KINGSTON — State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston) filed amendments for the Silver Lake Regional School District to receive $120,000 for technology upgrades due to COVID-19, and $26,000 for PPE for nursing staff, as part of the overall supplemental budget passed by the House of Representatives to facilitate federal CARES Act funding for communities hard hit by COVID-19.
The spending measure passed by the Legislature follows the April passage in Congress of the Federal Cares Act, requiring states to expend funds on items related to COVID-19 for federal reimbursement. The supplemental budget directs funds to address vital needs including for personal protective equipment, field hospitals and contact tracing.
Representative LaNatra also co-sponsored an amendment for $200,000 for Plymouth schools for virtual technology, and $75,000 for technology in Duxbury.
The bill also establishes Juneteenth Independence Day on June 19th in Massachusetts, marking the day in 1865 when the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, learned they were free.
The spending bill includes, among other items:
• $350 Million for personal protective equipment costs across the Commonwealth;
• $139 Million for increased rate add-ons to congregate care providers;
• $94 Million for incentive pay for human service employees;
• $85 Million for field hospitals and shelters;
• $44 Million for Community Tracing Collaborative;
• $81.6 Million for child care needs during the pandemic and re-opening;;
• $500,000 to create an Early Education and Care Public-Private Trust Fund to establish an infrastructure to foster public-private and philanthropic efforts in support of childcare providers.
“This supplemental budget will distribute needed funds in the wake of COVID-19,” said Representative LaNatra. She added, “We look forward to this measure helping relieve the financial burdens that so many have experienced with this pandemic, and I’m pleased that Silver Lake, Plymouth and Duxbury’s needs are well represented in this legislation.” She continued, “And all of us in the House of Representatives are especially pleased to support having Juneteenth become a state holiday.” The bill now goes to the Senate.
Representative LaNatra’s district includes all residents of Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, as well as residents of Precincts 1, 11 and 13 in Plymouth; Precinct 1 in Middleboro; and Precinct 1 in Duxbury. To reach her, email Kathleen.LaNatra@mahouse.gov or her legislative aide, Chris Jean, Christopher.Jean@MAhouse.gov. The phone number for the office is 617-722-2430. For updates and announcements, please visit Representative LaNatra’s Facebook page, https://bit.ly/2Ura8VR or her website, https://www.kathylanatra.com.