Below are the remarks by Gov. Maura Healey, as ready for her inauguration, January 5, 2023:
Mr. Speaker, Madame President, and members of the Legislature,
Madame Chief Justice and members of the Judiciary,
Members of the Governor’s Council and the Cabinet,
Former Governors,
First responders, members of the armed providers, veterans, and distinguished visitors, Residents of our beloved Commonwealth,
We collect in the present day to switch the ability of presidency and to resume the miracle of democracy. We collect within the public belief, and commit ourselves as soon as extra to the work of the individuals.
I thank Governor Baker, who has led this Commonwealth with a gentle hand. He has ruled with integrity and care — keen to review issues and work collectively on options. The instance he set for eight years was in the very best traditions of public service, and it now turns into his legacy. Governor Baker, I thanks, and our state thanks you.
I thank Kim Driscoll, the very best teammate I may ask for. In Salem, she has led with an eye fixed to the long run — defending the coastal treasure of our state, and ensuring we protect it for generations to return. Kim, I can’t wait to get to work.
I thank my household, lots of whom are with me on this chamber. And so many academics, coaches, mentors, and pals, who’re in my coronary heart.
I assume this workplace with humility — aware of the burden of historical past and lightened by the present of gratitude. It is the consideration of my life to guide this state.
My household’s story is a Massachusetts story, greater than three centuries within the telling. My ancestors landed on a river financial institution in Newbury. On the journey they have been borne alongside by desires
of larger freedom, and hope for the blessings of life. Decades later, within the Massachusetts Constitution — the primary of its variety — those self same desires have been written right into a covenant and protected forever. A mannequin for a younger nation.
My great-great-grandfather grew up in Newburyport. When he was 16, his father signed a permission slip so he may battle for the Union within the Civil War. My grandmother as a younger woman would go to the Grand Army of the Republic Hall to listen to their tales, and he or she’d later share them with my brothers and sisters and me. I take into consideration them as I have a look at the servicemembers right here, and honor the sacrifices they make every day.
My grandparents met on the fishing docks in a Gloucester summer time. She was in nursing faculty; he labored on the GE manufacturing facility. Later, once I was to be born at a naval hospital in Maryland, they nervous that I wasn’t beginning my life on Massachusetts soil. So she dug up a bit filth from the woodlot, caught a aircraft, sneaked into the hospital room, and put the little bag below the supply desk.
Massachusetts is my house. Its pure presents take my breath away, and its individuals fill me with inspiration in return. The majesty of Mount Greylock and the hairpin flip at North Adams on the Mohawk Trail. The mild at Cape Ann and the cranberry bogs of Plymouth. The port of New Bedford and the glowing waters of the Quabbin. Long Point Peninsula and the Boston harbor islands guiding us on a flight house.
We share a legacy on this state. Our nation was born right here, not with a whimper however with the spark of revolution. A starvation for one thing new and a requirement for one thing higher. We established the primary public park and the primary American public library. The first American lighthouse, railroad, and subway. The first basketball recreation.
Our state Constitution acknowledged our pure and important rights and declared them to the world. The individuals of Massachusetts have all the time believed in defending these rights, and dedicating them to a better goal. We have been the primary to ensure that well being care is common, and, twenty years in the past now, that love is, too. It is in that spirit of widespread humanity that I stand earlier than you in the present day, representing one other historic first.
This state achieves its larger goal when the bedrock of particular person freedom meets the bond of the general public spirit. This is our widespread wealth, within the truest sense — equally ours, equally yours, whether or not your Massachusetts story started in an older time or in our personal time.
This is why individuals come to Massachusetts. To write their very own story, to turn into their very own first, to take up the widespread good.
What do they see?
They see the shared heritage of our stunning land. They see a name to larger studying, to enlightenment. They see analysis and innovation, joined to construct a greater future. They see tradition and charity. They see the granite dignity of laborious work and an eternal dedication to equality. They see individuals reaching for one thing higher, one thing extra.
But additionally they see limitations which might be holding again our individuals and our state. Keeping simply out of attain what may be, what might be.
We have untold wealth in Massachusetts. But file public income does little good when households can’t pay the hire, or purchase a home, or warmth their properties, or rent baby care.
Our well being system is the envy of the world. Yet our hospitals are determined for workers. Patients are boarding in emergency rooms — spending hours and days in an agonizing look forward to care. We sense the shadows of a psychological well being disaster, and too many affected by substance use.
Our corporations are wanting to broaden, however they’ll’t discover staff with the talents they want.
Communities and persons are craving to develop and thrive, however they haven’t been given the instruments to do it.
This is the best state within the union. But persons are leaving at among the highest charges within the nation. Giving up on the Massachusetts story.
All this could be problem sufficient at any time. But we meet in the present day as our state and our nation really feel their method towards the opposite facet of the Covid pandemic. This disaster has introduced out and lifted up the very best of our state. Our corporations, our ingenuity, created vaccines and saved lives. We got here collectively, all of us, with braveness and caring, endurance and persistence.
Together we’re therapeutic, however we should acknowledge the scars. Our individuals have misplaced family members. Their lives and livelihoods have been disrupted. The toll on our bodily and psychological well being is actual. The pandemic uncovered and widened gaps in studying and well being care and fairness.
I additionally suppose persons are drained. We can converse actually about that. We’ve come by tough days.
But right here’s what you and I each know.
The individuals of Massachusetts are resourceful. And resolute. And hopeful. They’re prepared for what comes subsequent. They’re able to stroll ahead. We simply must set the trail. We simply must mild the way in which.
If we do that proper — if we act and select in a method worthy of this state’s proud historical past and its nice individuals — we’ll make a distinction proper now. And we’ll lay a basis of success for generations to return.
So let’s chart a path ahead, and stroll it collectively. Into the following chapter of our Massachusetts story.
Many challenges are earlier than us, however let’s begin right here.
We love this state as a result of it’s our house. A house for us all.
We need individuals to return right here. And we would like individuals who develop up right here to remain right here. Our nation seems to be on Massachusetts as a gleaming instance of liberty and equality and success. But too many states are starting to go us by.
We must make Massachusetts a spot that folks can afford to name house. Our individuals can’t understand their desires till we finish the nightmare of excessive prices.
The common hire in our state is 50% larger than the nationwide common. We have among the lowest homeownership charges and among the highest housing costs.
Now, one motive for that is that Massachusetts is a superb place to be. People do need to stay right here. That’s a superb factor. But the price of housing can also be uncontrolled as a result of we merely don’t have sufficient of it. If we would like Massachusetts to be a house for all, we have to construct extra locations to stay, and we want to ensure these properties are inside attain.
High housing prices are unacceptable for our individuals, our companies, and our state’s future. To repair that, we have to suppose massive. We will construct a state with room for all its individuals.
To lead this effort, in my first 100 days, I’ll file laws to create a Secretary of Housing. The Secretary will work throughout authorities and assist each metropolis and city, to ensure we meet our targets.
We’ll use property that belongs to the individuals … to assist the individuals. I’ve already directed my Secretary of Administration and Finance to establish unused state-owned land and services that we are able to flip into rental housing or properties inside one 12 months.
We’ll get first-time homebuyers the assistance they want, and scale back prices for renters by increasing tax deductions.
This is a high quality begin, however we have to do extra — and we want your assist. We rise and fall as a state with the alternatives and commitments of each neighborhood. Today I’m asking each citizen to be a part of this trigger. That means constructing extra housing subsequent to transit hubs, taking one other have a look at zoning, and preserving the housing we have already got.
Loosening the grip of rising prices additionally means tax reform. I do know the Speaker and Senate President share this purpose, and I thank them for that.
I’ve already proposed a baby tax credit score for each baby, for each household. The legislature additionally put ahead a number of worthy tax minimize proposals over the past legislative session.
This would imply actual aid for the individuals who want it most. Let’s get this completed.
The energy of Massachusetts is its households. And they sorely want our assist. Our state has among the highest baby care prices within the nation. Our care staff don’t make a livable wage.
So in the present day, allow us to pledge to be the primary state to resolve the kid care disaster. Let’s lastly go laws in step with Common Start to ensure each household pays what they’ll afford, and that care staff are paid what they deserve. This is one thing our households, staff, and companies all agree on.
We additionally must construct a Massachusetts financial system for the long run.
We can’t lead tomorrow if we accept what’s adequate in the present day. To maintain attracting the very best staff on the planet, our financial system has to compete.
Let me converse on to the enterprise group. You assist drive our financial system and you’ll assist construct our future. In me, you’ll have a accomplice each step of the way in which.
That begins with ensuring you might have the work power you want. Tens of 1000’s of jobs in well being care, transportation, and expertise are going unfilled as a result of the talents of our staff don’t match the calls for of our financial system. Let’s work with our group schools and vocational faculties, and ensure the coaching we provide meets the wants of our corporations in each area.
In my first finances, I’ll create and fund a brand new program known as MassReconnect. This will supply free group school to college students over 25 who don’t have a university diploma. We’ll additionally improve early school alternatives and enhance funding to our state college system so everybody can afford a better diploma.
What we’re speaking about is an funding — and it’s probably the most valuable variety as a result of it’s an funding in our individuals.
But it could’t wait till school. We should make Massachusetts a spot the place each baby — each baby — can attain their potential. The first free public faculty in America was established in our state virtually 400 years in the past. Public schooling has been assured ever since. Today, we want an equal assure for our kids: That we’ll proceed to supply not simply an schooling however the very best schooling.
That means funding the Student Opportunity Act to ensure each pupil and each faculty will get the assets they deserve. It means doing extra for psychological well being care and meals safety. Our college students can’t attain their potential if they’re homeless or hungry or affected by untreated psychological sickness.
To assist our state, we’ve to assist our kids. And we’ll.
Ensuring we’ve the very best workforce additionally means guaranteeing our staff have the coaching and protections they deserve, and staff may have a accomplice and a seat on the desk each step of the way in which.
Now, we are able to’t get our state the place it must go till our individuals can get the place they should go.
And let’s face it: The state of our trains and roads and bridges in the present day is unacceptable.
Let’s acknowledge that we are able to’t have a functioning financial system with no functioning T. So I will appoint a GM with deep expertise and a laser concentrate on making our transit protected and dependable. In the following 60 days, we’ll appoint a Safety Chief to examine our system, high to backside and monitor by monitor.
We know the MBTA is woefully understaffed — and we all know that lack of staffing has had grave penalties. My first finances will embrace funding to rent 1000 extra staff centered on the operation of the MBTA throughout the first 12 months of our administration.
The roads and bridges that get us from right here to there are falling aside. Billions of {dollars} in federal funding can be found to repair it, however we’re competing with each state for these {dollars}. So I’m forming an interagency job power — the primary of its variety — to compete for federal infrastructure cash.
We need to win each out there greenback for shovel-ready tasks throughout our state. The individuals of this state deserve the very best transportation system we are able to supply. So let’s construct it.
Finally, our best energy is our individuals, however we can’t attain our potential as a state when so many are held again from reaching their very own. People of coloration, individuals with disabilities, girls, LGBT residents – they proceed to face limitations which have held them again for generations.
We should heart fairness in all we do. I can be directing every company in my administration to conduct a full fairness audit. Let Massachusetts be the place that shines a lightweight on each systemic barrier, after which does the laborious work to interrupt them down. Because that’s who we’re.
I’ve talked about our shared historical past, the delight of this state and each citizen. Now we should dedicate ourselves to cherishing and defending our shared future — and assembly the local weather disaster.
Let me be clear about this. Where others might even see hopelessness and resignation, I see unparalleled alternative. We can defend our local weather and create jobs. It’s not too late to do both. It’s pressing that we do each. And I consider Massachusetts can lead the world.
The legislature has already laid out bold targets. I share that ambition. I’ve pledged to double our offshore wind and photo voltaic targets, and quadruple our power storage deployment. In transportation, we’ll electrify our public fleet, and put one million electrical automobiles on the street by 2030.
Meeting these targets will take unprecedented focus, and a pacesetter who can get the job completed. Tomorrow, I’m submitting an govt order to create the nation’s first Cabinet-level local weather chief — reporting on to me. She will work throughout authorities and with each metropolis and city to satisfy our local weather targets and obtain our financial potential.
We will match our ambitions with our investments. For the primary time in our state’s historical past, we will commit a minimum of 1% of the state finances to environmental and power companies. We will triple the finances of the Clean Energy Center. We’ll create a Green Bank to foster funding in resilient infrastructure and entice new companies to Massachusetts.
I do know we are able to do that. Over a decade in the past, Governor Patrick and the legislature made a wager on life sciences on this state — providing funding and assist and management to make Massachusetts a pacesetter in biotech. Now, the outcomes are nothing in need of outstanding.
Let’s commit to creating local weather innovation our subsequent massive funding, our subsequent first, our subsequent frontier.
Let’s construct a Climate Corridor that stretches from the Berkshires to Barnstable harnessing analysis, innovation and manufacturing. We’ll create 1000’s of latest jobs in clear tech and blue tech, coastal resiliency, and environmental justice. And I consider 10 years from now, we will look again and see the plain advantages for our staff, our financial system, and our planet.
We can do that. We will do that.
The plans I’ve simply described to you’re daring. And I’m aware of the second. This is a time in our nation of poisoned discourse and ugly politics. Governors are utilizing individuals — utilizing youngsters — as props for his or her cynical political agendas. Elected officers are placing partisanship over the pursuits of the individuals they serve.
But not in Massachusetts. That’s not who we’re.
In Massachusetts, we come collectively. We raise individuals up. And we lead.
No matter what challenges we face, it doesn’t matter what lies forward, we’ll keep true to the very best of ourselves. We will act with empathy and with fairness. We will work collectively.
As your Governor, I can promise you that these ideas can be my North Star.
Let the phrase exit to individuals and companies right here and in each a part of this nation. In Massachusetts, you’re welcomed. You are included. You are protected.
This is a state the place we’ll by no means relinquish the best to reproductive freedom. Where we prize and defend human rights. And civil rights. And homosexual rights. And equality. And democracy.
That is the Massachusetts we love. And we’ll make it stronger than ever earlier than. [pause]
I take into consideration the individuals arriving in Massachusetts simply in the present day, simply now, to make a go of it. Their hopes echo again by our historical past. Their desires are the desires of those that got here earlier than me. To stay in freedom and equality. In security and in happiness. To go ahead with grateful hearts and pursue the blessings of life.
Those are the phrases of our state Constitution. Perhaps the proudest of our many firsts. I assume this workplace as the primary lady and first homosexual particular person elected governor of our state.
But each one among us, each citizen, is a primary. You could also be a first-generation immigrant, selecting Massachusetts as the inspiration of your American dream. You will be the first in your loved ones to go to varsity, or to ship your baby there. The first in your neighborhood to start out a enterprise.
In this state, we’re all trailblazers. We are all leaders. That’s why we stay in Massachusetts. What story will we write collectively?
Today is a day to rejoice, to consider how far we’ve come and the place we have to go.
But I’m much more enthusiastic about tomorrow. Because tomorrow we get to work. We get to work within the best state, for the best individuals, at a second once we could make the best distinction — now and for a era to return.
So with nice optimism and delight, I thanks all, and now let’s come collectively and get this completed.
God bless you, and God bless this Commonwealth.
Thank you.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”