We're all spending a lot more time at home this year, and for many of us, that means spending a lot more time with our furry friends. Meet the cats of Team Lewis! #mapoliwithanimals My cats Mimzie and Mookie, both 9 years old!

Happy #LaborDay! The past six months during the coronavirus pandemic have made us all better understand and appreciate the essential workers who perform their jobs despite the health risks to themselves and their loved ones. Thank you! There are many policies we need to pursue at the state and federal level to address unconscionable economic inequality and injustice in our state and country.

Today, the Mass. House and @MA_Senate announced with @MassGovernor that municipalities & school districts will NOT face a budget cut for unrestricted local aid or Chapter 70 school funding in Fiscal Year 2021. #mapoli Due to the severe economic recession brought about by the pandemic, most cities and towns have been bracing for state budget cuts so this should be very welcome news. #mapoli

I'm speaking now to the @Winchester_MA School Committee and asking them to finally replace the town's Sachem mascot. We are all proud of our town's strong public school system. However, something that I know many of us are not proud of is the continued use of the Sachem mascot for our sports teams.

Speaking now in the @MA_Senate about the resolve I filed with @Jo_Comerford, @NikaElugardo & @SabadosaMA to create a special commission to study and redesign the Massachusetts state seal and motto! #mapoli Most MA residents are probably familiar with our state flag. They no doubt recognize the white field, blue crest and gold figure. But few stop to consider the meaning of this image-- our state seal, displayed as the official emblem of our Commonwealth on our flag & elsewhere.

I'm speaking now on the @MA_Senate floor in support of Amendment #141, which increases funding for the successful Complete Streets program. #mapoli #CompleteStreets is a @MassDOT Program that provides technical assistance and funding to eligible municipalities in order to enable safe mobility access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. #mapoli

At 10:00, the Joint Committee on Education will kick off the first session of an oversight hearing on early education and child care. I'm looking forward to chairing this important conversation with my House co-chair @RepAlicePeisch. Tune in here: malegislature.gov/Events/Hearing… Even before the #COVID19 pandemic, the #EarlyEducation & #ChildCare system in Mass. was facing significant challenges. Since mid-March, when @MassGovernor issued a state of emergency order and most childcare programs had to close their doors, the sector has been in crisis.

Like so many in our community, I am horrified and dismayed by police brutality against Black Americans and other people of color, and the lack of accountability for such egregious actions. (1/6) The murders of George Floyd & Breonna Taylor have reignited a critical movement to demand police accountability, racial justice, & and end to pervasive, systemic racism in our country. I know the important responsibility & opportunity I have to help advance this work in MA. (2/6)

Dismantling systems of racial oppression begins by acknowledging the way in which an unequal justice system impacts social welfare, education, housing, and employment in a way that amplifies a racial caste system rooted in racial slavery. (1/4)

https://twitter.com/PenielJoseph/status/1267170245225185284

The nation needs fewer police and more investments in racially segregated and economically impoverished communities whose suffering has only increased due to the coronavirus pandemic. (2/4)

We're facing an unprecedented situation with the global spread of the #COVID19 virus. This is a confusing and challenging time for all of us to navigate, and many of our neighbors, businesses, & institutions are facing significant disruption & hardship #mapoli For info about #COVID19 and actions we all need to take, please continue to rely upon only trustworthy sources of info: local town/city officials & Boards of Health, @MassDPH & @CDCgov. DPH is regularly updating a helpful website with many resources at: mass.gov/resource/infor…

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey on #transportation and #commuting! We are pleased to share the results below. [1/12] #mapoli Almost 800 people responded! The results aren't statistically significant, and probably include some selection bias, but we had great resources to develop the questions (H/t @skoczela for some helpful tips!) [2/12] #mapoli

I believe that increasing diversity in our state’s workforce and leadership, in both the public and private sectors, is both a moral and an economic imperative for our Commonwealth.

https://twitter.com/leung/status/1215605090167541761

That's why I filed a bill with @rephaddad
to require gender parity & racial diversity on MA's many boards & commissions (of which there are several 100, ranging from the Health Policy Commission to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education ...).

malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4153

The poor #OrangeLine service this week is unacceptable. The T must prioritize immediate steps to ensure that enough cars are in service & can operate without delays. The issues with the new cars must be resolved quickly so they can fully replace the old fleet in the near future. We're pursuing many initiatives to improve our transportation system. Projects are underway to upgrade Oak Grove & Winchester Center stations, a needs analysis is almost complete for Malden Center, & we're calling for accessibility improvements at the Wakefield commuter station.

#OakGrove station is a critically important transit hub for our communities— with thousands of daily riders arriving on foot, by bus, car, bike and ride share, it’s so important to make sure the station is accessible and functional for everyone #mapoli That’s why tonight’s public meeting is so exciting! We’re discussing the tens of millions of dollars being invested into Oak Grove to increase #functionality, #accessibility and #safety at the station #mapoli

In a few minutes, I’ll be speaking on the @MA_Senate floor on the #StudentOpportunityAct, our historic proposal to reform the Mass. school funding formula and invest $1.5 billion in our public schools and students.

Tune into the livestream at this link:
malegislature.gov/Events/Session… The #StudentOpportunityAct reflects our state’s core value that dictates that every child, regardless of ethnicity, background or ability, deserves a great public education. Education is the golden door to opportunity.

.@RepAlicePeisch and I are pleased to announce that the #StudentOpportunityAct conference committee filed its report this morning, with an expected vote by the full House and Senate tomorrow. This historic $1.5 billion investment in our public schools ensures that all students across the Commonwealth will receive the resources necessary to succeed.

Health care is a human right, and it is unconscionable that Massachusetts residents face financial ruin because of health care costs driven in no small part by out-of-control prescription drug costs. That's why I'm proud to support the #PACTAct today. #mapoli I'm speaking now in support of my amendment to expand early notice to the Health Policy Commission when the price of generic prescription drugs is going to increase significantly. This is an important measure to ensure that generic costs don't balloon to become unaffordable.

I was very disappointed to see Islamophobic comments on social media last week about a Malden City Council candidate. This kind of hate speech has absolutely no place in our civic discourse. Our communities are enriched immeasurably by cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. Every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Congratulations to the Town of Stoneham which has officially advanced to the next stage in the @Mass_SBA program for the construction of a new Stoneham High School!

CC: @StonehamSuper The start of the “feasibility period” allows the School Building Cmte. can start work to develop concepts for the new SHS. This wouldn't be possible without the years of advocacy by Stoneham Public Schools, the community, & a recognition that a new high school is badly needed.

Starting the @MA_Senate formal session on the #StudentOpportunityAct.

Tune in here: malegislature.gov/Events/Session…

And follow this thread for live updates from me and my team!

#mapoli #FBRC #MAEdu @MA_Senate I'm speaking now in support of the #StudentOpportunityAct, a piece of legislation which recognizes the fact that access to an excellent public education is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right, in every community and for every child in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. #MAEdu

Earlier today, the Education Cmte. released the #StudentOpportunityAct, an unprecedented $1.5B investment in MA public schools, will expand opportunities for all students, esp. those facing educational disadvantages, and provide more resources to all of our communities. #mapoli One of the first issues that motivated me to run for office was the need for adequate and equitable funding in MA public education. Education is a right: it should be provided equitably to all children, regardless of their zip code or income level. #mapoli #StudentOpportunityAct