October 22, 2020
Newton, MA - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today led the rejection of the Trump Administration's proposed rule to eliminate nondiscrimination provisions for organizations that receive grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Joined by co-chairs of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Kennedy demanded that the proposed rule be immediately withdrawn.
"Over and over again, this Administration has attempted to steal the humanity and degrade the dignity of LGBTQ+ Americans.… Continue Reading
October 19, 2020
Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Congressman Tony Cárdenas today delivered a comprehensive rebuke of the Trump Administration's record on mental health care and substance use disorder treatment. Citing Medicaid cuts, the Affordable Care Act lawsuit, immigration policies and much more, the lawmakers illustrated the totality of Donald Trump's failure to match his words of concern regarding mental health with substantive action throughout his first term.
"For four years, Donald Trump has not… Continue Reading
September 25, 2020
As Senate Republicans rush to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice, Congressman Joe Kennedy III will introduce the Supreme Court Term Limits Act to restore balance in the nation's highest court. Kennedy's bill would establish 18-year term limits on any Supreme Court Justices approved after the bill's passage. After their 18-year terms, justices would then be allowed to continue their service on lower courts. Additionally, the bill would then create a regular appointment process to allow every pre… Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III has filed legislation that would protect the trust status of tribal lands, preventing the federal government from revoking prior decisions granting the special status for any federally recognized tribe.
To read more, please click here.… Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Representatives Joseph P. Kennedy III and Hakeem Jeffries on Monday will introduce a bill to make it easier for police to be charged with civil rights violations by changing just one word in the federal code.
The bill would require prosecutors in police brutality cases to show that an officer acted recklessly - rather than willfully - in depriving an individual of their rights. Kennedy's office said the change would remove some hurdles to bringing charges against police and prosecuting police brutality and civil rights cases.To read more, please click here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/08/nation/joe-kennedy-introduce-bill-make-it-easier-charge-police-with-civil-rights-violations/… Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Renewing his calls for automatic mail-in voting in time for the state primary in September, Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III was joined by Attorney General Maura Healey and other advocates and local leaders Tuesday to pressure the Democrat-led state Legislature to mandate that all registered voters be mailed a ballot this fall as the coronavirus pandemic throws new challenges on in-person voting.Read more here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/28/nation/joseph-kennedy-iii-maura-healey-pus… Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
In the throes of the Great Recession a decade ago, I stood in a cramped courtroom at Boston Housing Court next to my client, a single mom of two from Dorchester, Massachusetts. For the second time in a year, she was being kicked out of her home because the homeowner she was renting from fell behind on the mortgage payments.
She couldn't bear the thought of uprooting her kids again in the middle of the school year. So she stayed, despite the eviction notice. Then the loan servicer illegally chan… Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
A month ago, they were called "service workers": the people who prepare our food, deliver our packages, drive our buses, clean our offices and staff our nursing homes. Then, the coronavirus changed this country's collective vocabulary. Now, these people are "essential workers." They may not be paid a livable wage or have access to dependable health care. They may even be forced onto public assistance.
And the rest of us cannot survive without them.
It is heartening to see our lan… Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Last Tuesday, I flew home from Washington. The House was in the middle of debate over emergency funding for coronavirus. Republicans were balking at provisions to ensure testing and treatment were affordable for all. They were also threatening to block undocumented Americans from accessing care.
I needed to know what was happening at home. So by Wednesday morning, I was sitting at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center with medical experts, community health center staff and public health offici… Continue Reading
