Chanikarn Thongsupa
LBJ Library
Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
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35, Massachusetts — 4, D
A veteran who served as the chair of Newton, MA’s transportation and public safety committee, Jake welcomed a new baby in April 2020 as he was gearing up his Congressional run.
Jake served as a Captain in the US Marines from 2010-2015 where he did tours in Panama and Afghanistan before being elected to the Newton City Council. He was also a Senior Manager of Liberty Mutual’s Innovation Lab, the Solaria Lab, that develops products to shape the future of mobility, shelter, and commerce.
After graduating from Harvard College, Jake joined the Marines. He served as Captain from 2010-2015 where he did tours in Panama and Afghanistan before being elected to the Newton City Council. Jake was sworn into Congress in 2021 and some of his core issues are environmental protection, healthcare, and infrastructure.
There’s a lot more that’s unique about Massachsettes than its accent. LIKE the way it funds public education. Due to an act passed in 2019 that aimed to close funding gaps, especially in low-income areas, Massachusetts calculates its state funding for education just a bit differently. And differently is great UNTIL it comes to reimbursement programs like the American Rescue Plan. Jake and MA Senator Markey recently wrote to Treasury Sec. Yellen expressed concern that Massachusetts is going to be unfairly penalized when the Rescue Act counts Covid-related revenue losses. Sometimes this whole state system we have going on can get a bit messy!
Jake had his vision for the year set on infrastructure. When President Biden proposed his $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill earlier this year, Jake came out swinging saying that Republicans could either get on board or watch Democrats pass one of the most monumental pieces of legislation without them. Ouch! Jake voted for the INVEST in America Act out of his Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as it means nearly $4.4 billion in infrastructure for his state. After the INVEST in America Act passed the House with a slim amount of bipartisan support, Jake applauded the measures he successfully secured for his district and state. The act passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Biden in November.
It’s well known by now that vaccine misinformation is rampant and widespread but what isn’t widely known is the profiting that comes from it. Fortunately, Jake and his colleagues are keeping a keen eye on things and now calling on Pay Pal to step up and do their part. Various websites pushing false vaccine information also happen to accept donations—how convenient is that? Care to take a stab on the payment processing company that handles the majority of these transactions? You guessed it—it starts with a P and ends with a “ay Pal”. Jake has cosigned a letter to the CEO asking that the company put a full stop to supporting these transactions and use their giant platform to be part of the solution, not the problem.
The SCOTUS opening arguments related to the Mississippi abortion laws is major news. We have seen many of our young leaders out on the steps campaigning for both sides. Jake took to his twitter to record a video about the importance of upholding Roe v. Wade and even more importantly putting pressure on the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would give equal access to abortion care. Do you agree with Jake and do you think this act will pass the Senate if SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade?
42, New York — 11, R