Press Releases
KENNEDY ASKS MASS DPH TO COLLECT AND RELEASE RACIAL DATA ON COVID-19
Newton, MA - As cities and states around the country confront troubling racial and ethnic inequities in COVID-19 death rates and testing access, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called on Massachusetts health care regulators to collect and release demographic data related to the testing for and treatment of COVID-19 in real time. In a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Kennedy wrote that this data is essential not only to combatting racism in our health care system but … Continue Reading
April 06, 2020
KENNEDY TO SENATE: ACT NOW TO PROTECT MASHPEE WAMPANOAG TRIBE
Newton, MA - Days after the Trump Administration announced that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reservation lands would be disestablished, Congressman Joe Kennedy III led a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell demanding an immediate voice vote on the House-passed Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act. Kennedy's legislation, introduced with Congressman Bill Keating, would simply reaffirm the Mashpee Wampanoag's legal and historical claims to their … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
KENNEDY TO GIG ECONOMY EXECS: PROTECT YOUR WORKERS
Newton, MA - As gig workers demanding better health protections strike nationwide, Congressman Joe Kennedy III called on the executives of Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft to guarantee personal protective equipment, hazard pay and permanent paid sick leave for all their workers. Citing the unique health and economic threats facing gig workers, Kennedy wrote that the COVID-19 outbreak has exposed the dangers of misclassifying gig economy workers, whether in the midst of a pandemic or … Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
KENNEDY URGES THREE KEY REFORMS FOR FAMILIES, AS COUNTRY ENTERS PIVOTAL MONTH IN COVID-19 RESPONSE
Newton, MA - As the country enters a pivotal month in the COVID-19 crisis, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called on Congressional leadership to act immediately to provide families with additional economic security as we battle an acute, national health care crisis. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, Kennedy urged Congress to: 1. Immediately enroll all uninsured people in Medicaid, to ensure every person can access testing and treatment and to … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
KENNEDY: AUTO-ENROLL ALL UNINSURED AMERICANS & IMMIGRANTS IN MEDICAID NOW
Washington, DC - As unprecedented numbers of Americans claim unemployment, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called on the federal government to work with states to automatically enroll all uninsured Americans and immigrants in Medicaid. Building on his recently unveiled Worker's Economic Recovery Plan, Kennedy's call for immediate universal health coverage would protect vulnerable people from preventable illness and financial ruin. In order to put this plan into action, Kennedy called on … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
KENNEDY JOINS CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE SHELTER-IN-PLACE
Newton, MA - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today added his name to the growing list of medical experts, public health officials, and elected leaders calling for President Trump to enact a nationwide shelter-in-place order. Kennedy made the case that only an order of this level - paired with increased travel restrictions, a dramatic surge in testing, and enhanced tracking of disease spread - will be effective at cutting off this crisis. Leading public health experts agree that a strong, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
KENNEDY JOINS CLARK, PRESSLEY AND HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO URGE $21 BILLION CHILD CARE INVESTMENT FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE
Newton, MA - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today joined Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, along with several other House colleagues, to call for the inclusion of over $21 billion in child care funding in the third emergency stimulus package currently being debated in Congress in response to COVID-19. On Monday, Governor Charlie Baker called for the closure of most childcare programs across Massachusetts. While critical to public safety, these closures have added … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
KENNEDY: DEPLOY "MANUFACTURING USA" NETWORK TO HELP ADDRESS ACUTE MEDICAL SUPPLY SHORTAGE
Newton, MA -- Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called on the Administration and its Coronavirus Task Force to immediately deploy the United States' existing federal manufacturing network -- "Manufacturing USA" -- to help produce and distribute life-saving medical equipment and supplies in response to COVID-19. Six years ago, Kennedy authored legislation to create a national network of domestic manufacturing centers. Signed into law by President Obama, the Revitalize American Manufacturing … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Kennedy, Tonko Lead Bipartisan Letter to Speaker Pelosi Requesting Coronavirus Response Address Mental Health
WASHINGTON-Representatives Joe Kennedy III, Paul D. Tonko, Doris Matsui, and Scott Peters led a letter signed by 74 bipartisan members sent to House leadership today requesting that the next coronavirus response package address the mental health challenges associated with this public health crisis. "For patients battling mental health challenges and substance use disorders, an unprecedented public health pandemic combined with increased isolation and limited access to care can cause immense … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
KENNEDY & CLARK DEMAND ANSWERS -- AGAIN -- ON PRODUCTION OF PPE & VENTILATORS
Newton, MA -- Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Congresswoman Katherine Clark today sent another missive to the Administration demanding an immediate invocation of the Defense Production Act authorities, which would allow the President to direct private industry to produce critically needed medical equipment, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. Hospitals and medical centers across Massachusetts and the country are reporting a dire lack of PPE for doctors, nurses, and … Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
KENNEDY UNVEILS WORKER'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN
Newton, MA - As the economic costs of the COVID-19 pandemic begin to mount, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today announced a worker's economic recovery plan that would guarantee immediate, universal cash payments to all Americans, fast track and increase access to unemployment insurance, and send an influx of Medicaid (MassHealth) funds to states across the country dealing with a health care sector in crisis. Continuing his focus on populations most vulnerable to this outbreak, Kennedy's plan … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
KENNEDY DEMANDS INCREASED SNAP FUNDING, URGENT FOOD AID REFORMS
Washington, D.C. - As the COVID-19 outbreak extends into new communities, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today called on Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to revoke any rules that would threaten access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, front load benefits to help families prepare for quarantines, and work with public and private sector partners to utilize food delivery programs. Building on those efforts, he also joined the Massachusetts delegation in calling on … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
KENNEDY, UNDERWOOD, KATKO INTRODUCE MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH BILL
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today introduced the Moms MATTER Act to address critical maternal mental and behavioral health challenges facing women, focusing on minority women. Introduced with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Congressman John Katko (R-NY-24), the bill also promotes innovative evidence-based programs that improve outcomes for women throughout their pregnancies and up to one year postpartum. "For new moms of color, a mental health and substance use … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
KENNEDY ADVOCATES FOR LOCAL LABOR IN OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY
Washington, D.C. -- In a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Congressman Joe Kennedy III called on state officials to ensure an emerging offshore wind industry employed local workers with living wages and strong labor protections. While celebrating economic development commitments from existing offshore wind projects, Kennedy also raised concerns about the cost of transporting materials from any international manufacturers awarded contracts over domestic … Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
KENNEDY ANNOUNCES CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE MEETING, URGES EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
Washington, D.C. - As Congress races to respond to the spread of coronavirus, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today urged House and Senate leadership to include emergency funding for community health centers in any proposal. Kennedy has stressed the need to ensure the uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise vulnerable patient populations have access to the testing, prevention, and treatment that will be needed in the weeks ahead. Kennedy also announced that he will be convening a meeting at East … Continue Reading
February 27, 2020
KENNEDY, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR ALL ACT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today joined Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), and 17 colleagues to introduce the landmark Environmental Justice for All Act. The comprehensive legislation would strengthen civil rights laws, bolster environmental justice enforcement, fund health equity programs, and authorize critical grant programs for environmental justice communities among other provisions and policies. "Communities that have … Continue Reading
February 27, 2020
Kennedy, Pingree, Welch reject Administration cuts to energy aid for coronavirus response
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to congressional appropriators, Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Peter Welch (VT-AL) blasted President Trump's proposal to remove critical funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to finance his administration's response to the coronavirus. Citing his perennial efforts to slash funding for the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health, the lawmakers wrote that … Continue Reading
February 27, 2020
KENNEDY LEADS CALL TO REVOKE HARMFUL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY RULES
Washington, D.C. - In both a letter to the President and Congressional testimony delivered this morning, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today took to multiple venues to reject the Administration's recently announced "faith-based" regulations that would distort religious freedom laws in order to legalize state-sponsored discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans and other marginalized communities. Signed by fifteen House Democrats, Kennedy's letter was sent minutes after his testimony before the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
KENNEDY SLAMS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration struggles to coordinate a response to the coronavirus, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today demanded answers on the conflicting messages from numerous officials and misleading claims from the President himself. At an emergency hearing convened by the Energy & Commerce Committee, Kennedy asked Trump Administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
KENNEDY REINTROS BILL TO STRENGTHEN KIDS’ ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joe Kennedy III today reintroduced a bipartisan bill to streamline the enrollment process for care provided to children outside of the state where they are enrolled in a Medicaid program. Cosponsored by Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03) and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act would create a limited pathway for pediatric providers to be screened and enrolled in another state's Medicaid program to eliminate … Continue Reading