AARP Massachusetts Urges Governor Baker to Support Budget for COVID Funding and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund

The following is a letter submitted on February 7, 2022 to Governor Charles Baker from AARP Massachusetts State Director Mike Festa and AARP Massachusetts State President Sandra Harris.


RE: HOUSE BILL NO. 4345 - AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPLEMENTING CERTAIN EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND FOR CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS

Dear Governor Baker:

On behalf of our 775,000 members and all older Massachusetts residents, we appreciate the dedication with which our state’s leaders have responded to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the ongoing efforts that will be required as we move forward.

HOUSE BILL NO. 4345 - AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPLEMENTING CERTAIN EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND FOR CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS includes funding for COVID-19 testing and PPE for congregate care facilities including, but not limited to, nursing facilities; and health care workers including, but not limited to, personal care attendants, home care aides, homemakers and home health aides.

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 95 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 have been among people 50 and older. The data clearly show that the older someone is, the greater their risk of serious illness or death from COVID19. AARP Massachusetts urges you to continue prioritizing people 50 and older, especially those
living and working in congregate settings, long term care settings and home and community-based care settings.

In addition, this bill includes important funding for the COVID-19 Massachusetts Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund. No one should have to think twice about whether their illness might be contagious and spread to others and no one should have to worry whether they will lose their job if they do take time to care for themselves or their loved ones.

We encourage you to build in proper accountability and oversight to promote transparency on the distribution and use of these funds. We urge you to sign this bill into law as soon as possible.

These are challenging times for all Bay State residents. As the Commonwealth’s residents look toward our elected officials for leadership, we at AARP look forward to working with you.

Michael E. Festa Sandra Harris

State Director State President