Press Releases
Congressional Delegation Announces $1.36M In Fire Grants To Mass.
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Stephen Lynch and Bill Keating announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $1,368,830 in grants to five Massachusetts fire departments through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The grants were awarded to the Northbridge Fire Department, Sturbridge Fire Department, Russell Fire Department, Braintree Fire … Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Statement from Sen. Warren on the Supreme Court's Decision on the Mass. Buffer Zone Law
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion holding that the Massachusetts buffer zone law is unconstitutional: "I am deeply disappointed by today's Supreme Court decision striking down the Massachusetts buffer zone law. Make no mistake - it is now more difficult to protect the patients and staff of health clinics from violence, intimidation, and harassment. While I strongly disagree … Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Statement from Sen. Warren on the Massachusetts Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today after Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill raising Massachusetts' minimum wage to $11.00 per hour by 2017: "Today, Massachusetts stands up and says that no one who works full time should live in poverty. Raising our state's minimum wage will help hundreds of thousands of workers make ends meet and will give them a fighting chance to build a better future for themselves and for their kids. … Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Durbin, Brown, Reed, Warren, Baldwin, Sanders: Tax Credits Should Go to Companies That Invest in American Workers, Not Ship Jobs Overseas
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Bernie Sanders (D-VT) introduced the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act, a bill that would provide a tax credit to companies that provide fair wages and good benefits to workers while closing a tax loophole that incentivizes corporations to send jobs overseas. The loophole costs the U.S. Treasury approximately $50 billion each year at a time when … Continue Reading
June 25, 2014
Warren-Portman Smart Savings Act to Strengthen Retirement Savings Passes Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the United States Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee passed by voice vote the "Smart Savings Act," originally introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and cosponsored by Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to help increase financial returns for federal employees' retirement plans without increasing federal spending. The "Smart Savings Act" would change the automatic … Continue Reading
June 19, 2014
Congressional Delegation Announces $783K in Fire Grants To Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Jim McGovern, William Keating and Katherine Clark today announced $783,232 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to four Massachusetts fire departments through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The grants were awarded to the Belchertown Fire Department, Sherborn Fire/Rescue Department, Hanover Fire Department, and Halifax Fire Department. "Day in and day out, our … Continue Reading
June 16, 2014
Sen. Warren Calls For Increased NIH Funding, Renewed National Commitment To Research
Text of Senator Warren's Remarks Available Here BOSTON, MA - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren called for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a renewed national commitment to research, in remarks at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's New England Research Breakfast in Boston this morning. In her speech, Senator Warren highlighted how federally funded medical research has helped support groundbreaking research to develop cancer treatments, and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2014
Whitehouse, Warren Introduce Measure to Help Families Struggling with Medical Debt
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced legislation to help families burdened by the costs of illness and injury. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014 (S. 2471) would make the bankruptcy process more forgiving for those driven to insolvency by medical issues. "Even families with quality health insurance coverage can be bankrupted by an illness or injury that causes lost work and income," said Whitehouse, who introduced similar … Continue Reading
June 12, 2014
Congressional Delegation Announces $638K In Fire Grants To Mass.
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Richard Neal, John Tierney, Michael Capuano, Niki Tsongas, and Joe Kennedy III announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $638,817 in grants to eight Massachusetts fire departments through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program. The grants were awarded to the North Reading Fire Department, Quincy Fire Department, Dalton Fire Department, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2014
Statement from Sen. Warren on Senate Passage of Veterans Care Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act: "Our veterans put it all on the line for our country, and we owe them the very best. The Senate made a downpayment on our debt to our veterans by passing legislation to improve the delivery of care and strengthen accountability at the VA. I am very glad to see $4.855 million in the bill … Continue Reading
June 07, 2014
Sens. Warren & Markey Applaud $138 Million in New Markets Tax Credits to Help Low-Income Communities in MA
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey today applauded the announcement of $138,000,000 in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) awards to Community Development Entities (CDEs) in Massachusetts. Boston Community Capital Inc., Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation NE New Markets CDE II LLC, and AL Wainwright LLC will receive the tax credit allocation authority through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund … Continue Reading
June 07, 2014
Sens. Warren & Markey Applaud $138 Million in New Markets Tax Credits to Help Low-Income Communities in MA
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey today applauded the announcement of $138,000,000 in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) awards to Community Development Entities (CDEs) in Massachusetts. Boston Community Capital Inc., Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation NE New Markets CDE II LLC, and AL Wainwright LLC will receive the tax credit allocation authority through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund … Continue Reading
June 07, 2014
$100 Million for Green Line Extension Included in Senate FY15 Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) has included $100 million in funding for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's (MassDOT) and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Green Line Extension Project in its Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) Appropriations bill, federal and state officials announced today. "This is exciting news - the Green Line Extension is a key infrastructure investment that … Continue Reading
June 05, 2014
Dozens of Higher Education Institutions, Organizations Endorse Legislation Introduced by Sen. Warren and Senate Colleagues to Refinance Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and her colleagues in the Senate have received dozens of endorsements through petitions and letters in support of the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act introduced on May 6, 2014, which would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. Student loan debt is the second highest form of consumer debt, now at a staggering $1.2 trillion, and it is weighing … Continue Reading
June 04, 2014
Statement From Sen. Warren On The Confirmation Of Mark Mastroianni To U.S. District Court Of Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today following the Senate's vote to confirm Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts: "Mark Mastroianni is a true son of Western Massachusetts who brings impressive credentials and diverse experience to the federal bench. I am proud to have recommended his nomination to President Obama, and am very pleased the … Continue Reading
June 03, 2014
Sen. Warren: EPA's Clean Power Plan is "Powerful Step" In Fight to Tackle Climate Crisis
Video of Senator Warren's remarks available here Full text of Senator Warren's remarks available here WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Elizabeth Warren praised the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan in a floor speech on Monday, calling it a "powerful step" in the fight to protect Americans' health and the environment, and to tackle the climate change crisis. "We face a crisis. We know that high carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere are driving climate change," said Senator Warren. … Continue Reading
June 03, 2014
Rockefeller, Warren Introduce Legislation to Protect Employees and Retirees from Unfair Benefit Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today introduced legislation, The Bankruptcy Fairness and Employee Benefits Protection Act, that would make it harder for companies to reduce or eliminate the pay and benefits their employees and retirees were promised-and earned-during their careers. Among other provisions, the bill would limit the ability of companies to reduce or terminate benefits for employees and retirees under the federal Bankruptcy Code, … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014
Senators Merkley and Warren Call on President Obama to Fill Vacant Fed Slots with Strong Financial Reform Advocates
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) - leading voices on the Senate Banking Committee for the Main Street economy and a stronger approach to financial regulation - today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to fill remaining openings on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors with nominees who will bring strong expertise and advocacy for financial reform. The Senators emphasized that despite the Fed's outsized role in financial regulation, the … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014
Mass. Congressional Delegation Applauds New Funding to Clean and Revitalize Brownfields
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Joseph P. Kennedy, William Keating, Niki Tsongas, Michael Capuano, Richard E. Neal, and John Tierney today applauded the Environmental Protections Agency's (EPA) announcement of more than $4 million in funding to clean and revitalize brownfields in Massachusetts. The FY14 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grants will give communities and businesses a chance to return economic stability to … Continue Reading
May 13, 2014
Markey, Warren, Capuano and Lynch Applaud Funding for $310 Million Boston Harbor Improvement Project
Washington, DC - Massachusetts Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch today applauded the inclusion of the $310 million Boston Harbor dredging project in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). The funding for the Boston Harbor Federal Deep Draft Navigation Improvement Project to deepen the Harbor's main navigation channels will come in WRRDA reauthorization, legislation that will authorize the dredging project and other … Continue Reading