Opportunity for Federal Action by Local Leagues and Individuals: Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)

The League is proud to support the reintroduction of HR14/S4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA), vital federal legislation that is needed to fully restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act and ensure that discriminatory voting policies are stopped in their tracks. The Massachusetts congressional delegation supports the JLVRAA as official co-sponsors.

Attention Local League presidents and conveners: Thank your member of Congress for sponsoring the JLVRAA using this sample letter template. LWVUS asks all local Leagues to submit a letter using this template to their member of Congress one week prior to the national Convention, by June 21. Find your member of Congress here. After your League sends this template letter, please send a copy to advocacy@lwv.org for their records. 

LWVMA issued this letter to Senator Markey and Senator Warren. 

Are you a member at large? Individuals are also encouraged to act via this LWVUS Action Alert.

Read more about the JLVRAA here. (Note: Massachusetts is not one of the 16 states that required preclearance under the VRA.) 

Questions? Email specialists@lwvma.org.

Legislature Enters the Home Stretch

The Massachusetts Legislature is entering its busiest three months, leading up to adjournment of the formal session on July 31. The bills that pass this session will do so between now and July 31.

That means that many of the bills the League supports will be coming up for a vote, often on short notice. We encourage you to keep an eye on your inbox for action alerts that will need your immediate attention. When you get one, please contact your Senator or Representative, as noted in the alert, with the specific request. You may know your legislator already supports a bill, but they need to hear from constituents anyway--to counteract opponents of legislation and to enable them to tell their colleagues that the bill is drawing a lot of constituent support. A quick email will do it, no matter how many times you've emailed on other bills.

Your active support greatly increases the League's clout on Beacon Hill. Thank you!

Help Get Tax Deferral Bill for Seniors and Military Across the Finish Line

Many seniors across the state struggle to stay in their homes as their property tax bills grow faster than their incomes. One bright spot for many low- and middle-income seniors is the opportunity to defer their property taxes. H2738, An Act relative to taxes due upon the death of active-duty personnel and the elderly, has made it all the way through the legislative process to the Committee on Bills in Third Reading, the last stop before a House floor vote–and the same status where it ended last session. READ MORE.

Earth Day is Everyday: Pledge to Act

In light of the serious and growing consequences of climate change, consequences we are all experiencing in the present, we need to recognize that every day is Earth Day. The combination of strong environmental policy, with environmental justice at its core, combined with individual action is needed more than ever. READ MORE.

Contact Your Legislators to Support the Safe Communities Act

The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security must decide by May 8 whether to advance the Safe Communities Act (H.2288/S.1510) this session. That’s less than 10 days away.

Current state and local involvement in federal immigration law enforcement discourages immigrants from seeking police and court protection when they need it. Victims of domestic violence, wage theft, and unsafe working conditions are reluctant to come forward, afraid that seeking help will result in deportation and family separation. READ MORE.

Join the VOTE411 Candidate Question Subcommittee

Are you interested in helping ensure Massachusetts voters have up-to-date information about the candidates on their ballots this fall? The LWVMA Voter Engagement Committee welcomes your help! We are currently forming a short-term subcommittee to draft questions for all Congressional and State House candidates. If you are interested in participating, please email VE Committee Co-Chair Jess Vocaturo at jvocaturo@lwvma.org by May 6 to let us know.

Falmouth Road Race 2024

LWVMA is excited to announce that, for the first time, and in conjunction with LWV Falmouth, we will be participating in the 2024 Falmouth Road Race! 

The ASICS Falmouth Road Race is a seven mile race with a course that runs along the coast. The Road Race celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 and continues to be a destination race that attracts runners from all over. This year’s race is happening on August 18, 2024. 

The Road Race brings together mission-driven runners from across Massachusetts who are committed to supporting noteworthy causes. Through its Numbers for Nonprofits program, runners are able to pledge to run for a charity; this year, the League of Women Voters Lotte E. Scharfman Memorial Fund is a participating charity. We will have a team of athletes running in support of the state League and the Falmouth League. We are still looking for one more runner for the League team! If you or somebody you know is interested in running, please contact Misty Niemeyer (mistyniemeyer13@gmail.com).

Next LWVMA Town Hall: Parliamentarian Training, May 29

Please join our Governance Committee on Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 PM on Zoom for a Parliamentarian training. We hope this training is coming in time to be useful for your local League’s annual meeting! Register here.

LWVUS Convention

LWVUS Convention is taking place in Washington, DC and will be a hybrid event. Here is the Convention webpage where you will find all of the information including registration costs ($550 for in-person and $125 for virtual) and hotel blocks.

The number of local League delegates to Convention are determined by League size. Click here for a chart showing how many delegates each League in Massachusetts is allotted. Any member is welcome to attend Convention, but voting during Convention is reserved for delegates.

Welcome to the DEI corner. This dedicated section on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will serve as a platform for sharing stories, initiatives, trainings and updates related to DEI efforts within the League and the broader community. 

In the month of May, we are highlighting indigenous authors and their thoughts on topics ranging from environmental justice to land management. In particular, we draw from three texts:

• Dina Gilio-Whitaker, As Long As Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice from Colonization to Standing Rock. Beacon Press, 2019
• Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions, 2013, 2020. 
• Max Liboiron, Pollution is Colonialism. Duke University Press, 2021

As author Dina Gilio-Whitaker puts it: “When Indigenous peoples are allowed leadership roles in land management a better future is assured for all people in the human and nonhuman world.” READ MORE