Letters of Testimony: Legislative Priorities
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June 13, 2025
The Honorable Marjorie C. Decker, House Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 130
Boston, MA 02133The Honorable William J. Driscoll, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 111
Boston, MA 02133The 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 ChairRepresentative 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 02133The Honorable William J. Driscoll, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Public Health
State House, Room 111
Boston, MA 02133Dear 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 ChairRepresentative 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 02133The Honorable Daniel Hunt, House Chair
Joint Committee on Election Laws
State House, Room 443
Boston, MA 02133Dear 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 ChairRepresentative Christine Barber
Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators House Chair