July 30, 2008 ... On Tuesday, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his colleagues in the Senate, unanimously approved a bill that addresses the confiscation of lawfully owned firearms in the event of an emergency. The bill has been commonly referred to as the “Katrina” bill, in lieu of federal officials confiscating firearms from citizens who had lawful ownership and permission to carry the firearms during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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July 30, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, along with his colleagues in the Senate, approved legislation on Tuesday to advance the conservation and acquisition of recreational land and to make improvements to state park facilities and properties operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and other state environmental agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Within the $1.7 billion approved in bonds, Sen. Moore was able to secure funds for various projects in the district.

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July 29, 2008 ... After years of renovation and repair, a key Hopedale landmark—the “Little Red Shop”—is once again the color of its famous namesake color. Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, participated with Hopedale residents, officials, and museum curators in painting the Little Red Shop of Hopedale’s Draper Complex with its original color.

“This building is truly representative of the town of Hopedale, and it is great to be part of the repainting of this historic landmark,” remarked Moore. “Residents of Hopedale and those from all over will now be able to look upon and visit the Little Red Shop that represents a time in history that was greatly different.”

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July 28, 2008 ... The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a national bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and legislative staffs of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and American territories. The organization provides research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues as well as advocating the interests of state government with Congress and federal agencies.

The organization was founded in 1975, and its founding president was then-Massachusetts Senate President Kevin B. Harrington of Salem. Since then however, no Bay State lawmaker has held the top spot in this prestigious group which represents the nation’s 7,382 state legislators. That long dry spell in Massachusetts leadership ended recently when those attending the NCSL 2008 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, elected Massachusetts State Senator Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, as their new Vice President. Choosing Moore puts the veteran lawmaker on track to being NCSL’s 38th President in 2010-11

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Senate seeks to advance early identification of mental illness

July 16, 2008 ... On Tuesday, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his colleagues in the Senate, approved legislation to improve the early identification of children with mental illnesses by reaching them in familiar settings, such as pediatrician offices, early education programs and schools.

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July 16, 2008 ... Receiving an official endorsement from the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, will be attending the annual National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in New Orleans as the representative for the Massachusetts Senate. Moore is also a member of the NCSL’s Executive Committee and Chairs its Homeland Security Committee. He was also a Co-Chairman of the Host Committee for last year’s Conference in Boston. 

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July 15, 2008... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, provided opening remarks on Tuesday, July 15, for the official release of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health survey of health care reform law in Massachusetts. The survey, which was compiled as a joint effort between the two institutions, polled Massachusetts citizens on their thoughts and experiences with the two year-old health care reform policy, and its performance in the Commonwealth.

“It is important for us to gather the information provided in this survey, for we must recognize the sentiments of Massachusetts citizens as we continue to implement this ambitious reform,” said Sen. Moore, who is also Chairman of the Health Care Financing Committee.

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Bill establishes universal pre-kindergarten program rejected by former Administration

July 14, 2008 ... On Thursday, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his colleagues in the Senate, reintroduced the Early Education and Care initiative including a universal pre-kindergarten program that was vetoed by former Governor Mitt Romney in 2006. The legislation seeks to improve the coordination, quality and accessibility of early education services and complete the transfer of duties of the former Office of Child Care Services to the Department of Early Education and Care.

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July 11, 2008 ... On Friday, July 11, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, toured the Worcester & Norfolk District to discuss the advantages of the Medicare Savings Program. Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Boston Regional Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Kathy Campbell, Outreach Coordinator for Prescription Advantage, and Mary Sullivan, RPh, Director at MassMedLine, joined Sen. Moore in his media tour.

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July 8, 2008 ... Jared D. Cain of Milford has been appointed to serve as the new Director of Communications for Sen. Richard T. Moore, D–Uxbridge. Cain succeeds Shawn P. Collins of Webster, who was recently promoted to the position of Legislative and Budget Director for Sen. Moore. Moore’s long-time aide, Timothy M. Hoppe of Milford, recently left the office to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education in Chicago, IL, while enrolled in the competitive Teach for America Program. 

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July 8, 2008 ... Registrar Rachel Kaprielian today announced that Milford is being added to the list of 34 locations state-wide where road tests are given by RMV examiners.

“The RMV is assigning road test examiners to the Milford RMV branch and has mapped out a new route for them to test new drivers,” said Registrar Kaprielian. “I’m adding this new service beginning August 6, after hearing legislators concerns about the growing population of new drivers in the Milford area.”

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July 3, 2008 ... Today, as many residents kicked off their Independence Day festivities, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his Senate colleagues gave the residents of the Worcester and Norfolk district some more celebratory news. Senators filed into the chambers to adopt a $28.22 billion Fiscal Year 2009 budget plan that included many items that will directly benefit the people of the Worcester and Norfolk District. 

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July 2, 2008 ... The energy crisis continues to directly impact millions of citizens throughout the Commonwealth. In order to address this critical issue, the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee published a report with findings and recommendations for the Commonwealth to cope with and begin to seriously address the energy crisis. The report is released following a recent Committee hearing titled, Running On Empty: Massachusetts Faces Record Energy Costs, during which an esteemed panel of experts testified about today’s rising energy costs. 

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July 2, 2008 ... When motorists are traveling on I-395 through Oxford, Massachusetts, most do not realize that they are passing through the birthplace of one of America’s most important and influential historical figures. Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, and a pioneer in the suffrage and civil rights movements, was born in Oxford in 1821 on Christmas Day.

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July 2, 2008 ... On Tuesday, July 1st, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, along with his colleagues in the Senate, took final action on legislation to improve child protection services in the Commonwealth through comprehensive changes within the state’s child welfare agencies, including foster care screening and placement standards. 

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July 2, 2008 ... Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Three major influenza pandemics swept the globe in the 20th century causing millions of deaths, and no one knows for sure when the next pandemic may strike. 

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July 2, 2008 ... In an effort to help local small business owners in emergency relief, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D–Uxbridge, filed a bill in April that would address the needs of businesses after a disaster. Moore filed the bill in response to the Bernat Mill eight-alarm fire that occurred in Uxbridge on July 21, 2007. The disaster displaced over 60 small businesses and placed considerable financial strain on the business owners in Bernat Mill and the town of Uxbridge.

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July 2, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, voted on Wednesday, July 02, to approve a $2 billion higher education bond bill that will allow the Commonwealth’s public colleges and universities to make capital improvements and invest in infrastructure development on campuses across Massachusetts.

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