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April 25, 2019 Brian Mcgahie (617) 722-2380 Representative Campbell

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April 25, 2019 Brian Mcgahie (617) 722-2380 Representative Campbell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: April 25, 2019 Brian McGahie (617) 722-2380 Representative Campbell Secures Over $3M in State Funding for Local Projects, Veterans (BOSTON) – The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted on Thursday to approve a $42.7 billion budget for the state’s upcoming fiscal year. The budget includes notable investments in education, housing, and public safety while keeping in line with revenue projections to ensure balanced spending. Representatives spent the week debating over 1,300 amendments to the budget bill and ultimately added over $70 million to the preliminary version of the budget released by the House Committee on Ways and Means in early April. Representative Linda Dean Campbell of Methuen filed 17 amendments and successfully secured $600,000 for Methuen and Haverhill, including $300,000 for the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill, $200,000 to resurface the Methuen High School track, $50,000 for mental health services at Methuen High School, and $50,000 for the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. She also joined with Representatives Andy Vargas, Christina Minicucci, and Lenny Mirra to secure $250,000 for the City of Haverhill to relieve debt still outstanding for the Hale Hospital. “I believe our success this budget season was due largely to the strength of our Merrimack Valley delegation,” said Representative Campbell. “The funding received for our district will have a positive impact on economic development, education, mental health, public safety, and veterans’ services.” Representative Campbell also secured $2.5 million for statewide programs that offer low-cost meals to senior citizens, reduce recidivism among young adults, and provide mental health services to veterans. This included $1.2 million for the Transitional Youth Early Intervention Probation Program, an initiative piloted in 2018 at the recommendation of the Council on State Governments. The program provides support services to young adults ages 18-24 who are on probation and at a high risk of reoffending. This funding will allow the program to double the number of individuals it serves. “Young adults ages 18-24 have the highest recidivism rate in the state, and the pilot program operated by UTEC in Lowell and Lawrence had great outcomes,” said Representative Campbell. “It’s so important to meet these young adults where they’re at and use individualized services to support their growth and well-being.” Another of Representative Campbell’s successful amendments allocated $550,000 for Home Base, the first and largest private-sector mental health clinic in the state dedicated to serving Veterans of all eras and their families at no cost. The clinic, a partnership of the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital, has served over 21,000 veterans living with mental health issues and has trained over 73,000 clinicians and first responders across the state on how best to respond to veterans’ mental health needs. The funding will help Home Base to establish a statewide veteran suicide prevention campaign and expand its clinician training initiative. “There is a great need to expand access to veterans’ mental health services across the state, especially in rural areas and western Massachusetts,” Representative Campbell said. “Home Base has conducted exceptional research on best practices for treating veterans holistically and compassionately, so they are well positioned to train clinicians statewide. This initiative will help veterans to receive needed services within their own communities.” As Chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, Representative Campbell also worked closely with House Leadership to usher in the adoption of a bundle of amendments that added $1.03 million to the budget for veterans’ services. The amendments allocated funds for veterans outreach centers, American Legions, veteran-related organizations, and war memorial construction projects across the Commonwealth. Together, they increased the House’s investment in veterans’ services to over $146 million. The Senate will undergo a similar process in May and release its own version of the state budget. The House and Senate versions will then be negotiated before a final version is sent to Governor Charlie Baker’s desk for review. ### .
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