By Bob Katzen
“This day is not only about those who never came home, but also about the families who still wait and the survivors who endured captivity. POW/MIA flag does not fly as a symbol of loss alone, but as a promise—that we will never forget and we will never give up.”
— Secretary of Veterans Services Dr. Jon Santiago at a ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse to commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day, paying tribute to America’s prisoners of war, those still missing in action and the families who continue to carry the weight of uncertainty.
“The research provides compelling evidence that addressing basic needs like diaper supply creates cascading positive effects. We documented statistically significant improvements in employment rates, financial stability and mental health outcomes – demonstrating that diaper assistance accomplishes multiple public health and policy goals while reducing material hardship among families with young children.”
—Rich Sheward, Director of System Implementation Strategies, at Children’s HealthWatch, upon release of a report detailing the health and economic implications of a federally-funded statewide diaper distribution pilot spanning the last two years.
“Massachusetts makes smart investments that give our business community the resources they need to thrive. This round of Economic Development Incentive Program awards reflects the strength of our economy in important sectors like advanced manufacturing, climatetech, R&D technology, and the creative economy, and demonstrates our commitment to creating high-quality jobs across every region of the state.”
—Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley on the approval of 11 projects for participation in the Economic Development Incentive Program that seeks to create new jobs and help businesses grow by offering credits to lower taxes in exchange for job creation commitments.
“This is not a failure of our students or teachers — it’s a failure of policy that has allowed ineffective reading instruction to persist when we know exactly what works. The passage of the Right to Read Act and providing districts with options to implement evidence-based strategies for teaching reading are desperately needed if we want to prepare our children for successful lives.”
—Mary Tamer, the Executive Director of MassPotential, testifying in favor of legislation that would require school districts to adopt evidence-based literacy curricula to provide children with the tools necessary to develop into accomplished readers.