June 13, 2025 

The Honorable Marjorie C. Decker, House Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 130
Boston, MA 02133  

The Honorable William J. Driscoll, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 111
Boston, MA 02133

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is pleased to submit this written testimony in support of S.1484/H.2432: An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer, filed by Senator Comerford, Representative Kane, and Representative Gentile. 

As a bipartisan, bicameral body representing 61 members—over 31% of the Massachusetts Legislature—the Women’s Caucus is guided by three overarching strategic priorities: Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity and Eliminating Barriers, Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care, and Empowering Women in Government. 

An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer is a priority for the Women’s Caucus, as it aligns directly with our strategic goal of addressing racial and gender disparities in health care. By establishing a comprehensive framework for research, education, and public awareness, this legislation strengthens early detection efforts and promotes equitable access to care—ultimately helping to reduce the gendered and racial disparities that persist in pancreatic cancer outcomes. 

Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 12%. In Massachusetts, it is the second-deadliest cancer, and in 2020 alone, it claimed the lives of over 1,000 residents. More than 70% of those diagnosed die within the first year. However, early diagnosis and intervention can slightly improve outcomes—about 10% of patients diagnosed at an early stage become disease-free following treatment. Recent research, including a 2023 Cedars-Sinai Cancer study, reveals that incidence rates of pancreatic cancer are rising fastest among younger women, particularly Black and Hispanic women. While the causes of these disparities remain unclear, they highlight the urgency of targeted research, intervention, and education, goals that this bill squarely addresses. 

An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer proposes a comprehensive statewide initiative, grounded in the findings of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Pancreatic Cancer, which was created with broad legislative support and signed into law through a supplemental budget. The bill would establish a 13-member Pancreatic Cancer Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health to coordinate efforts in education, prevention, early detection, and patient support. It also mandates a public awareness campaign around genetic risk factors and early warning signs, including the link between new-onset diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Additionally, it calls for a review of insurance coverage for genetic testing and screening to ensure that access to these critical tools is equitable and effective. 

This bill has notably been filed in previous sessions, earning favorable reports from the Joint Committee on Public Health and the bipartisan co-sponsorship of more than 80 legislators this session. It is expected to have minimal financial impact on the Commonwealth while offering substantial public health benefits. 

The Caucus of Women Legislators believes this legislation represents a crucial step toward reducing racial and gender disparities in healthcare and improving outcomes for all Massachusetts residents. The Caucus is also proud to support this legislation in memory of our late colleague, Representative Carole Doherty, who passed away from pancreatic cancer earlier this year.  

As a bipartisan, bicameral body dedicated to advancing policies that address racial and gendered disparities in healthcare, the Caucus strongly supports this legislation as a vital step in promoting improved healthcare for all and reducing racial and gendered disparities in diagnosis and incidence. The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators urges its swift and favorable passage.  

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and continued leadership on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth.  Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide any additional information or support. 

Sincerely,  

Senator Robyn Kennedy 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators Senate Chair         

Representative Christine Barber 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators House Chair

June 13, 2025 

The Honorable Marjorie C. Decker, House Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 130
Boston, MA 02133  

The Honorable William J. Driscoll, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 111
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Honorable Chairs:  

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators submits this letter to express our strong support for H.2483/S.1549, An Act to Increase Access to Disposable Menstrual Products, filed by Representative Livingstone, Representative Barber, and Senator Jehlen. 

As a bipartisan, bicameral body comprising 61 members—more than 31% of the Massachusetts Legislature—the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is guided by three overarching strategic priorities: three overarching strategic priorities to guide our work: Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity and Eliminating Barriers, Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care, and Empowering Women in Government. 

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products would mandate free and stigma-free access to menstrual products in all primary and secondary public schools, homeless shelters, prisons, and jails. This legislation is a priority of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and aligns directly with our strategic goal of addressing racial and gender disparities in health care. 

Nearly half of the Commonwealth’s population menstruates. Yet, individuals in Massachusetts spend an estimated $200 to $300 annually on menstrual products—an essential but often overlooked expense. For many, particularly those living in poverty or unstable housing, this cost is prohibitive. One in seven children in Massachusetts lives in poverty, homelessness has increased by 14%, and menstrual products are excluded from federal assistance programs like SNAP and WIC. As a result, access to basic hygiene remains out of reach for far too many. 

The impact of period poverty, defined as the inability to afford adequate menstrual hygiene supplies, is profound. Seventy-two percent of school nurses in Massachusetts report that students miss class due to a lack of access to menstrual products, directly undermining their right to learn. In Central Massachusetts alone, more than 150,000 individuals—roughly one in four menstruators—experience period poverty. For those in shelters and correctional facilities, the problem is compounded by limited access and, at times, the use of products as tools of control. 

The consequences extend beyond physical discomfort. Period poverty disrupts daily life and productivity, affecting educational and economic outcomes. Seventy percent of menstruators have missed school or work due to menstruation, and one in ten working individuals report reduced productivity during their periods. Lack of access can also lead to serious health risks, including infections, emotional distress, and the perpetuation of harmful stigma. 

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products recognizes menstrual products for what they are: a public health necessity, not a luxury. By mandating access in schools, shelters, and correctional facilities, Massachusetts can remove a deeply entrenched financial burden and affirm the right to manage one’s health with dignity. Passing this bill would represent a meaningful advancement in the Commonwealth’s commitment to equity, public wellness, and gender equality. 

Massachusetts is not alone in this effort. More than 25 states have enacted laws requiring free menstrual products in public schools and correctional facilities, reflecting a growing national consensus that menstrual equity is essential.  As one of the highest-rated states for women to live in and a beacon of gender equality, the Commonwealth should view the provision of menstrual products in public schools, shelters, and correctional facilities not as a cost, but as a meaningful investment in equity.  

We acknowledge and sincerely appreciate the Committee’s favorable reporting of this bill during the previous legislative session. As the Legislature advances its commitment to a more just and inclusive Commonwealth, the enactment of this legislation offers a significant opportunity to address economic, educational, and health disparities through a cohesive and impactful measure. 

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators proudly supports An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products and urges its swift passage. We sincerely appreciate the Committee’s favorable reporting of this legislation during the previous session and respectfully encourage the Committee to advance it once again 

We thank you for your consideration and your continued work on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can be of further assistance. 

Sincerely,  

Senator Robyn Kennedy 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators Senate Chair         

Representative Christine Barber 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators House Chair

June 24, 2025

The Honorable John Keenan, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Election Laws
State House, Room 413-F
Boston, MA 02133 

The Honorable Daniel Hunt, House Chair
Joint Committee on Election Laws
State House, Room 443
Boston, MA 02133 

Dear Honorable Chairs:  

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators respectfully submits this letter in strong support of H.804: An Act relative to gender-neutral language in Elections Law, filed by Representative Blais.

As a bipartisan, bicameral body representing 61 members—more than 31% of the Massachusetts Legislature—the Women’s Caucus is guided by three strategic priorities: Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity and Eliminating Barriers; Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care; and Empowering Women in Government.

An Act relative to gender-neutral language in the Elections Law is a legislative priority for the Caucus, as it directly supports our mission to empower women in government. The bill seeks to amend Section 3 of Chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, by replacing more than 180 instances of gendered language—such as “he,” “his,” “chairman,” and “selectmen”—with inclusive, gender-neutral terminology including “they,” “their,” “chairperson,” and “select board.” The Women’s Caucus is committed to dismantling barriers to full political participation, and this bill represents a meaningful advancement toward that goal by fostering a more inclusive and equitable legal framework.

Language is not merely a tool of communication—it is a powerful force that shapes societal perceptions and expectations. A substantial body of research demonstrates that gendered language operates as a structural barrier, deterring women from pursuing elected office and influencing public perceptions of their legitimacy and qualifications. As such, the continued use of masculine-default language in the Commonwealth’s statutes perpetuates, especially in election laws, outdated assumptions about who is presumed to belong in public leadership. This linguistic bias reinforces and institutionalizes gender disparities in civic participation.

As the Caucus commemorates its 50th anniversary, we are acutely aware of the enduring gender disparity in the Massachusetts Legislature. To date, only 241 women have served in the General Court. This figure is not indicative of a lack of interest or capacity, but rather of persistent structural and cultural barriers that inhibit women’s full participation in public life.  Among those barriers is the use of gendered statutory language, which not only affects voter perception but also undermines the legitimacy of the women who serve today. Such erasure is incompatible with the Commonwealth’s core values of equity, justice, and inclusive governance.

H.804 directly addresses these systemic inequities by eliminating gendered language from election laws, thereby affirming that individuals of all gender identities are entitled to equitable representation under the law. Amending these statutes to incorporate gender-neutral language is a necessary and long-overdue measure to promote equal access to political participation and to ensure that the Commonwealth’s legal framework reflects the full diversity of its constituents. Enactment of this legislation would reaffirm the Commonwealth’s commitment to equity in governance, acknowledge the contributions of more than a century of women legislators, and acknowledge the leadership of individuals across the gender spectrum in public service.

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators strongly urges swift and favorable action on H.804, An Act relative to gender-neutral language in the Elections Law.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and your continued leadership on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further information or assistance.

Sincerely,  

Senator Robyn Kennedy 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators Senate Chair         

Representative Christine Barber 
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators House Chair

July 28, 2025 

The Honorable John C. Velis, Senate Chair  Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery  State House, Room 513  Boston, MA 02133  

The Honorable Mindy Domb, House Chair  Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery  State House, Room 33  Boston, MA 02133  

Dear Honorable Chairs, 

On behalf of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, we write in strong support of H.2208/S.1411 – An Act to Establish a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund, filed by Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid and Senator Liz Miranda.

The Women’s Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral body of 62 members, comprising over 31% of the Massachusetts Legislature. This session, our work is guided by three overarching strategic priorities: Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity and Eliminating Barriers, Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care, and Empowering Women in Government. In alignment with these priorities, our members have selected five legislative priorities. Among them, H.2208/S.1411 – An Act to Establish a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund is a Women’s Caucus priority bill that addresses the urgent maternal mental health crisis and directly advances our strategic goal of eliminating racial and gender disparities in health care. 

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, and the outcomes are even more alarming for Black birthing people due to structural racism and persistent inequities. In 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that life-threatening pregnancy complications have doubled over the past decade. Suicide and overdose are now the leading causes of death for women in the year after childbirth. The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition estimates that at least 20% of new mothers experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), while the DPH found that 1 in 7 birthing people and 1 in 10 partners may face postpartum depression or anxiety; another research paper showed most parents (75%) facing PMADs do not receive any treatment. 

Massachusetts took a bold and necessary step with the passage of the 2024 omnibus maternal health law, which incorporated provisions from the Moms Matter Act, including a grant program to support culturally congruent, community-based mental health support for perinatal individuals, and other important provisions requiring screening for PMADs in maternity care and pediatric settings. H.2208/S.1411 provides the necessary framework to realize the law’s promise by establishing a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund, administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 

Specifically,  An Act to Establish a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund will grow and diversify the perinatal mental health workforce through scholarships, training, and support for providers such as social workers, counselors, and peer specialists. It prioritizes institutions serving underserved communities and requires training on implicit bias to reduce disparities. The bill also funds community-based programs offering prenatal care, mental health and substance use treatment, suicide prevention, and pregnancy loss support. Importantly, it expands the definition of “perinatal individuals” to inclusively recognize foster and adoptive parents, as well as those who have experienced pregnancy loss. 

As a bipartisan, bicameral bod representing more than one-third of the Massachusetts Legislature, the Women’s Caucus sees this bill as a transformative investment in maternal mental health and equity. We are encouraged that the FY2026 budget includes funding for the Moms Matter Act, a clear sign that our Commonwealth recognizes the urgency of this moment and is committed to delivering care where it is needed most. 

We respectfully urge a favorable report on H.2208/S.1411 to ensure this program receives the sustained investment needed to succeed. By supporting the behavioral health needs of birthing people—particularly in communities that have long been marginalized—we are not only saving lives, we are also affirming the dignity and worth of every family in Massachusetts. 

Thank you for your leadership and continued commitment to the health and well-being of all residents of the Commonwealth.  

Sincerely,  

Senator Robyn Kennedy       MCWL Senate Chair

Representative Christine Barber                                                                 MCWL House Chair                                                

September 26, 2025 

The Honorable Robyn K. Kennedy, Senate Chair   Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities  State House, Room 312-D  Boston, MA 02133  

The Honorable Jay D. Livingstone, House Chair   Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities  State House, Room 146  Boston, MA 02133  

Honorable Chairs:  

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is pleased to submit testimony in strong support of H.223/S.130: An Act Relative to a Livable Wage for Human Service Workers, filed by Representative Mindy Domb and Senator Cindy F. Friedman. 

The Women Caucus is a 50 years strong, bipartisan, bicameral body of 62 members representing over 31% of the Legislature, committed to advancing women’s economic opportunity, addressing racial and gender disparities in health care, and empowering women in government. In alignment with these priorities, our members have selected five legislative priorities and endorsed an additional seventeen bills. 

An Act Relative to a Livable Wage for Human Service Workers is a priority bill of the Women's Caucus that addresses the prevailing wage gap between state-employed human service workers and those employed by state-contracted community-based agencies within a four-year period. With an estimated 80% of the Massachusetts human services workforce being women, this legislation directly advances our strategic priority of eliminating barriers to women’s economic opportunity. 

The Commonwealth is the largest purchaser of human services through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. Yet the dedicated professionals in community-based programs—who hold the same credentials and provide the same essential services as their state-employed counterparts—are paid significantly less.  

The 2025 Executive Office of Health and Human Services report documented this inequity starkly: a 58% wage gap between state-employed and agency-employed physical therapists, and a 56% gap among psychologists.  

These disparities leave community- based program employed human service workers, earning poverty-level wages, undermining their ability to support their families and destabilizing nonprofit providers that are already struggling to recruit and retain staff, further threatened by looming impact of federal cuts that threaten service continuity and organizational sustainability. 

H.223/S.130 directly addresses this crisis by requiring parity between community-based and state-employed human service workers by 2029—ensuring equal pay for equal work. This structured approach to reimbursement rates will help stabilize the workforce, protect continuity of care for vulnerable populations, and advance women’s economic opportunity, a central priority of the Caucus. 

As a bipartisan Caucus committed to advancing women’s economic opportunity, we strongly support An Act Relative to a Livable Wage for Human Service Workers as a vital step to ensure fair wages for human service workers, close persistent gender-based disparities, and stabilize the community-based providers that serve our most vulnerable residents. This bill is both a matter of fairness and of sustainability—supporting a female-dominated workforce while safeguarding essential services across the Commonwealth. 

Thank you for your favorable review of this bill and your work on the many other critical matters before our Commonwealth. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or if we can be of assistance. 

Sincerely,    

Representative Christine Barber  
MCWL House Chair  

Senator Joan B. Lovely MCWL Senate Vice Chair

November 14, 2025

The Honorable Cindy F. Friedman, Senate Chair   Joint Committee on HealthCare Financing State House, Room 313  Boston, MA 02133  

The Honorable John Lawn, House Chair   Joint Committee on Health Care Financing State House, Room 237 Boston, MA 02133  

Honorable Chairs:  

Dear Honorable Chairs:

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators respectfully submits this letter of

strong and unequivocal support for three bills designated as priority legislation by the

Caucus for the 194th General Court:

● H.2432/S.1484 – An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer (Reps. Gentile and Kane; Sen. Comerford);

● H.2208/S.1411 – An Act to establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund (Sen. Miranda; Rep. Fluker-Reid); and

● H.4611– An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products (Reps. Livingstone and Barber).

As a bipartisan, bicameral body representing 62 members—over 31% of the Legislature—the Women’s Caucus advances policies aligned with our strategic priorities: Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity, Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care, and Empowering Women in Government.

Each of the bills listed above represents a concrete, evidence-based response to longstanding inequities that disproportionately affect women and girls—particularly those living in low-income districts, historically marginalized communities, and medically underserved areas. Together, these bills address challenges that span the full lifespan, from infancy through older adulthood, and expand access to essential, highquality, and culturally competent care and resources. Women’s health is foundational, not only to individual outcomes, but to community stability, economic mobility, and the long-term advancement of women throughout Massachusetts.

Reducing Incidence and Mortality from Pancreatic Cancer (H.2432/S.1484)

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with a 13% five-year survival rate and some of the starkest racial disparities in modern oncology. National and state data consistently show that Black and Hispanic patients are diagnosed later, receive fewer specialty referrals, and face reduced access to surgical and life-saving interventions.

This bill directly addresses those disparities by establishing a statewide framework for:

● earlier detection,

● expanded access to screening and specialist care,

● culturally responsive community education, and

● coordinated efforts and enhanced multidisciplinary care in regions with limited oncology resources.

Pancreatic cancer is considered to be one of the toughest cancers faced both in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and across the United States. This legislation implements the findings of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Pancreatic Cancer, established with broad bipartisan support in 2018.

By expanding prevention, strengthening care pathways, and reducing geographic barriers, it advances the Caucus’s commitment to equitable health outcomes. Its framework for research, education, and public awareness improves early detection and promotes fair access to care—helping to reduce persistent racial and gender disparities in pancreatic cancer outcomes.

Establishing a Perinatal Behavioral Health Workforce Trust Fund (H.2208/S.1411)

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, a reality made even more severe for Black birthing people due to structural racism and inequitable access to care; this inequity is mirrored in perinatal mental health conditions—the leading complications of pregnancy and postpartum recovery—which also exhibit profound racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment.

More than 80% of birthing-aged women in the United States live in maternal mental health professional shortage areas, leaving countless families without timely or adequate support. The burden falls disproportionately on communities of color: up to 40% of Black and Latina mothers experience postpartum depression—twice the rate of White mothers—and PMAD diagnoses among AAPI communities have surged by 280% since 2010. Massachusetts mirrors these alarming national patterns. In 2023, the Department of Public Health reported that life-threatening pregnancy complications have doubled over the past decade, and 1 in 5 new mothers experiences a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder—most without ever receiving the treatment they urgently need.

H.2208/S.1411 provides a focused, structural solution by establishing a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to:

● expand and diversify the perinatal behavioral health workforce,

● strengthen culturally responsive and community-based care models,

● improve access in medically underserved and high-risk communities, and

● reduce wait times and gaps in follow-up care.

This legislation complements the progress made under the Commonwealth’s 2024 omnibus maternal health law by providing the workforce infrastructure needed to fully implement expanded screening, culturally congruent services, and community mental health supports.

By addressing the workforce shortages that drive persistent inequities, H.2208/S.1411 advances maternal health justice and ensures that every birthing person—regardless of race, zip code, or income—has access to the care they need and deserve.

Increasing Access to Menstrual Products (H.4611)

Access to menstrual products is a basic health necessity, yet thousands of people in Massachusetts experience “period poverty”—a barrier that disproportionately affects Black and Latina women, low-income families, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those who are incarcerated. When people cannot afford or access menstrual products, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching: 70% of menstruators report missing school or work due to menstruation, and 1 in 10 working individuals experience reduced productivity

H.4611 addresses this inequity directly by requiring free, accessible menstrual products in public schools, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters, ensuring no one must choose between basic hygiene and participating fully in education, employment, or community life.

Massachusetts has shown strong and consistent support for menstrual equity—the Senate has unanimously passed this bill for three consecutive sessions. Across the country, more than 25 states have already enacted similar measures in schools and correctional settings, reflecting a growing national consensus that menstrual products are essential, not optional.

As one of the highest-rated states for women to live in and a longstanding leader in gender equity, Massachusetts should view menstrual products not as a cost, but as a critical investment in dignity, health, and equal opportunity. Enacting this bill would eliminate a longstanding barrier and reaffirm the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring that every resident can participate fully and equitably in daily life.

Conclusion

The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators—now in its fiftieth year—continues its mission to strengthen the leadership, health, and economic status of women and girls across the Commonwealth. At the start of the legislative session, following a robust review process and extensive member input, the Caucus adopted three strategic priorities, five legislative priorities that have received bipartisan and bicameral support. and seventeen endorsed bills. We have advanced these measures through written testimonies, legislative briefings, and active participation in statewide coalitions.

Currently, three of our five legislative priorities have received favorable reports from their initial committees and now await consideration before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. The three bills outlined above address fundamental inequities in access to care by expanding the health care workforce, ensuring the availability of essential health and hygiene resources, and strengthening prevention and public awareness. They reaffirm Massachusetts’s obligation to ensure that no woman or girl is denied care, dignity, or opportunity because of race, income, geography, or gender.

For these reasons, the Women’s Caucus respectfully urges the Committee to issue favorable reports on all three bills. Each measure is a necessary step toward building a Massachusetts where women—and all who depend on them—are fully supported throughout their lives.

Thank you for your leadership and your attention to these critical matters. The Caucus stands ready to provide any additional information or assistance the Committee may require.

Sincerely,    

Representative Christine Barber  
MCWL House Chair  

Senator Robyn Kennedy MCWL Senate Chair