By Bob Katzen

State of the Commonwealth Edition
Gov. Healey delivered her annual State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the House and Senate. Here are some excerpts from the speech:

“Two hundred and fifty years ago this April, on a common in Lexington and a bridge in Concord, the farmers, tradesmen and shopkeepers of the Massachusetts Militia took a stand. They risked everything for the right to self-government and they started the Revolution that gave us our country. This is our legacy, Massachusetts, and it’s more than history. It’s who we are.”
“I am moved beyond words by the grit, drive and sheer goodness of the people of Massachusetts. I see it in our citizen soldiers. It’s in the firefighters who spent weeks battling wildfires last fall. When we see what firefighters are doing in Southern California right now, and what our own firefighters and first responders do every day, we are so grateful.”
“I see it in the teachers and schools where we pioneered public education. And I see it in breakthroughs by our scientists and innovators. Did you know, in 2024, one-third of all the Nobel Prizes were won by people in Massachusetts? That’s not unusual for our state.”
“People also need childcare. After the pandemic, childcare across the country was collapsing and childcare centers were closing. So, we got to work because our working parents depend on it. We were the only state to fully replace federal support that went away with a $1.5 billion investment. We not only saved our system, but affordable childcare is growing in Massachusetts. Today 36,000 more children are getting care and their parents can go to work and support their families.”
“People want to be able to afford a home. So, we passed the Affordable Homes Act to create tens of thousands of affordable homes and new homeowners. We already increased production in state programs by 50 percent, adding 4,000 homes and helping 2,400 first-time homeowners last year alone.”
“Whatever else is happening, we will always put our veterans first. We passed the HERO Act, the biggest veterans’ legislation in state history, to expand health benefits, job opportunities and much more. We’re ending veteran homelessness once and for all, because no one who served our country should ever be left behind in their time of need. And we built brand-new, world-class facilities at the veterans’ homes in Chelsea and Holyoke.”