)和全美主席Angela Chang接著介紹他們年輕一輩的全美亞裔總商會，都在做些什麼。

這天議程的重頭戲包括由”波霸傢伙”共同創辦人Andrew Chau訪談YouTube共同創辦人陳士駿(Steven Chen)。Andrew Chau提了許多問題，讓出席會議者聽到不少祕聞，包括陳士駿當年怎麼會做出YouTube，有意收購該公司的雅虎，谷歌，推特，竟陰錯陽差坐在同一張談判桌上，他為什麼會突然到台灣定居(或者暫居)，作為亞裔家長，怎麼和孩子溝通等等。

這天的會議，還因應新冠病毒期間所有活動轉上網路，闢出一場座談討論「數位轉型」，由康卡斯(Comcast)外部事務執行主任Joon Kim主持，谷哥新澤西及紐約州資深政府事務經理Angela Pinsky，PayPal政府關係資深主任Paul Disselkoen，下一代全美亞裔總商會董事暨AT&T外部事務主任Jason Chan等人討論。

「新冠病毒疫情後的經濟展望」這場座談，由重新想像主街共同主任Tammy Halevy做介紹，公私策略創辦人Rhett Buttle主持，講者亞裔商會執行主任及執行長Dennis Huang，美國麥當勞東區董事長Myra Doria。

              會議最後在邀得聯邦眾議員Cedric Richmond做閉幕講話後，由全美亞裔總商會會長董繼玲和董事吳嘉琳(Karen Eng)期許亞裔團結互助聲中結束。

全美亞裔總商會 (National ACE) 線上首屆「亞裔中小企業政策研討高峯會 (AAPI Strong Legislative Conference) 」，www.nationalace.org ， www.aapistrong.com。

波士頓馬拉松華裔跑者集錦 (圖片)

 

大選衝刺 吳弭支持者分頭舉牌辦派對 (圖片)

 

麻州共和黨主席Lyons支持言論反亞裔者 查理貝克:"Lyons應該下台"

             (Boston Orange編譯) 麻州共和黨”鬥聲”響起。10月15日的週五，麻州州長查理貝克呼籲黨主席Jim Lyons辭職，Lyons反指查理貝克應該”重新考慮他的黨派關係”。

            波士頓環球報在文章中表示，有新聞報導指Lyons在有人通報，他所支持的候選人在網上貼出反亞裔言論之後，仍不撤除對該候選人的支持。接著查理貝克在週五的一個活動中告訴多徹斯特報導者(Dorchester Reporter)，”Jim Lyons應該下台”。

            查理貝克表示他並不特別了解該一特定事件，但說”我之前已經表達過我對委員會內有些成員的刻薄和種族主義程度的顧慮”。

            查理補充道，這事應該交由80人組成，有權利移除Lyons 領導角色的共和黨州委員會來處理。那意味著得有三分之二的委員投票支持這做法。黨內人士週五說，在這事件發生之後，這不太可能發生。

            Lyons，以及共和黨花了$3,697來支持市議員候選人Donnie Palmer。

Donnie Palmer在社交媒體上貼文把吳弭(Michelle Wu)和中華人民共和國主席習近平的相片並列，然後寫著”我們就要選出一名中國公民來控制波士頓市嗎?(Are we about to elect a Chinese Citizen to control the City of Boston?)”。

            Lyonsy週五下午在一份聲明中表示，他沒有辭職計畫，是貝克”放棄了共和黨的原則”。

            “抱歉，查理，不像你，我會繼續為這偉大的國家抗爭，而且會繼續拒絕屈服於激進左派的議程”。

            貝克和Lyons的關係很冷，而且在共和黨中各自帶領著兩個交戰派系。查理貝克是溫和派，很受歡迎的在位第二任州長，和民主黨為主的議會相處時，採取不分黨派的方式。Lyons帶領著較為保守的派系，辯稱麻州共和黨儘管在畢肯丘(Beacon Hill)的力量很小，但應該採取較強硬的立場。

            麻州共和黨今年在一名委員對一名共和黨籍國會議員候選人作出反同性戀言論後，已經在投票率及籌款上面對下跌局面。查理貝克此時呼籲委員會委員辭職，但Lyons拒絕，並表示他不會向”取消文化”低頭。

            在這事件之後，無數的共和黨領袖說Lyons應該下台。

            麻州共和黨委員會中唯一的亞裔委員Jaclyn Corriveau表示，他早在八月時就請Lyons注意Palmer的有攻擊性貼文，勸他撤銷對Palmer的支持，並譴責該言論。

            Lyons反而要Corriveau直接和Palmer聯絡。Corriveau不斷要求Lyons”譴責仇恨亞裔”，但是Lyons從來沒有公開譴責Palmer。

            在波士頓市議員初選中，Palmer在17名參選人中，得票率排名第14。他不斷地在網上貼文攻擊波士頓市議員，也是選情領先，父母是來自台灣移民的波士頓市長候選人吳弭。Palmer也稱新冠病毒為”中國”病毒，還問”中國經營波士頓嗎?”。

            Palmer還得到Geoff Diehl的支持。Geoff Diehl是川普的支持者，正在參選下屆麻州州長。

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Invest $750 Million in Clean Energy Innovation, Workforce Development

 Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Invest $750 Million in Clean Energy Innovation, Workforce Development

Bill Includes Key Policy Changes to Offshore Wind Procurement Process

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced that the Baker-Polito Administration will file legislation to direct $750 million to support the continued growth and development of the Commonwealth’s clean energy industry. The legislation, An Act to Power Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Economy, would establish a new Clean Energy Investment Fund, totaling $750 million, that would support innovation, research and development, and job training in the clean energy sector, significantly expanding Massachusetts’s national leadership on clean energy and climate change. Additionally, the legislation refines the current offshore wind procurement process to increase efficiency, emphasize the importance of economic development and the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, and remove the price cap provision for future procurements of offshore wind projects to allow projects to offer greater investments in energy storage, reliability, and economic development.

 

“This legislation includes a historic, once-in-a-generation $750 million investment to spur the next phase of clean energy innovation and will help advance critical priorities in the offshore wind industry by making key policy changes to the procurement process, lifting the price cap on project proposals and transferring authority for selecting bids to DOER,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts continues to be a national leader for climate action and by utilizing federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, we can capitalize on this opportunity and strengthen our nation-leading clean energy industry.”

 

“Clean energy is an engine for economic growth and job creation in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, and this significant investment will kickstart a new era in this vibrant sector of Massachusetts’s innovation economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By leveraging the unique assets we have here in the Commonwealth, including our educational institutions and regional employment boards, we can work together to create new job opportunities for Massachusetts residents and make sure our workers have the skills and training they need to meet the needs of emerging industries like offshore wind.”

 

To meet the nation-leading climate targets established by comprehensive climate legislation signed by Governor Baker in March 2021 - including a target of Net Zero emissions in 2050 - and to ensure Massachusetts remains a leader in the clean energy economy, the legislation creates a $750 million Clean Energy Investment Fund to be administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The fund, which will utilize federal recovery funding Massachusetts received through the American Rescue Plan Act, represents the single largest investment in the clean energy economy in Massachusetts to date, and will be used to:

 

• Fund grants, loans, equity investments, contracts and other forms of economic support for the advancement of clean energy technologies to commonwealth-based investors, entrepreneurs and institutions that are involved in the clean energy industry;
• Support the formation, growth, expansion and retention of Massachusetts’ leading clean energy businesses, institutions, and projects;
• Support public higher education institutions and vocational-technical education institutions as they create and enhance workforce development and technical training programs;
• Provide assistance to regional employment boards and ensure that clean energy is a key strategy as part of their workforce development blueprints;
• Put the Commonwealth in position to help secure significant future federal funding support;
• Support research and development, including the interrelationship between clean energy infrastructure and existing natural habitats, ecosystems, and dependent species;
• Support the long-term coexistence and sustainability of the fishing and clean energy industries.

 

“Massachusetts has built a nation-leading clean energy sector on the strength of forward-thinking policies, bold investments, and dynamic partnerships, and this far-reaching legislation doubles down on those assets and sets the industry on a path for long-term success,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “In order to achieve our ambitious target of Net Zero emissions by 2050, we will need to foster the next generation of clean energy innovators and build a skilled, diverse, and equitable workforce, and this legislation offers the historic, urgent investment the Commonwealth needs.”

 

In order to maximize the potential for clean energy and economic development in the existing federal lease areas south of Martha’s Vineyard, and to attract significant investment and job creation in the Commonwealth the legislation outlines key changes to the offshore wind procurement process to promote objectivity, emphasize economic development, and ensure equity, certainty, and speed in future solicitations.

 

To provide an additional level of independence and to ensure an open, fair, and transparent solicitation and bid selection process, the legislation would transfer the authority to select the winning bidder of the Commonwealth’s offshore wind solicitations from the electric distribution companies to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER).  The electric distribution companies would remain as participants in the evaluation and can provide technical advice to DOER. The legislation also provides DOER the authority to make the final determinations on the design aspects of future RFPs.  Additionally, the legislation outlines changes to emphasize equitable employment and economic development, mitigation and avoidance of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and benefits to environmental justice communities when reviewing project proposals.

 

The legislation also removes the original price cap established by energy legislation in 2016, allowing future bids to provide additional benefits by incorporating energy storage, optimizing interconnection points, and providing significant economic development. To provide greater regulatory certainty, the legislation sets a standard rate of remuneration for electric distribution utilities at 2.5 percent, reducing costs to ratepayers and providing enhanced clarity in the procurement process.

 

“Climate action requires unprecedented levels of innovation, entrepreneurship, and deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency, and Massachusetts has been a leader in catalyzing the technology advancements that lead to global solutions,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “This historic investment will build on the Commonwealth’s climate leadership and foster the innovation that leads to new industries, new economic opportunities, and ultimately in cost-effective clean energy technologies.”

 

“Through our continued investments in education, innovation and entrepreneurship, Massachusetts has established itself as a leader in clean energy,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “This legislation will accelerate innovative clean energy and climate solutions at an unprecedented pace, putting us on a path to meeting our Net Zero emissions goals by 2050 and creating critical job opportunities for all residents of the Commonwealth.”       

 

In March of 2021, Governor Baker signed comprehensive climate change legislation that increased the Administration’s authorization to solicit an additional 2,400 Megawatts of offshore wind, bringing the state’s total commitment to 5,600 Megawatts. On December 30, 2020, the Administration released two reports – the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Report and an interim 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) – that detail policies and strategies to equitably and cost-effectively reduce emissions and combat climate change.

 

In May 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Commonwealth’s electric distribution companies released the RFP for the third round of offshore wind energy solicitations under the Section 83C process, allowing bids up to 1600 Megawatts, doubling the size of previous procurements. In this solicitation, for the first time, the Administration required bidders to submit diversity, equity and inclusion plans that includes a Workforce Diversity Plan and Supplier Diversity Program Plan. The plans will outline bidders' commitment to promoting employment and procurement/contracting opportunities for minority, women, veterans, LGBT and persons with disabilities. The RFP also includes an enhanced criteria for economic benefits, including workforce development, local supply chain investments, and research and innovation. Bids were due on September 16, 2021 and a winning bid will be selected on December 17, 2021.

 

In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration re-filed its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. As part of the Administration’s proposal to jump-start the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and support residents hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color, Governor Baker would direct $900 million to key energy and environmental initiatives, including $100 million to invest in port infrastructure to support the offshore wind industry.

In September 2021, the Administration announced the release of a new report assessing the workforce strengths, gaps, and opportunities in Massachusetts for the emerging offshore wind industry. The report analyzes offshore wind workforce development in the Northeast with a specific focus on Massachusetts, including an overview of the existing, relevant regional training programs, including grantees awarded under MassCEC’s 2018 and 2020 workforce development awards. The analysis also examines the workforce needed to achieve Massachusetts’ ambitious offshore wind goals, and the state’s ability to supply the necessary workers. 

Governor Baker Nominates Boston Municipal Court Associate Justice Catherine H. Ham as Associate Justice of the Superior Court

 Governor Baker Nominates Boston Municipal Court Associate Justice Catherine H. Ham as Associate Justice of the Superior Court

 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Judge Catherine H. Ham of the Boston Municipal Court as Associate Justice of the Superior Court. Judge Ham has more than 15 years of legal experience.

 

“Judge Ham has the temperament, dedication and years of experience to well serve the people of the Commonwealth on the Superior Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit this candidate to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."

 

"Judge Ham’s dedication to public service and the legal community at large has prepared her for the Superior Court,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, I am confident that she will continue to serve the Commonwealth well as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court.”

 

The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

 

For more information about the Superior Court, please visit their homepage.

  

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About Catherine H. Ham

 

Judge Catherine H. Ham began her legal career in 2004 as a staff attorney for the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts’ Benefits and Family Unit. While there, Judge Ham represented indigent persons and domestic violence victims in Probate Court. From 2005 to 2019, Judge Ham worked as an Assistant District Attorney, first for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and then for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she tried cases for the Homicide, Senior Trial, and Child Protection units.  In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Baker to her current position as Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, where she has presided over everything from criminal and civil trials to mental health civil commitments. Judge Ham is also an active member of the Justice Harry J. Elam Judicial Conference, the Boston Inn of Court, and the National Association of Women Judges. She also is an Associate Editor of the Massachusetts Law Review. Attorney Ham earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Haverford College and her Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law.