By Bob Katzen
The Senate approved and sent to the House legislation designating October 15 as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day to promote awareness about the disease, stimulate related research efforts and recommending that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.
“I am profoundly proud that my bill to establish October 15 as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Massachusetts passed the Senate,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “Lobular breast cancer is especially difficult to detect and diagnose, yielding significant need for increased research funding in order to create new diagnostic tools and treatments, improving patient outcomes. Heightened awareness and increased attention can help achieve these goals and save lives.”
The bill was filed more than a year ago, approved by the Senate on October 15 and has not yet been approved by the House and signed by the governor. As a result, it will not be instituted until next October 15, 2027 if signed by the governor. Sen. Rausch did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her why it has taken more than a year for the Senate to approve such a non-controversial bill.
$2 MILLION FOR FARMS AND AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES –The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced more than $2 million for the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Program (CSAP) to help 68 Massachusetts farms and agricultural businesses buy new equipment, upgrade buildings and install clean energy systems that cut costs and boost productivity. The grants are designed to support 78 projects to improve food safety, reduce energy costs, protect natural resources and strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of Massachusetts agriculture.
“The CSAP grants are an investment in our farms’ future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “With this support, farmers can buy better equipment, improve composting and adopt climate-smart practices – making Massachusetts agriculture more resilient and ready for future generations of growers.”
“Our farmers are on the front lines of unpredictable and extreme weather, and the Climate Smart Agriculture Program is about giving them the tools to adapt to those pressures,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “By investing in operational and infrastructure upgrades, we are helping Massachusetts farms adapt to an ever-changing environment, protect their livelihoods and continue to thrive as the backbone of our local food system that benefits us all.”