Gov. Maura Healey’s inauguration speech



Below are the remarks by Gov. Maura Healey, as prepared 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 services, veterans, and distinguished guests,  Residents of our beloved Commonwealth,

We gather today to transfer the power of government and to renew the miracle of democracy.  We gather in the public trust, and commit ourselves once more to the work of the people.

I thank Governor Baker, who has led this Commonwealth with a steady hand. He has  governed with integrity and care — eager to study problems and work together on solutions.  The example he set for eight years was in the best traditions of public service, and it now  becomes his legacy. Governor Baker, I thank you, and our state thanks you.

I thank Kim Driscoll, the best teammate I could ask for. In Salem, she has led with an eye to  the future — protecting the coastal treasure of our state, and making sure we preserve it for  generations to come. Kim, I can’t wait to get to work.

I thank my family, many of whom are with me in this chamber. And so many teachers,  coaches, mentors, and friends, who are in my heart.

I assume this office with humility — mindful of the weight of history and lightened by the gift  of gratitude. It is the honor of my life to lead this state.

My family’s story is a Massachusetts story, more than three centuries in the telling. My  ancestors landed on a river bank in Newbury. On the journey they were borne along by dreams

of greater freedom, and hope for the blessings of life. Decades later, in the Massachusetts  Constitution — the first of its kind — those same dreams were written into a covenant and  protected for all time. A model for a young nation.

My great-great-grandfather grew up in Newburyport. When he was 16, his father signed a  permission slip so he could fight for the Union in the Civil War. My grandmother as a young  girl would visit the Grand Army of the Republic Hall to hear their stories, and she’d later share  them with my brothers and sisters and me. I think about them as I look at the servicemembers  here, and honor the sacrifices they make each day.

My grandparents met on the fishing docks in a Gloucester summer. She was in nursing school;  he worked at the GE factory. Later, when I was to be born at a naval hospital in Maryland,  they worried that I wasn’t starting my life on Massachusetts soil. So she dug up a little dirt  from the woodlot, caught a plane, sneaked into the hospital room, and put the little bag under  the delivery table.

Massachusetts is my home. Its natural gifts take my breath away, and its people fill me with  inspiration in return. The majesty of Mount Greylock and the hairpin turn at North Adams  on the Mohawk Trail. The light at Cape Ann and the cranberry bogs of Plymouth. The port  of New Bedford and the sparkling waters of the Quabbin. Long Point Peninsula and the  Boston harbor islands guiding us on a flight home.

We share a legacy in this state. Our nation was born here, not with a whimper but with the  spark of revolution. A hunger for something new and a demand for something better. We  established the first public park and the first American public library. The first American  lighthouse, railroad, and subway. The first basketball game.

Our state Constitution recognized our natural and essential rights and declared them to the  world. The people of Massachusetts have always believed in protecting these rights, and  dedicating them to a higher purpose. We were the first to guarantee that health care is  universal, and, twenty years ago now, that love is, too. It is in that spirit of common humanity  that I stand before you today, representing another historic first.

This state achieves its higher purpose when the bedrock of individual freedom meets the bond  of the public spirit. This is our common wealth, in the truest sense — equally ours, equally  yours, whether your Massachusetts story began in an older time or in our own time.

This is why people come to Massachusetts. To write their own story, to become their own  first, to take up the common good.

What do they see?

They see the shared heritage of our beautiful land. They see a call to higher learning, to  enlightenment. They see research and innovation, joined to build a better future. They see  culture and charity. They see the granite dignity of hard work and an everlasting commitment  to equality. They see people reaching for something better, something more.

But they also see barriers that are holding back our people and our state. Keeping just out of  reach what might be, what could be.

We have untold wealth in Massachusetts. But record public revenue does little good when  families can’t pay the rent, or buy a house, or heat their homes, or hire child care.

Our health system is the envy of the world. Yet our hospitals are desperate for staff. Patients  are boarding in emergency rooms — spending hours and days in an agonizing wait for care.  We sense the shadows of a mental health crisis, and too many suffering from substance use.

Our companies are eager to expand, but they can’t find workers with the skills they need.

Communities and people are yearning to grow and thrive, but they haven’t been given the  tools to do it.

This is the greatest state in the union. But people are leaving at some of the highest rates in the  country. Giving up on the Massachusetts story.

All this would be challenge enough at any time. But we meet today as our state and our  country feel their way toward the other side of the Covid pandemic. This crisis has brought  out and lifted up the best of our state. Our companies, our ingenuity, created vaccines and  saved lives. We came together, all of us, with courage and caring, patience and persistence.

Together we are healing, but we must acknowledge the scars. Our people have lost loved ones.  Their lives and livelihoods have been disrupted. The toll on our physical and mental health is  real. The pandemic exposed and widened gaps in learning and health care and equity.

I also think people are tired. We can speak honestly about that. We’ve come through difficult  days.

But here’s what you and I both know.

The people of Massachusetts are resourceful. And resolute. And hopeful. They’re ready for  what comes next. They’re ready to walk forward. We just have to set the path. We just have to  light the way.

If we do this right — if we act and choose in a way worthy of this state’s proud history and its  great people — we will make a difference right now. And we will lay a foundation of success  for generations to come.

So let’s chart a path forward, and walk it together. Into the next chapter of our Massachusetts  story.

Many challenges are before us, but let’s start here.

We love this state because it’s our home. A home for us all.

We want people to come here. And we want people who grow up here to stay here. Our  country looks on Massachusetts as a gleaming example of liberty and equality and success. But  too many states are beginning to pass us by.

We have to make Massachusetts a place that people can afford to call home. Our people can’t  realize their dreams until we end the nightmare of high costs.

The average rent in our state is 50% higher than the national average. We have some of the  lowest homeownership rates and some of the highest housing prices.

Now, one reason for this is that Massachusetts is a great place to be. People do want to live  here. That’s a good thing. But the cost of housing is also out of control because we simply  don’t have enough of it. If we want Massachusetts to be a home for all, we need to build more  places to live, and we need to make sure those homes are within reach.

High housing costs are unacceptable for our people, our businesses, and our state’s future. To  fix that, we need to think big. We will build a state with room for all its people.

To lead this effort, in my first 100 days, I will file legislation to create a Secretary of Housing.  The Secretary will work across government and support every city and town, to make sure we  meet our goals.

We’ll use property that belongs to the people … to help the people. I’ve already directed my  Secretary of Administration and Finance to identify unused state-owned land and facilities  that we can turn into rental housing or homes within one year.

We’ll get first-time homebuyers the help they need, and reduce costs for renters by expanding  tax deductions.

This is a fine start, but we need to do more — and we need your help. We rise and fall as a state  with the choices and commitments of every neighborhood. Today I’m asking every citizen to  join this cause. That means building more housing next to transit hubs, taking another look at  zoning, and preserving the housing we already have.

Loosening the grip of rising costs also means tax reform. I know the Speaker and Senate  President share this goal, and I thank them for that.

I’ve already proposed a child tax credit for every child, for every family. The legislature also put  forward several worthy tax cut proposals during the last legislative session.

This would mean real relief for the people who need it most. Let’s get this done.

The strength of Massachusetts is its families. And they sorely need our help. Our state has  some of the highest child care costs in the country. Our care workers don’t make a livable  wage.

So today, let us pledge to be the first state to solve the child care crisis. Let’s finally pass  legislation in line with Common Start to make sure every family pays what they can afford,  and that care workers are paid what they deserve. This is something our families, workers, and  businesses all agree on.

We also need to build a Massachusetts economy for the future.

We can’t lead tomorrow if we settle for what’s good enough today. To keep attracting the best  workers in the world, our economy has to compete.

Let me speak directly to the business community. You help drive our economy and you will  help build our future. In me, you will have a partner every step of the way.

That begins with making sure you have the work force you need. Tens of thousands of jobs in  health care, transportation, and technology are going unfilled because the skills of our workers  don’t match the demands of our economy. Let’s work with our community colleges and  vocational schools, and make sure the training we offer meets the needs of our companies in  every region.

In my first budget, I will create and fund a new program called MassReconnect. This will offer  free community college to students over 25 who don’t have a college degree. We’ll also  enhance early college opportunities and increase funding to our state university system so  everyone can afford a higher degree.

What we’re talking about is an investment — and it’s the most precious kind because it’s an  investment in our people.

But it can’t wait until college. We must make Massachusetts a place where every child — every  child — can reach their potential. The first free public school in America was established in  our state almost 400 years ago. Public education has been guaranteed ever since. Today, we  need an equal guarantee for our children: That we will continue to offer not just an education  but the best education.

That means funding the Student Opportunity Act to make sure every student and every  school gets the resources they deserve. It means doing more for mental health care and food  security. Our students can’t reach their potential if they are homeless or hungry or suffering from untreated mental illness.

To support our state, we have to support our children. And we will.

Ensuring we have the best workforce also means ensuring our workers have the training and  protections they deserve, and workers will have a partner and a seat at the table every step of  the way.

Now, we can’t get our state where it needs to go until our people can get where they need to  go.

And let’s face it: The state of our trains and roads and bridges today is unacceptable.

Let’s acknowledge that we can’t have a functioning economy without a functioning T. So I  will appoint a GM with deep experience and a laser focus on making our transit safe and  reliable. In the next 60 days, we’ll appoint a Safety Chief to inspect our system, top to bottom  and track by track.

We know the MBTA is woefully understaffed — and we know that lack of staffing has had  grave consequences. My first budget will include funding to hire 1000 additional workers  focused on the operation of the MBTA within the first year of our administration.

The roads and bridges that get us from here to there are falling apart. Billions of dollars in  federal funding are available to fix it, but we are competing with every state for those dollars.  So I am forming an interagency task force — the first of its kind — to compete for federal  infrastructure money.

We want to win every available dollar for shovel-ready projects across our state. The people of this state deserve the best transportation system we can offer. So let’s build it.

Finally, our greatest strength is our people, but we can not reach our potential as a state when  so many are held back from reaching their own. People of color, people with disabilities,  women, LGBT residents – they continue to face barriers that have held them back for  generations.

We must center equity in all we do. I will be directing each agency in my administration to  conduct a full equity audit. Let Massachusetts be the place that shines a light on every  systemic barrier, and then does the hard work to break them down. Because that’s who we are.

I’ve talked about our shared history, the pride of this state and every citizen. Now we must  devote ourselves to cherishing and protecting our shared future — and meeting the climate  crisis.

Let me be clear about this. Where others may see hopelessness and resignation, I see  unparalleled opportunity. We can protect our climate and create jobs. It’s not too late to do  either. It’s urgent that we do both. And I believe Massachusetts can lead the world.

The legislature has already laid out ambitious goals. I share that ambition. I’ve pledged to  double our offshore wind and solar targets, and quadruple our energy storage deployment. In  transportation, we will electrify our public fleet, and put a million electric vehicles on the road  by 2030.

Meeting these goals will take unprecedented focus, and a leader who can get the job done.  Tomorrow, I am submitting an executive order to create the country’s first Cabinet-level  climate chief — reporting directly to me. She will work across government and with every city  and town to meet our climate goals and achieve our economic potential.

We will match our ambitions with our investments. For the first time in our state’s history, we  will commit at least 1% of the state budget to environmental and energy agencies. We will  triple the budget of the Clean Energy Center. We’ll create a Green Bank to foster investment  in resilient infrastructure and attract new businesses to Massachusetts.

I know we can do this. Over a decade ago, Governor Patrick and the legislature made a bet on  life sciences in this state — offering funding and support and leadership to make  Massachusetts a leader in biotech. Now, the results are nothing short of remarkable.

Let’s commit to making climate innovation our next big investment, our next first, our next  frontier.

Let’s build a Climate Corridor that stretches from the Berkshires to Barnstable harnessing  research, innovation and manufacturing. We’ll create thousands of new jobs in clean tech and  blue tech, coastal resiliency, and environmental justice. And I believe 10 years from now, we  will look back and see the undeniable benefits for our workers, our economy, and our planet.

We can do this. We will do this.

The plans I’ve just described to you are bold. And I’m mindful of the moment. This is a time  in our nation of poisoned discourse and ugly politics. Governors are using people — using  children — as props for their cynical political agendas. Elected officials are putting  partisanship over the interests of the people they serve.

But not in Massachusetts. That’s not who we are.

In Massachusetts, we come together. We lift people up. And we lead.

No matter what challenges we face, no matter what lies ahead, we will stay true to the best of  ourselves. We will act with empathy and with equity. We will work together.

As your Governor, I can promise you that these principles will be my North Star.

Let the word go out to people and businesses here and in every part of this country. In  Massachusetts, you are welcomed. You are included. You are protected.

This is a state where we will never relinquish the right to reproductive freedom. Where we  prize and protect human rights. And civil rights. And gay rights. And equality. And  democracy.

That is the Massachusetts we love. And we will make it stronger than ever before. [pause]

I think about the people arriving in Massachusetts just today, just now, to make a go of it.  Their hopes echo back through our history. Their dreams are the dreams of those who came  before me. To live in freedom and equality. In safety and in happiness. To go forward with  grateful hearts and pursue the blessings of life.

Those are the words of our state Constitution. Perhaps the proudest of our many firsts. I assume this office as the first woman and first gay person elected governor of our state.

But every one of us, every citizen, is a first. You may be a first-generation immigrant, choosing  Massachusetts as the foundation of your American dream. You may be the first in your family  to go to college, or to send your child there. The first in your neighborhood to start a business.

In this state, we are all trailblazers. We are all leaders. That’s why we live in Massachusetts. What story will we write together?

Today is a day to celebrate, to think about how far we’ve come and where we need to go.

But I’m even more excited about tomorrow. Because tomorrow we get to work. We get to  work in the greatest state, for the greatest people, at a moment when we can make the greatest  difference — now and for a generation to come.

So with great optimism and pride, I thank you all, and now let’s come together and get this  done.

God bless you, and God bless this Commonwealth.

Thank you.



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