By Bob Katzen

“It’s an honor to host high school students in the House Chamber as they participate in Student Government Day. It’s very important to engage our young people in our democratic process, and I encourage all of the students participating to become active in state government.”
—House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) on more than 350 high school juniors and seniors from across the state gathered at the Statehouse last week to participate in Student Government Day, an annual program organized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“Massachusetts is the medical research capital of the country. Not only do our public research institutions rely on NIH funding for their groundbreaking research, job creation and academic competitiveness, but our residents depend on these studies to propel lifesaving medical advancements. I won’t allow the Trump Administration to take unlawful actions that play politics with our public health.”
—Attorney General Andrea Campbell on joining a coalition of 16 attorneys general that is suing the Trump Administration in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts over its unlawful attempt to disrupt grant funding issued by the National Institutes of Health.

“The evidence is clear—child sexual abuse is preventable. Prevention means not only equipping communities with the tools to stop abuse before it happens but also ensuring families have access to resources when concerns arise. Addressing problematic sexual behavior is an essential piece of this work. By expanding education and support, we can help children develop healthy behaviors and provide caregivers with the guidance they need.”
—Jennifer Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Children’s Trust, marking the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“Play-based learning provides young children with engaging experiences that support their cognitive and social-emotional development. These grants will help provide our schools, from Northampton to Fall River, with funding to create environments that reflect the ways in which young children learn.”
—Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler announcing the awarding of $1.2 million in grants to seven school districts to incorporate playful learning strategies into preschool through third grade classrooms.