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State Rep.
Thomas M. Stanley
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov
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Rep. Stanley recognized and honored retirees from the Waltham Fire Department for their years of hard work and dedicated service to Waltham.
Rep. Stanley addressed attendees at the Waltham Fire Fighters
retirement party.
Rep. Stanley attended a Celebrate Waltham event at Brandeis. Waltham was named the best place to live in Massachusetts by Money Magazine in January. Speaking here is Ronald Liebowitz, president of Brandeis University.
Music Unlimited from Waltham High School sang at the Celebrate Waltham event.
Rep. Stanley attended the Africano Open House hosted by Waltham's African Cultural Services
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Juliet Najjumba speaking at the Africano Open House.
Waltham City Council
City Council Members
Rep. Stanley meets with new METCO CEO Milly Arbaje-Thomas.
State of the State Address
State of the State Address
Applause at the State of the State
Media at the State of the State
Rep. Stanley attended the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
public hearing.
Rep. Stanley met with officials from the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education to discuss their FY19 budget request for Adult Basic Education (ABE).
Rep. Stanley attended a discussion with Chester Brook Woods residents at a neighborhood meeting held by the Waltham School Committee & Waltham School Building Committee about the new high school. Here, Robert Treat Paine III, a descendant of the Robert Treat Paine who signed the Declaration of Independence, provided the audience with a historical perspective of Chester Brook Woods.
A quiet House Chamber
Landry Park, Waltham
Waltham City Hall
Snow falling on State House dome
State House Snowy Day
North End, Boston
An icy brook
Faneuil Hall
On a walk in Boston
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Primary Election will take place Tuesday, September 4th
This year's state primary election will take place on Tuesday, September 4th. The last day to register to vote in the primary will be August 15th. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 6th.
Learn more.
Waltham Senior High School receives STEM grant
The Commonwealth's Executive Office of Education announced that Waltham Senior High School received a $70,000 STEM High-Quality Career Pathways Grant to enable them to add Project Lead the Way engineering and biomedical courses. The STEM High Quality Career Pathways Grant is funded by the STEM Advisory Council and the Workforce Skills Cabinet with private support from Mass STEM Hub; the grant funds costs of curriculum, equipment and professional development.
Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on curriculum in STEM courses, including engineering, computer science and biomedical science, for K-12 students. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is the local provider of the teacher training for Project Lead the Way.
Rep. Stanley lobbies for additional fuel assistance benefit
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter to Ways and Means requesting the incorporation of $25 million in supplemental funding for the Massachusetts Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This allocation would be essential to low-income households across the state, ensuring that all have access to heating resources when the New England weather proves unrelenting.
Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, LIHEAP has been serving and heating homes across the Commonwealth for over forty years. In conjunction with over twenty regional non-profit and local organizations, Massachusetts LIHEAP was able to serve over 180,000 households just last year. By helping to subsidize the costs of heating bills and delivered fuels for households earning less than 60 percent of the state's median income, the Fuel Assistance program offers crucial support to families and individuals struggling to pay their bills and keep their families warm throughout the winter.
Rep. Stanley Supports Additional Funding for Special Education Circuit Breaker
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means requesting an additional appropriation of nearly $37 million to the Special Education Circuit Breaker account, to bring funding totals up to the traditional level of 75% of the costs above the foundation budget. The legislators are asking that the additional appropriation be part of the next supplemental budget.
The circuit breaker account is essential to ensuring that municipalities and school districts are able to pay the costs associated with extraordinarily expensive special education placements without cutting from other general and special education areas. Unfortunately, despite the intent to fully fund the account with an FY 18 appropriation of $281, 231, 181, the funding is unexpectedly inadequate and only covers 65% of the costs above the foundation budget. Since many cities and towns across the Commonwealth have already passed their budgets based upon the consistency of historical funding at or near full funding at the 75% level, an unanticipated drop has left them in a very difficult position and they are struggling with the gap.
Rep. Stanley urges Cannabis Control Commission to perform controlled & regulated roll out
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter to the Cannabis Control Commission on its draft proposed regulations for the implementation and oversight of adult use of marijuana in the Commonwealth. The legislators requested that the roll
out of the newly legal marketplace for adult-use marijuana be accomplished in a controlled and regulated manner. The group also believes that the delivery only and social consumption licensing categories should be delayed until it is clearly illustrated that the initial retail marketplace has been successfully implemented and where the important public health and public safety concerns can be met. The legislators also stated that a statewide public health and public safety campaign be undertaken prior to the beginning of retail sales on July 1.
Automatic Voter Registration bill clears committee
Rep. Stanley is pleased to report that the Joint Committee on Election Laws reported out favorably the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) bill. Rep. Stanley is a co-sponsor of this important legislation, which will
improve the Commonwealth's democracy by making it easier for unregistered voters to register to vote.
The legislation shifts our voter registration from an opt-in system to an opt-out one, involving more citizens in the political process. It also costs less in the long run and makes voting rolls more accurate and secure. Approximately 680,000 eligible citizens are currently not registered to vote in Massachusetts.
Governor Baker Releases Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Proposal
The Baker Administration filed its Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) budget proposal, a $40.9 billion spending plan that invests historic funding levels for local communities, provides tax relief to working families, and increases funding for education, substance misuse, and mental health services.
The FY19 budget proposal, known as House 2, relies on a consensus revenue tax estimate of $27.594 billion, which is 3.5% growth over the revised FY18 tax revenue projection. House 2 increases overall spending by 2.6% and keeps MassHealth growth to 0.5% over FY18 estimated spending.
Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter Supporting juvenile justice reform
Rep. Stanley cosigned a letter sent to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary supporting the inclusion of several provisions related to juvenile justice in the final version of An Act relative to criminal justice reform. The legislation before the conference committee contains significant proposals that will improve outcomes for the Commonwealth's justice-involved youth. Legislators asked the committee to support several key provisions related to juvenile record expungement, juvenile justice data collection, and the establishment of a Childhood Trauma Task Force.
Rep. Stanley supports electrifying public transit & school buses
Rep. Stanley signed onto a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) advocating that the $75 million coming to Massachusetts from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust (EMT) Fund be used to promote electric buses and cars and thereby advance our state's climate change and environmental justice objectives. Volkswagen entered into an agreement to settle lawsuits related to its falsification of vehicle emission tests. Governor Baker recently designated DEP as the agency responsible for developing Massachusetts' plan to use the EMT funds, the overall purpose of which must be to reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution and global warming.
In the letter, legislators expressed support for electrifying our public transit and school buses. Diesel buses are a major source of harmful emissions across our state. By replacing these buses with clean technology, we can make major progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving air quality and health, especially in communities that rely heavily on public transit. The legislators also support the build-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, especially at multi-unit dwellings and workplaces. EV charging stations need to become more common in order to give drivers convenient access to charging, overcome "range anxiety" and raise public awareness of the practicality of transitioning to the affordable EVs now coming to market. Focusing on multi-unit dwellings and workplaces will particularly expand access to EVs for those who may have no off-street parking.
These investments will help the Commonwealth make further progress toward its statutory obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. They are also essential to meeting the Commonwealth's commitment to have 300,000 zero emission vehicles on its roads by 2025 and achieving health and equity for environmental justice communities.
Rep. Stanley supports lifting the Cap on Kids
In a letter to Speaker DeLeo, Rep. Stanley expressed his support for lifting the Cap on Kids and encouraged the House to take action on this issue in the coming months. The Cap on Kids refers to the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) family cap that essentially denies welfare benefits to children conceived while, or soon after, the family received benefits. Welfare benefits typically go up by $100 a month as family size increases, unless the child is excluded by the Cap on Kids. Not only are these children being punished for being born, but their siblings are as well. Welfare benefits are very low ($478/month for a family of three if one of the children is excluded by the TAFDC family cap) and these limited resources must be stretched out further if a child is disqualified by the TAFDC family cap.
The Commonwealth presently denies benefits to approximately 8,800 children due to the Cap on Kids. Based on the most recent DTA caseload data from 2017, roughly 22 children in Waltham are losing out on the $100/month plus the $300 clothing annual allowance. Added up, this represents a total of $33,000 per year in lost benefits to needy families in Waltham as well as a $59,000 loss in local economic activity (determined using the USDA's multiplier of 1.79 for the impact of benefits like Food Stamps that low-income families spend in the community).
The TAFDC family cap is a remnant of the welfare reform movement in the mid-1990's and was primarily envisioned as way to reduce births to mothers on welfare. However, it has not had that effect. Massachusetts was among the original twenty-four states to adopt the Cap on kids. Since then, seven states have repealed the measure including California, Oklahoma and Maryland. As the Commonwealth is a national leader in so many areas promoting social equality, repealing the TAFDC family cap provides a simple and genuine opportunity for the state to demonstrate a committed effort to support at-risk children and their families.
Currently, two bills seeking to remove the Cap on Kids, filed by Representative Decker (H.85) and Senator DiDomenico (S.34), are pending the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means. To address the repeal through the FY19 budget, the House would simply need to include language in either an outside section or the TAFDC line item (4403-2000) along with enough funding in the line item to cover the cost of lifting the cap, which is estimated to be $11.9 million. Given the TAFDC caseload decline, this could have been done for FY18 without any increase over FY17 spending.
Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter Concerning Solitary Confinement Provisions
Rep. Stanley signed onto a letter in support of including important restrictions on the use of solitary confinement, particularly for those with mental illness in the final Criminal Justice Reform legislation. The overuse of solitary confinement has been increasingly shown to increase recidivism and have debilitating psychological consequences, especially for individuals with a history of mental illness.
A number of provisions of the House Criminal Justice reform legislation made significant strides in this area by putting in place new oversight, new reporting requirements and new limits on the number of days that can be served in solitary confinement. These provisions still allow prison staff to police and discipline members of the population but also mark an important step forward in our efforts to reduce recidivism and create a more effective and humane criminal justice system.
Rep. Stanley supports MA Healthy Incentives
In a letter submitted to the House Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Stanley expressed his support of funding the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program. The program doubles SNAP recipients' purchases of fresh, healthy, local foods direct from Massachusetts farmers, and has shown tremendous success in its first year. Low-income households purchased more than $2.8 million in food in just the first eight months, with that money going to support local farms and staying in the local economy. Projections from the Department of Transitional assistance estimate that $6.2 million will be needed to keep this important program operating through FY'19.
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Publish your events in The Stanley Report!
We want to hear from you! The Stanley Report is a great way to spread the word about an upcoming event. Please forward any community, civic or nonprofit upcoming events that you would like included in next month's Stanley Report. If interested, please email Mark Phillips, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your event.
Communities against Abuse in Later Life
Communities against Abuse in Later Life (CAALL) is a partnership of agencies working to end elder abuse. REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is the lead partner joined by the Waltham Police Department, Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Springwell, Inc., and the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Please click here to learn more or call the 24-hour CAALL Helpline at 781.790.3966.
Volunteers needed to mentor vulnerable, aspiring Waltham High School students
The John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation's focus is on turning children at-risk into children of promise. The city of Waltham has joined many Waltham companies in supporting the Mazie Mentoring Program at Waltham High School. The Foundation selected Waltham High School as the venue for a second mentoring program in 2010, modeled after their successful program in Framingham High School, now in its 20th year. As the program grows, so does the need for volunteer mentors. The program is currently recruiting 15 mentors for their March 2018 matchup. To find out more about the Mazie organization please visit www.mazie.org.
About the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra
Now in its 32nd season, the mission of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra is to provide the community opportunities to perform in and attend orchestral and chamber concerts of the highest quality. It provides a venue for musicians with a range of ages and abilities to enjoy the art and music making. It makes a long lasting impact to society by creating engaging programs that inspire, entertain and nurture the minds and spirits of its audience and members. Click here to learn more and see a calendar of events.
About Thom Charles River Early Intervention
Thom Charles River Early Intervention provides home visits to babies and toddlers who are delayed in their development or who are considered to be at risk of delay. Services include parents as partners in these visits. The dedicated clinicians who work with these families are to be applauded. Learn more about the orgranization. http://www.thomchild.org/charles-river.htm
Learn more about The Waltham Land Trust
The Waltham Land Trust is creating a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space. To learn more about the non-profit group and their events celebrating Waltham's natural environment, visit walthamlandtrust.org.
Waltham Symphony Orchestra Concerts
For information on concerts and events at the WSO, click here.
Waltham Public Library Offers Events
The Waltham Public Library offers many events for residents of all ages. To view a calendar of events, click here.
Meals on Wheels program
The Waltham Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels (MOW) program delivers lunch to homebound seniors who are unable to provide their own meals, and who meet certain guidelines. Special dietary considerations are available for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. This daily check in by a volunteer driver may be the only social contact an elder has and helps reduce the isolation often experienced by disabled seniors. Drivers are trained to identify and report observations or emergencies that might indicate a medical problem or the need for more intervention. Learn more or call 718-314-3300.
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State Representative
City Council
Former City Council President
State Committees:
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight
City Council:
Fernald Use Committee
Long Term Debt & Capital Planning Committee
Ordinance & Rules Committee
Education:
Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)
Community Involvement (Past & Present):
Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Youth Basketball Association, Basketball Plus Program, Central Middle School Basketball, Little Nippers Baseball, Warrendale Little League, Waltham Youth Soccer, Waltham Police Athletic League, CCD Teacher, St. Jude Church, Waltham Lions Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Reagle Players Board of Directors, Warrendale Little League Board of Directors, Waltham Partnership for Youth Board of Directors, Waltham Day Center (Homeless) Advisors Board, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe & Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Waltham Public Library Planning Committee, Waltham Sons of Italy, Middlesex Area Enough Abuse Campaign.
Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, 2008 COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, 2003 MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, 2007 Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, 2006 Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, 2003 Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center
Personal:
Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss
Children: Ryan, age 23, Parker, age 14
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