Memorial Day: Remembering and Honoring Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Our Nation

Looking across this field, we see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America. And all carried with them memories of a family that they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice. – Former President George W. Bush in his 2005 Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery

On Memorial Day, the members of the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus join with Americans everywhere to offer our eternal gratitude and thanks to the many men and women throughout our nation’s history who have answered the call to serve and made the ultimate sacrifice. Their selfless actions on behalf of the Commonwealth and our nation are the reason we continue to enjoy the many freedoms and liberties we hold dear but too often take for granted. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and they remain in our thoughts today, along with the loved ones they left behind.

Representative Vaughn appointed to serve on PROTECT Act conference committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (R-Wrentham) to serve on a six-member conference committee that will work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of an immigrant protection bill designed to impose restrictions on federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Massachusetts.

An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment, also known as the PROTECT Act, was initially approved by the House on March 25 as House Bill 5316. The Senate passed its own version of the bill on May 7 as Senate Bill 3086.

Both bills would prohibit state and local law enforcement officers from inquiring about an individual’s immigration or citizenship status except in narrow, documented circumstances. They would also prevent law enforcement officers from using state or local resources to carry out a federal civil immigration enforcement action.

Despite the similarities, there are also clear differences between the House and Senate bills. For example, while the House version establishes courthouses as protected spaces where ICE cannot make arrests and directs state agencies to develop policies and procedures for other facilities such as schools and hospitals, the Senate version expands these protected spaces to explicitly include courthouses, school grounds, childcare centers, hospitals, and places of worship.

Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill prohibits the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE, which are used to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement officials. The Senate version also establishes a private right to action for individuals to sue under state law if they feel ICE has violated their constitutional rights, while also prohibiting out-of-state military personnel from entering the Commonwealth without the Governor’s approval.

The House bill, unlike the Senate version, includes provisions providing inmates in correctional facilities with access to immigration legal services while also allowing justices, clerks, and bail commissioners to consider the likelihood of imminent deportation when determining whether releasing someone from custody will reasonably ensure their appearance before the court.

“As a member of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, Marcus was directly involved with the drafting of the original PROTECT Act and has been closely monitoring its progress as it has moved through the House and Senate and has undergone significant changes,” said Representative Jones. “Working with his fellow conferees as they attempt to reach a compromise between the two legislative branches, I anticipate Marcus will do everything he can to try to strike the right balance between guaranteeing everyone due process and protecting the public from the most dangerous criminals.”

Joining Vaughn on the conference committee are Representatives Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) and Andres Vargas (D-Haverhill), as well as Senators Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence) and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

First elected in November of 2022, Vaughn is currently in his second term as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In addition to serving as a member of the House and Joint Committees on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Vaughn is also the Ranking Minority Member on the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, and the House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security.

Vaughn represents the 9^th Norfolk District, which consists of Precincts 3 and 4 in Medfield; Precinct 1in Millis; Precinct 5 in Walpole; and the towns of Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.

Representative Sweezey named to Fair Share supplemental budget conference committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Kenneth P. Sweezey (R-Duxbury) to serve on a six-member conference committee that will work to reconcile the differences between competing versions of a supplemental budget that allocates surplus Fair Share surtax revenues for a variety of education and transportation initiatives across the state.

The House passed its version of the supplemental budget on March 18 by a vote of 150-3, while the Senate approved its version on April 9 by a vote of 35-4. Both bills authorize $1.8 billion in total spending, mostly from surtax revenues, but differ on how this funding will be distributed. They also take different approaches on how Massachusetts should respond to recent federal tax law changes.

The House bill calls for $885 million to go towards public transportation and $417 million to be used for public education, while also addressing deficiencies in several state budget accounts for Fiscal Year 2026. The Senate bill sets aside $753 million for transportation and $591 million for education, including $25 million to encourage school consolidations in rural communities as a cost-saving measure.

“Ken has been a staunch advocate for making sure taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively and not being wasted,” said Representative Jones. “I am confident he will do a great job on the conference committee to ensure that the surplus surtax revenues will be put to good use to support the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure and education system.”

“I want to thank Leader Jones for entrusting me with this important responsibility,” said Representative Sweezey. “For the Fair Share surtax to have a positive impact, we must at least ensure that our schools are reaping the benefits, and the funds are distributed to all communities and do not leave anyone behind. I look forward to the negotiations and working with my colleagues for a balanced consensus.”

Joining Representative Sweezey on the conference committee are House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Representative Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable), Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), and Senators Joanne Comerford (D-Northampton) and Patrick O'Connor (R-Weymouth).

Representative Sweezey currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on both the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. He is also a member of the House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Elected to the House of Representatives in November of 2024, Representative Sweezey represents the 6th Plymouth District, which is comprised of the town Duxbury; Precinct 2 of the town of Halifax; Precincts 2 and 3 of the town of Hanson; Precincts 2A and 4 of the town of Marshfield; and Precincts 1, 2, 3A, 4, and 5 of the town of Pembroke.

Representative Xiarhos Appointed to Task Force on Hate Crimes

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. (R–North Reading) has appointed State Representative Steven G. Xiarhos (R–Barnstable) to serve on the Task Force on Hate Crimes, replacing State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R–Seekonk), who has served on the task force since 2022.

Members of the task force serve in an advisory capacity and assist the state in developing policies for preventing and responding to hate crimes. The task force works with law enforcement agencies, school districts, and state and municipal officials to identify ways to improve the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of hate crimes, while ensuring that individuals and communities targeted by these crimes receive support. It also provides technical assistance to school districts interested in incorporating hate crime education into their curriculum.

“Steven has an extensive background of four decades of service working in law enforcement, so he understands the important role police officers play in investigating hate crimes and protecting the public,” said Representative Jones. “His expertise in this area will serve him well as he works with his fellow task force members to strengthen the state’s response to hate crimes and support for victims.”

“After four decades in law enforcement, I know how important it is that every person in every community feels safe and protected,” said Representative Xiarhos. “Hate crimes not only harm individuals, they strike at the very heart of our communities. I am honored to serve on this task force and look forward to working with law enforcement, educators, and community leaders to prevent these crimes, support victims, and ensure that hate has no place in Massachusetts. It is especially meaningful to serve alongside Gina Kwon, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and Josh Kraft, president of the New England Patriots Foundation, whose leadership and commitment to strengthening our communities will help guide this important work.”

According to a state report released in December 2025, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) received 467 reports of hate crime incidents in 2024 from 82 municipal police departments, 13 campus police organizations, and the State Police. Although the total number of reported incidents was down from the 557 hate crimes reported in 2023, the 147 reported instances of anti-Jewish hate crimes were the highest in at least two decades, representing an almost 24% increase over the previous year.

The task force was initially created under the administration of William Weld and Paul Cellucci in 1991 as the Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes and was later formalized under Executive Order 401, issued by Governor Cellucci on December 5, 1997. Former Governor Charlie Baker reconstituted the task force through Executive Order 578 on November 6, 2017, and in 2021 it was formally established in statute by the Massachusetts Legislature as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget.

The task force, which is currently co-chaired by EOPSS Secretary Gina Kwon and Josh Kraft, president of the New England Patriots Foundation, includes representatives of victim assistance agencies, advocates for communities affected by hate crimes, district attorneys’ offices, and state, local, and university police departments, as well as legislators, including the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion. The task force is required to meet at least four times a year and is responsible for filing an annual report by December 31 containing its recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to combat hate crimes.

Representative Xiarhos currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management and the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. He is also a member of the House and Joint Committees on Ways and Means, as well as the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Representative Bradley Jones Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement today:

After 32 years serving in the House of Representatives, I have decided that I will not seek re-election to another term this fall.

Serving as State Representative has been a tremendously meaningful part of my life, and while difficult to leave behind, I eagerly look forward to my next chapter. It is a profound and distinct honor for which I will be eternally grateful. Representing the community where I was born and raised has made this even more of a privilege.

Thank you to my constituents for allowing me to serve them for over three decades, electing me 17 times. I am very proud to have maintained my perfect voting record since I first took the oath of office on March 22, 1994. As of last count, it is over 8,180 roll call votes. I believe this is a reflection of my commitment to my constituents.

I have served and worked with many extraordinary local public officials, community volunteers, and committed advocates over the years. Together, we have brought countless local initiatives and projects to completion, improving the facilities and services across the district. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes, inviting me into your neighborhoods, letting me celebrate milestones with you, and including me in community celebrations throughout my four towns.

My colleagues in the Republican caucus have afforded me the rare privilege to serve as Minority Leader since 2002, allowing me to be even more impactful in my service. Working with so many talented and dedicated members, often across the aisle, on a wide range of important issues over the years has been rewarding and inspiring.

I have been extremely fortunate to have had so many remarkable staff members support me over the years. Constituent service has always been paramount, and together, we have assisted thousands of residents and helped them navigate state agencies.

Until my term concludes next January, I will continue to represent the people of Lynnfield, Middleton, North Reading, & Reading with the same commitment and passion. Thank you again for the honor of representing the 20th Middlesex District and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Representative Marsi Appointed to Serve on Student Literacy Bill Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative John J. Marsi (R-Dudley) to serve on a six-member legislative conference committee focused on improving student literacy in Massachusetts.

Marsi is one of three Representatives and three Senators serving on the conference committee, which will work to resolve the differences between recent House and Senate legislation seeking to overhaul the state’s education curriculum to ensure that all students are proficient in reading. Joining Marsi on the conference committee are Representatives Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford) and Simon Cataldo (D-Concord) and Senators Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett), Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) and Patrick O'Connor (R-Weymouth).

The House passed its version of An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy (House Bill 4683) on October 29, while the Senate engrossed its version (Senate Bill 2940) on January 29. Both versions passed unanimously in their respective branches.

The two bills call for twice-yearly screenings of students in kindergarten through grade 3 to test their reading abilities and require that parents and guardians be notified if these screenings show their child has fallen significantly below the relevant grade level benchmarks. The bills also require school districts’ curriculums to incorporate “evidence-based literacy instruction” approved by the state, including “phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension,” but would allow districts to seek waivers to teach an alternative method that is evidence-based and meets quality standards determined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

One key difference between the two early literacy bills is the House version specifically prohibits school districts from using certain instructional methods such as “three-cueing” which is defined in the bill as “implicit and incidental instruction in word reading, visual memorization of whole words, guessing from context and picture cues” to help students identify words. The Senate bill also contains a provision, not found in the House version, that would create an Early Literacy Fund and initially provide $25 million for DESE to use to develop a K-3 curriculum and provide support to school districts.

“As the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Education, John will play an important role on the conference committee as it works to reconcile the differences between the two bills,” said Representative Jones. “Drawing on his expertise and working collaboratively with his fellow conferees, I am confident John will do everything he can to reach a consensus on the policy reforms needed to ensure that every young student across the Commonwealth has the proper instructional materials to succeed in developing their reading skills.”

In addition to his role as the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Education, Marsi also currently serves on the House and Joint Ways and Means Committees, the Joint Committee on Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities, and the Joint Committee on Transportation.

Marsi represents the 6th Worcester District, which is comprised of Dudley; Southbridge; Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4A in Charlton; and Precinct 1 in Spencer.

House Minority Leader Jones' Statement on Filing of Federal SNAP Fraud Charges Against Four Massachusetts Residents

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement today after U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley announced charges against four Massachusetts residents for SNAP fraud:

“At a time when so many families are struggling to put food on the table, it is an outrage to hear that taxpayer dollars meant to support such a vital safety net program are going to individuals who don’t qualify for or deserve assistance. Even more disturbing is how lackadaisical the Healey Administration’s response has been since it learned of this scheme. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Rhode Island officials uncovered clear evidence of fraud occurring within the SNAP program and notified Massachusetts’ Department of Transitional Assistance in June of 2024, which allowed DTA to identify $115,000 in fraudulent SNAP benefits that had already been paid out. Rather than immediately notifying the U.S. Department of Agriculture about this and trying to recover these funds, DTA simply shut down the accounts when it should have instead been working with federal officials to identify these individuals and prevent them from continuing to illegally obtain benefits. This is a disgrace and an indictment of the Healey Administration. The governor’s unwillingness to share information on SNAP beneficiaries with federal officials is unacceptable and opens the door to continued fraud and abuse. Governor Healey needs to correct this immediately by expediting the use of EBT card chips authorized by the Legislature last year and by directing DTA to take additional steps to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected and resources remain available to those who are truly in need, not for those individuals who are trying to defraud the system. Those additional steps should include the implementation of an annual audit of DTA that would require a review of benefits, including out of state use, as the House Republican Caucus proposed during the Fiscal Year 2026 budget debate. I would also like to know the status of DTA’s planned investments in enhanced security measures like encryption and fraud protection that the Commissioner highlighted in his budget testimony last March. Ironically, Governor Healey has language in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal that would extend the length of time between audits of government entities from three years to five years. That would be a huge mistake and would only open the door to more fraud and abuse going undetected.”

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.” – the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus honors the life and legacy of Dr. King, the pioneering civil rights leader who advocated for the use of non-violent means to fight injustice. In his short life, he showed how one person can make a real difference to help bring about positive change for all Americans.