Vote in primary on Tuesday
It has been said that voting is the foundation stone for political action. Every eligible American wants to – and should – have a say in deciding which people and policies will determine the future for our families, community, and country. Generations of Americans fought and died for our right to vote, the freedom to choose our leaders, and the right to speak up for our beliefs.
On Tuesday, September 4, citizens will have the chance to exercise that right and duty. The polls are open in Franklin and Medway. Voters are picking who will represent their party in races for the US Congress, Governor and other state constitutional officers, State Senate, and the House of Representatives. Serving the citizens of Franklin and Medway in the Massachusetts House has been a great honor and I appreciate your continued support. And I ask for your vote on Tuesday.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and I look forward to seeing you at the polls on Tuesday and our continued work together.
|
|
|
|
Rep. Roy was honored to welcome Congressman Joe Kennedy to Franklin and give him a tour of our downtown area. We stopped by the Franklin Fire Station, Keefe Insurance, the Food Pantry, Intermission Cafe, Dean Bank, and the Rome Restaurant. It was great to see members of the Town Council, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee, and so many other friends join us for the tour. Congressman Kennedy is such a great voice for our community in Washington, DC and he has been a great partner in our efforts to make this community a great place to live, work and raise a family. You can find more photos from the visit by clicking here.
|
|
New opioid bill focuses on prevention and access to care
The House and Senate have passed legislation that continues to address prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction. Under the bill, the general public would have more ready access to overdose-reversing medication, pharmacies would start moving to electronic prescriptions, and state prisons would need to work with health authorities on a pilot for medication-assisted substance abuse treatment behind barswas signed by the Governor on August 14. Under the care and treatment of addiction. It
“We continue to invest in treatment because we know that addiction is a public health concern,” said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy, a member of the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery and the SAFE Coalition. “The legislature is deeply committed and responsive to the needs of individuals and families ravaged by this disease, and the communities struggling to provide services.”
The bill also requires emergency rooms to have the protocols and capacity to provide evidence-based interventions following an opiate overdose, including medication-assisted treatment. A patient who shows up in an emergency room suffering from an opioid overdose would receive the agonist treatment and then be connected to a treatment site to continue the medical therapy.
Other provisions create the Community-Based Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention Trust Fund to support evidence-based and evidence-informed programs for children and young adults; requires providers to check the Prescription Monitoring Program prior to issuing any prescription for a benzodiazepine; prohibits discounts and rebates for prescription opiates; requires electronic prescribing for all controlled substances; and requires facilities to accept MassHealth coverage on a non-discriminatory basis.
The bill represents the latest legislative effort to curb the scourge of heroin, fentanyl and other opioids that kill dozens of Bay Staters each week and leave many others with medical problems and familial struggles stemming from their addictions.
|
|
 Rep. Roy joined MassMEP for a Manufacturing Talent Management Roundtable at Dean College this week. Massachusetts manufacturing companies are facing increasing pressure to grow and innovate all while the demand for skilled workers continues to rise and unemployment numbers are at an all-time low. The meeting highlighted resources available to companies trying to attract and retain skilled employees. In his remarks, Rep. Roy shared that as lawmakers, "we focus on training for manufacturing employees, encourage innovation by helping start-ups access resources, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities, among other things. We set policies and allocate budget dollars to bolster the economy, and again, build upon the renaissance of manufacturing here." He also mentioned that the we passed legislation to form an Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, made up of industry leaders, innovators, and government officials. Our mission is to make Massachusetts the most complete, connected, and fastest ecosystem for applying advanced technology to commercialize products from innovation through production. It was a great program and we weres delighted to see so many folks there who share our mission.
|
|
Graci recognized for Coalition work
 Rep. Roy joined the SAFE Coalition in presenting a citation from the House of Representatives to Rita Graci. Rita was recognized for her tireless dedication to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder and her assistance in establishing the SAFE Coalition. She was the organization's first Treasurer and helped SAFE achieve status as a federally recognized nonprofit and set it up with a top notch bookkeeping system which maximized our ability to be a lean and efficient operation. Rita was there from the very start of the Coalition and many are grateful for her hard work, commitment and compassion.
|
|
The Legislature marked the end of a productive 2017-2018 legislative session, passing major bills relating to criminal justice, civics education, gun safety, substance use disorder, women’s rights, economic development, veterans’ benefits, consumer data protections, and energy and the environment.
“It was a robust two years as we tackled a host of issues to keep Massachusetts at the top of the heap,” noted Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “Amid a charged national political atmosphere, we were able to agree to a fiscally-responsible budget and our state remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. Our legislation increases public safety, enhances opportunities for our citizens, and supports children, first responders, veterans and small businesses.”
You will find a complete wrap-up of the session by clicking here.
|
|
|
|
|
