奚莉州長2027會計年度預算 628億元

Governor Healey Files Fiscal Year 2027 Budget That Controls Spending, Prioritizes Affordability and Continues Transformative Investments in Education, Transportation 

Boston — Today, Governor Maura Healey filed her budget recommendation for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), which controls spending, protects key services, and invests in programs that residents rely on to make their lives better and more affordable.  

The $62.8 billion budget, filed as House 2, does not propose any new taxes or fees and represents 1.1 percent growth over estimated FY26 spending, the lowest spending rate since taking office and well under the rate of inflation. This includes $2.7 billion in Fair Share surtax spending. Alongside House 2, Governor Healey also filed a Fair Share supplemental budget bill to spend $1.15 billion in surplus FY25 surtax revenue on education and transportation initiatives.  

“This budget is about making life easier and more affordable for Massachusetts residents and businesses,” said Governor Healey. “At a time when budgets across the country are tight, this proposal maximizes our resources to deliver on what matters most while controlling spending, protecting taxpayer dollars and driving economic growth. We’re lowering costs by continuing free school meals, no-cost community college, and expanding universal pre-K. We’re fixing our roads and bridges so you can get where you need to go faster and investing in our schools so that every child gets the best education possible. While President Trump is cutting federal funding and driving up costs, we’re focused on making a positive difference in people’s lives – and we’re doing it without any new taxes." 

“We’re working every day to deliver the resources our communities need to run excellent schools, fix our roads and bridges, support our local businesses and make sure our residents are healthy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This is a balanced budget that ensures each dollar is spent efficiently, preserves critical services, and requires no new or increased taxes or fees.” 

Governor Healey's budget makes key investments that will reduce the cost of housing, transportation, education, health care and doing business in the state. It continues the Governor’s key affordability initiatives from the past few years, including her tax cuts, free school meals, no-cost community college, major transportation upgrades and her nation-leading investments in child care that have enabled over 8,000 child care programs to remain open and added over 22,000 seats statewide. This budget will also secure the necessary funding to deliver on Governor Healey’s pledge to achieve universal pre-kindergarten funding in all Gateway Cities this year. Governor Healey is also proposing $10 million for Accelerating Achievement, a new multi-year K-12 school improvement initiative focused on rapidly improving student outcomes in the state’s lowest-performing schools. 

Governor Healey’s budget continues to deliver on her $8 billion plan to upgrade roads, bridges and public transportation across the state. Between House 2 and the Fair Share supplemental budget, she is proposing $3.6 billion for transportation, including $2.54 billion for the MBTA. This funding will allow the T to continue making progress on improving safety and reliability across the system, while fully addressing their projected operating deficit in FY27. Governor Healey is also investing $75 million in the new Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair (FAIR) program to help municipalities work through their backlog of municipal bridges in need of repair, enabled by leveraging Fair Share as part of the Governor’s $8 billion transportation plan.  

Governor Healey is also proposing new affordability initiatives. To reduce costs for Massachusetts businesses, she will create a new Workforce Productivity Fund to provide grants to small employers to help fill workforce gaps to best fit their needs. She is also simplifying the process for cancelling subscriptions, requiring companies to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up, and extending the ConnectorCare pilot, which expands eligibility for subsidized health insurance to individuals earning between 300 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit. This will provide over 47,000 residents access to more affordable health insurance. Governor Healey is also proposing to create a new tax credit up to $5,000 for Massachusetts farmers that donate excess food to food banks and pantries. This will help to cut down on food waste and provide needed resources for food banks and pantries, all while supporting farmers. 

Governor Healey is also fully funding the implementation of the Maternal Health Law for the first time, ensuring that Massachusetts remains a leader in advancing maternal health equity and care. And to better ensure justice for survivors of sexual assault, Governor Healey filed an outside section clarifying that all Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) must be stored for a minimum of 15 years and eliminating the statute of limitations in cases of rape when a DNA match exists, allowing for prosecution beyond the 15-year statute of limitations when DNA technology has identified a suspect. The House 2 proposal would allocate $100 million for the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, $136 million for post-retiree benefits, and $20 million for the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund to help the state prepare for unforeseen natural disasters. It also includes $5.131 billion for pension funding, which puts Massachusetts on a sustainable path to fully fund the state’s pension systems. 

The Governor’s budget proposal controls spending and protects taxpayer dollars, particularly in response to President Donald Trump’s billions of dollars in funding cuts to Massachusetts. Not including the $2.7 billion in proposed Fair Share investments, House 2 spending growth is limited to 1.1 percent over estimated FY26 spending and 3.5 percent over the FY26 GAA. 

“House 2 is a fiscally responsible spending plan that advances our administration’s strategy of protecting the integrity of Massachusetts’ budget despite significant national economic headwinds. This budget will strengthen Massachusetts' leadership in sectors like education and health care, provide for critical state programs and services, and drive down costs for residents,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “As we look ahead to FY27, this budget recommendation will keep spending under control and ensure that every dollar we invest generates the maximum return for Massachusetts residents.” 

Fair Share  

Across House 2 and the Supplemental Budget, the administration is proposing to use a total of $3.85 billion in Fair Share revenues to continue making transformative improvements to Massachusetts’s education and transportation systems.  

Fair Share Investments in House 2 and the Supplemental Budget Bill: 

Education ($ in millions)	FY27 H.2	Fair Share Supplemental
Early Education & Care	636.2	150.0
Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Program	360.0	-
EEC Child Care Financial Assistance	244.2	-
Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI)	32.0	-
EEC Fund	-	150.0
K-12 Education	790.8	190.0
Student Opportunity Act (Ch. 70)	550.6	-
Universal Free School Meals	198.0	-
Literacy Launch	25.0	-
Reimagining High School	11.2	-
Mental Health Systems and Wraparounds	6.0	-
Special Education Circuit Breaker Reserve	-	150.0
High Dosage Tutoring	-	25.0
K-12 Accelerating Achievement	-	10.0
Adult Basic Ed/ESOL	-	5.0
Higher Education	236.0	18.3
Free Community College	137.0	-
MASSGrant Plus	85.0	-
State University SUCCESS	14.0	-
State Financial Aid Supplement	-	18.3
Education Total	1,663.0	358.3
Transportation ($ in millions)	FY27 H.2	Fair Share Supplemental
MBTA Supports	470.0	644.7
MBTA Operating Subsidy	470.0	523.0
FTA Reserve	-	121.7
MassDOT	220.2	80.0
MassDOT Service Investments	220.2	43.0
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit	-	30.0
Unpaved Roads	-	7.0
RTAs	184.8	60.0
RTA Supports	184.8	45.0
Micro Transit and Last Mile Innovation Grants	-	15.0
Other Transportation	162.0	-
HHS Transportation	100.0	-
Education Transportation	62.0	-
Transportation Total	1,037.0	784.7
Other Fair Share	FY27 H.2	Fair Share Supplemental
Academic Spinout	-	5.0
Transportation Spinout	-	5.0
Other Fair Share Total	-	10.0
Fair Share Total	2,700.0	1,153.0

 

Local Aid  

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to strengthening municipal capacity statewide through robust local aid investments. In House 2, the administration recommends more than $10.4 billion in local aid, a $439 million (4 percent) increase over the FY26 GAA, in addition to fully funding the final implementation phase of the Student Opportunity Act and dedicating $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 school aid (a $242 million increase over the FY26 GAA). House 2 also proposes full funding for Charter School Reimbursements at $200.4 million, $20 million for rural school aid and the administration’s legislative package fully funds the Special Education Circuit Breaker at $802.7 million. This budget recommendation also expands the administration’s commitment to school transportation by investing an additional $154.3 million to reimburse school districts for a significant share of transportation costs.  

Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) supports local government functions including public safety, public works, and economic development, and remains the only fully flexible, unrestricted source of state local aid available to cities and towns. Continuing the established approach of growing UGGA in line with consensus tax revenue growth, the House 2 budget recommends $1.356 billion in funding, an increase of $33 million (2.5 percent) over the FY26 GAA. 

These investments are in addition to the four-year, $1.2 billion Chapter 90 bond bill that Governor Healey filed earlier this month. 

Highlights  

Housing  

• $1.2 billion in targeted investments at the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to make housing more affordable and accessible in Massachusetts 
• $278.3 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) to support more than 11,500 mobile and project-based rental vouchers 
• $258.6 million for Emergency Assistance (EA) for Family Shelters, a $17.8 million decrease from FY26 funding, reflecting the lowest family shelter caseload in decades due to Governor Healey’s reforms 
• $201.2 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program 
• $117.8 million for subsidies for Local Housing Authorities, an increase of $2.2 million (2 percent) over FY26 
• $114 million for Homeless Individual Shelters to preserve about 2,800 shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness, including triage, diversion and rapid rehousing programs 
  
  

Education  

• $1.22 billion to support Child Care Financial Assistance programs to funds help families afford care and ensure providers are paid a fair rate regardless of where they live 
• $802.7 million ($127.7 million more than the FY26 GAA) for Special Education Circuit Breaker  
• $475 million to maintain the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program to maintain stability of the state’s child care system  
• $198 million for universal free school meals, an $18 million increase over FY26 GAA 
• $154.3 million for education transportation reimbursement 
• $137.05 million to maintain free community college 
• $103.3 million to sustain the MASSGrant Plus expansion and other financial aid 
• $53.4 million for Governor Healey’s Reimagining High School initiative ($3 million more than the FY26 GAA), which supports programs like Early College and Innovation Career Pathways  
• $38 million for student SUCCESS programming at public colleges and universities, including $10 million for UMass for the first time 
• $36.95 million for universal access to high-quality pre-K through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) to meet Governor Healey’s goal of delivering universal, high-quality preschool funding for four-year-olds in all Gateway Cities by the end of 2026 
• $25 million for the third year of Literacy Launch  
• $25 million for the second year of no-cost high dosage early literacy tutoring to an estimated 10,000 students    
• $10 million for Accelerating Achievement, a new multi-year K-12 school improvement initiative focused on rapidly improving student outcomes in our lowest-performing schools  
• $17 million to support student mental and social-emotional health, addressing the youth mental health crisis 
• $500,000 to support food security on college campuses 
  
  

Transportation 

MassDOT 

• $645 million for core MassDOT operations, including $85 million in funding for snow and ice removal 
• $220 million to bolster MassDOT services in House 2, with an additional $43 million in the Fair Share supplemental budget  
• The Fair Share supplemental budget establishes a new tax credit that incentivizes the use of sustainable aviation fuel by airlines through 2028 
• The credit is supported by $30 million in Fair Share funding 
  
  

MBTA 

• $470 million in contract assistance to support MBTA operations in House 2, and $523 million to further support MBTA operating stabilization in the Fair Share supplemental budget, for a total of $993 million 
• This amount fully addresses the MBTA’s operating deficits through the end of fiscal year 2027 and continues the MBTA’s progress toward fiscal stability 
• Supports affordability initiatives including income eligible reduced fare program and reliability, workforce and service investments in water transportation, MBTA Academy, and commuter rail 
• $122 million for the FTA reserve in the Fair Share supplemental budget to continue MBTA’s progress on safety and workforce investments 
  
  

Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs)  

• $185 million for RTA supports in House 2, with an additional $45 million in the Fair Share supplemental budget  
• $94 million to maintain the historical annual operating transfer to RTAs 
• $66 million in supplemental State Contract Assistance to expand service hours, operate weekend service, and enhance routes and other operational improvements for RTAs 
• $35 million to support systemwide, year-round fare-free transit on RTAs 
• $15 million for micro transit and last mile innovation grants in the Fair Share supplemental budget to extend transit and mobility opportunities to underserved populations and communities 
  
  

Economic Development  

• $40 million for the Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program 
• $30 million for the new refundable climatetech tax credit to support research and development, manufacturing, and deployment 
• $30 million for the recently reformed Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) Tax Credit to allow larger refundable awards, broader eligibility, and stacking with certain incentives 
• $10 million for an operating transfer to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)  
• $10 million for a new Community Workforce Partnerships Program grant program 
• $7 million for the Live Theater Tax Credit, enabling it to continue in its second year to support qualifying live theater productions 
• $5 million for Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) grants 
• $3.5 million for programming at MassTech Collaborative
   

Labor and Workforce Development  

• $15.4 million to support summer and year-round youth employment through the YouthWorks program 
• $8.9 million for Career Technical Institutes (CTIs), which aim to close skills training gaps by expanding access to vocational education 
• $8 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund 
• $3.3 million to leverage registered apprenticeship as a career pathway for untapped talent in growing industries  
• Modernizes the youth work permit process making it easier for teens to get jobs and improving compliance through better data tracking 

 

Health and Human Services  

• One year extension of the ConnectorCare pilot, which expands eligibility for subsidized health insurance to individuals earning between 300 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit, providing over 47,000 residents access to more affordable health insurance 
• $175 million for new Chapter 257 rates for human service providers, as well as $131.6 million in annualize FY26 rate increases  
• Historic investments in supporting our most vulnerable populations, including:  
• $91.8 M increase for the Executive Office of Aging & Independence  
• $91.4 M increase for the Department of Developmental Services 
• $33.1 million to fully fund new enrollees in FY27’s Turning 22 class  
• $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program 
• $15 million for grants to local boards of health 
• $5 million for the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI) 
• $4.3 million to fully fund and implement the Maternal Health Law 
  
  

MassHealth  

MassHealth, the Commonwealth’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provides coverage of health care and related critical services to about two million members, including over 45 percent of Massachusetts children and over 70 percent of Massachusetts residents living in nursing facilities. In recent years, MassHealth spending growth has been driven by dramatic sector-wide health care cost growth and a sharp increase in the cost per individual MassHealth member. Most recently, the three largest contributors to spending growth are prescription drugs, behavioral health services, and long-term services and supports for the state’s aging population. These spending challenges have been made worse by President Trump and Congressional Republicans stripping Massachusetts of billions of federal health care dollars. 

House 2 proposes necessary, but measured, initial steps to put MassHealth on more sustainable footing. MassHealth’s budget is filed at $22.701 billion in total spending. 

To bring FY27 spending down to proposed levels, the administration will: 

• Continue to aggressively expand program integrity initiatives 
• Institute a moratorium on all provider rate increases or program expansions not required by federal law 
• Make targeted service reductions that bring MassHealth in line with peer states and commercial payors 
• Implement one-time measures that bridge to FY28, allowing time for policy development and stakeholder engagement over the next 18 months 
  
  

Veterans 

• $45.96 million for the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea  
• $39.84 million for the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke  
  
  

Energy and Environment 

• $141 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation to keep parks, forests, beaches, trails, rinks, pools, and campgrounds open, safe and accessible  
• $59.6 million for administration, expedient permitting, and compliance across DEP 
• $55 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program 
• $28.9 million for the Department of Public Utilities to continue to strengthen interagency coordination to reduce delays while maintaining rigorous environmental and safety standards 
• $15 million for Hazardous Waste Cleanup 
• $7.4 million for the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to prioritize energy efficiency and the expansion of energy supply 

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會成立 近百人冒寒共襄盛舉

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會籌備小組成員。（周菊子攝）

                   (Boston Orange周菊子麻州劍橋市報導) 麻州大波士頓地區在2026年1月24日這天，氣溫低至攝氏零下15度，仍有近百人趕到劍橋市麻省理工學院校舍，慶祝波士頓經文處科技組組長蔡孟勳催生的新英格蘭陽明交大校友會，正式成立。

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會成立大會有近百人出席。（周菊子攝）

                  台大畢業的蔡孟勳組長是陽明大學公衛研究所第一屆博士班學生。他透露自己對陽明大學感情很深，2024年到加州開會，遇到正好在那兒參加北加州陽明交大校友會成立大會的林奇宏校長，當時就允諾一定協助母校在波士頓成立校友會。

蔡孟勳（右三）和周致宏（左三），蔡景全（右二）等籌備委員邀請左起，
教育組長黃薳玉，交大校友總會副執行長王統億，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，
波士頓僑教中心主任高家富等嘉賓合影。（周菊子攝）

            蔡孟勳回波士頓後，和陽明交大的學弟妹們聚會，談起成立校友會一事，在胡金儒成立line群組後，校友們口耳相傳，一個個加入後，他們發現人數真的不少，於是由蔡孟勳牽頭，陽明醫工系胡金儒，交大生物資訊所的周致宏和蔡明儒等波士頓台灣人生物科技協會（BTBA）3名前會長，以及陽明醫技所蔡偉智，交大生科系謝怡真，陽明醫學系蕭雅倫等6人成立決策小組，再找到謝宥霖，陳筠媞，何孟璇，黃奕傑，蔡景全，蘇彥竹，白景元，盧安怡，吳孟儒，徐雅真等熱心校友幫忙和母校及校友們聯繫，最後商定1月24日這天舉辦校友會成立大會。

蔡孟勳是陽明交大博士，9月將返台述職。（周菊子攝）

           周致宏表示，在波士頓已有台大、成大，政大，輔仁等校友會，北加州也大規模的成立了陽明交大校友會之際，他們這是在美國東岸為陽明交大人成立一個自己的校友會，邀集踏在不同人生階段，遍布各個領域的校友們交流，分享經驗。

            24日這天，場面十分盛大，不但有交通大學和陽明醫學院在2021年2月合併後的首屆校長林奇宏以視頻致賀，還有交通大學校友總會副執行長王統億遠從台灣，陽明交大校友總會理事王吉磊從加州趕到現場祝福外，還有駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏，教育組組長黃薳玉，波士頓僑教中心主任高家富，以及美洲交通大學總會理事長張曉青等嘉賓親自出席。

陽明交大校長林奇宏志以視頻致賀。（周菊子攝）

            廖朝宏處長說，這是個非常具有歷史性的一刻，就像新英格蘭地區醫療與生技業發展蓬勃一樣，陽明與交大的合併，也正是醫療與生技的結合。校友們在異鄉共聚，緣分又更深一層。

 交大校友總會副執行長王統億闡述校友會核心理念是「創造被校友利用的價值』。
（周菊子攝）

            在致詞時，高家富主任直言校友會是僑力的延伸，相信能讓大波士頓僑民更為團結。黃薳玉組長邀請各校校友和教育部、教育組保持聯繫，預告3月2日會有一個由11所院校合組的攬才團到訪波士頓，在公園廣場酒店（Park Plaza Hotel）舉辦攬才活動。他們2人還紛紛表白自己是陽明交大校友親屬，各自的女兒都是陽明大學醫學系校友，讓在場眾人莞爾，笑說天下真小。

周致宏說明陽明交大校友會分佈概況。（周菊子攝）

            交大校友總會副執行長王統億是93年的交大電工校友。他點明交大校友會的核心經營方針是「創造被校友利用的價值」，強調飲水思源，實事求是，終身學習，互為貴人的16字箴言，以期校友會這平台可以幫助校友們成功，獲得更大能力在關鍵時刻取得關鍵資源，發揮更大影響力，做更重要的事。他和總會執行長陳俊秀還為支持新英格蘭陽明交大校友會的成立，各捐1000元。

            遠從台灣趕來出席的王統億透露，此行他還特地走訪鳳凰城。他笑說，台積電在該城市設廠後，華航、星宇班機都客滿，台灣去的人越來越多，現在鳳凰城也在籌備成立陽明交大校友會了。去年北加州成立2個校友會時，校友總會捐了2萬元，活動辦在酒莊，很盛大。去年還有西雅圖也為籌備成立校友會開了幾次會。

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會籌備成員。（周菊子攝） 

            由於今年是交通大學創校130週年，王統億表示，校友會將有一系列活動。在3月14日的北加州校友會年會，理事長交接之後，今年將有校慶月，從4月8日的交大建校紀念日開始，持續至5月15日的陽明建校紀念日。4月11日國外校區和光復校區會有活動，在「攜手回娘家」的主題下，光復校區將辦130桌的慶祝會。4月26日會在石牌校區舉辦陽明日。在這期間，美洲交大校友會將組團走訪上海，西安，北京，西南，陽明等5個交大校區。

周致宏請校友們廣告周知，支持校友會。（周菊子攝）

           在致詞時，張曉青表示她來自上海交大，1992年來美後，從工程轉行企管，如今在安永會計師樓工作。她表示波士頓交大校友會成立有龍舟隊，希望陽明交大校友會將來也能成立龍舟隊，參加波士頓的龍舟比賽。

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會出席者以年輕人居多。（周菊子攝）

            24日這晚出席的陽明交大校友，以年輕人居多，年近80的台灣新竹交大校友歐陽翊，在出席者中是極少數的長輩交大校友。他也讓人想起，許多年輕校友都不知道的，在2000年時，波士頓曾有交大校友吳錦城創辦的箭點公司（Arrow Point）以57億美元賣給思科（Cisco）的輝煌紀錄。

            當晚的新英格蘭陽明交大校友會主持人周致宏表示，校友會雖已成立，但會長等幹部人選，還待下一次聚會時再討論決定。催生此會的蔡孟勳組長則在會中透露，今年9月他將卸任，返台述職，但相信新英格蘭陽明交大校友會一定可以蓬勃發展。

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會出席者分著圍聚。（周菊子攝）

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會成立現場小問答。（周菊子攝）

新英格蘭陽明交大校友會現場小問答。（周菊子攝）

當晚自助餐由校友會贊助。（周菊子攝）

交大校友總會副執行長王統億（又）和波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏（左）
自拍留念。（周菊子攝）

Massachusetts Legislature Honors International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Massachusetts Legislature Honors International Holocaust Remembrance Day 

Resolution Reaffirms Commitment to Combating Antisemitism and Preserving the Memory of Holocaust Survivors 

 

(BOSTON—1/27/2026) Today the Massachusetts Legislature honored International Holocaust Remembrance Day, formally recognizing the lives of the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust. 

 

Each branch passed a resolution recognizing the eighty-first anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp and reaffirming their unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism in all its forms.  

 

In adopting the resolutions, the Senate and House recognized Holocaust survivors and honored their courage in bearing witness to one of the darkest moments of history. The Legislature affirmed that preserving survivors’ memories and testimonies is essential to combating Holocaust denial, distortion, and antisemitism. 

 

“International Holocaust Remembrance Day calls on us not only to mourn the millions of lives stolen by unimaginable cruelty, but to confront the truth of history with clarity and resolve,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “For survivors and their families, remembrance is deeply personal—and for our Commonwealth, it is a solemn responsibility. By preserving stories, rejecting Holocaust denial, and educating future generations, we reaffirm an unyielding commitment to say ‘never again’ and to stand firmly against antisemitism, hatred, and genocide in all its forms.” 

 

“On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the millions of innocent lives lost, including the six million Jewish people who were senselessly murdered by the Nazis,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “Today isn’t only about the past though, it’s also about the lessons that we can learn from that horrific tragedy, and about the actions that we can take to beat back antisemitism and all forms of hate. I’m proud of the work that we have done in the Legislature to ensure that students in Massachusetts learn about the cruelty and inhumanity of genocide, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Legislature, as well as the Jewish community, to address the alarming rise in antisemitism over the past few years.” 

 

“I was proud to file this Senate resolution to recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day and to honor the millions of lives lost in one of history’s darkest chapters,” said Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton), primary sponsor of the Senate’s Resolution. “At a time when antisemitism continues to be on the rise, preserving the memories and testimonies of Holocaust survivors is essential to confronting denial, prejudice, and hate. Our responsibility is not only to remember, but to educate and to stand firmly against antisemitism in all its forms.” 

 

“Today is a solemn day as we remember the horrific genocide committed during the Holocaust. We honor the millions of people who senselessly lost their lives, and we vow never to forget their sacrifice. We as a Legislature have taken numerous steps over the years to ensure that the Commonwealth never forgets either,” said House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “I want to thank the Speaker and the Senate President, and all my other fellow legislators, for their tireless commitment to Holocaust Remembrance. I also want to thank the Consulate General of Israel to New England and the New England Holocaust Memorial Committee for being a part of the ceremony today in the State House.” 

 

Copies of the resolutions were transmitted to the Consulate General of Israel to New England and the Holocaust Legacy Foundation, which is supporting construction of Holocaust Museum Boston. 

 

In recent years the Legislature has acted to protect the memory of those murdered in the Holocaust, allocating $10 million in funds to support construction of Holocaust Museum Boston.  

 

In late 2025, Senate President Spilka and Speaker Mariano applauded the final outcomes of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, which created a framework for combatting antisemitism in Massachusetts through education, responses to antisemitic incidents, and allyship.  

 

The Legislature created the commission in 2024 after a state report showed a 70 percent increase in incidents of anti-Jewish crime statewide. 

 

In 2021, the Legislature acted jointly to create the Genocide Education Trust Fund to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide and promote the teaching of human rights issues with a particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide. 

 

 

Statements of support 

 

Governor Maura Healey 

“Today, as a state, we join with others around the world to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust, and the millions of others whose lives were destroyed by a regime built on hatred and dehumanization. We honor the victims by telling the truth, preserving memory, and rejecting the dangerous lie that cruelty can ever be justified. This day, and this work, have never been more important — and I'm grateful to Senate President Spilka for bringing us together today.” 

  

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll 

“International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a time to mourn the lives lost during the Holocaust and recommit ourselves to rejecting antisemitism wherever we see it. Massachusetts will always stand with our Jewish neighbors and stand strong against hate and violence.” 

 

Robert Kraft, Founder of the Blue Square Alliance and Chairman of the Kraft Group 

“On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we honor the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered by dedicating ourselves to the mission of combating antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry. I am grateful to the Massachusetts State Legislature for advancing this joint resolution and for highlighting remembrance and the shared responsibility we all have to stand up against hate wherever it appears.” 

  

Jonathan Kraft, President of the Kraft Group 

“To truly fight antisemitism and hate, we must never forget the atrocities the Jewish community has endured. This resolution is a meaningful step toward honoring the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and all victims of the Nazis, and it sends a powerful message of solidarity with Jewish communities in Massachusetts and around the world. I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, Senate President Spilka, and Chairman Michlewitz." 

 

Office of Senator John Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism 

“Today, as we remember and mourn the more than six million Jewish lives senselessly taken during the Holocaust, we must also reaffirm our unwavering commitment to confront and eradicate antisemitism in all its forms. As co-chair of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, Senator Velis is proud to serve in a Legislature that remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the promise of ‘Never Again.’” 

 

Representative Simon Cataldo (D-Concord), House Chair of the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism 

“The historical facts of the Holocaust are essential learning not just for Jewish history or world history, but American history. Our state government has an obligation to ensure that the Holocaust is learned and remembered by its residents through a lens of historical accuracy and moral clarity. I’m proud that Massachusetts is taking affirmative steps to reverse the alarming levels of Holocaust denial and Holocaust inversion, both through our recent budget investments and the work of our Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. “ 

 

Senator Rebecca Rausch (D-Needham), Senate Resolution Cosponsor 

“The liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, which occurred 81 years ago today, finally brought an end to the government-sponsored mass extermination and torture of Jews and others in Nazi Germany. Today, we remember the six million Jewish people and millions more who were murdered in cold blood by unspeakable evil. May their memories be a blessing, and may we be reminded of the absolute necessity of building a future rooted, first and foremost, in the recognition of each other’s humanity.” 

 

Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy 

“Now more than ever, it is so important that we pay attention to the lessons of history as we witness the persecution of innocent people in cities and towns across our country, simply because of the color of their skin or the sound of their accent. As we remember the atrocities of that time and recognize the loss of freedoms and life that defined the Holocaust, we must continue to truly commit ourselves to never let this happen again.” 

 

Jody Kipnis, Co-founder and CEO, Holocaust Museum Boston 

“International Holocaust Remembrance Day asks us not only to remember the past, but to take responsibility in the present. By honoring survivors, condemning antisemitism, and supporting Holocaust education through institutions like Holocaust Museum Boston, the Massachusetts Legislature is affirming that memory must be paired with action. These resolutions underscore that truth matters, democracy matters, and silence in the face of hatred is never an option.” 

  

Dr. Nicole Freeman, Education Director, Holocaust Museum Boston 

“Holocaust education is not only about learning history, it is about understanding how prejudice, disinformation, and indifference take hold, and how they can be challenged. By preserving survivor testimony and supporting institutions like Holocaust Museum Boston, the Legislature is helping ensure that young people across the Commonwealth learn to recognize early warning signs and choose moral courage.”