Legislative Update – Week of January 30, 2023

Jan 31, 2023

Last week:

MassBio hosted our annual Policy Leadership Breakfast on Wednesday, where State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) was honored as our 2022 Legislator of the Year. Governor Maura Healey shared her commitment to ensure Massachusetts remains the global epicenter of the life sciences in her remarks at the Breakfast. Over 60 public officials and staff joined the sold-out event, including Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.

Governor Maura Healey appointed Kate Walsh, president, and CEO of Boston Medical Center, to be Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. As the Commonwealth’s largest executive office, Walsh will oversee 22,000 public employees and a more than $27 billion budget. Walsh’s many years in healthcare industry include experience as Chief Operating Officer for Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research.

Jeff Zients will be the new White House Chief of Staff, President Biden announced last week. Zients previously served as COVID-19 Response Coordinator in the Biden Administration and held positions in the Obama Administration including Director of the National Economic Council and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu delivered her first State of the City address last week with a focus on increasing housing access and affordability and ending the use of fossil fuels in the development of new construction and major renovations.

This week:

On Monday, Gina Fiandaca is sworn in as Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation. Secretary Fiandaca will lead her first Department of Transportation Board of Directors meeting virtually on Thursday.

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