• Fought for legislation that helped make Massachusetts No. 1 in veterans services.
• Fought for the creation and expansion of the Veterans Welcome Home Bonus Bill and the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund.
• Fought for property tax relief for veterans and surviving spouses active on or after 9/11/01 by supporting the adoption of the MERIT bill.
• Voted to pass VALOR Act and VALOR Act II, which expand benefits, increase access to services and strengthen the recognition and honors for military members and family.
• Chief sponsor of legislation designating May as “Blue Star Mothers Month” to honor military mothers and their service to troops and veterans.
• Fought for funding to Veterans Outreach Centers and Veterans Homeless Shelters in Massachusetts.
• Received the Massachusetts National Guard “Legislator of the Year” Award.
• Supported initiatives that have allowed Massachusetts to spend more than two times as much per veteran as any other state in terms of local and state government expenditures, ranking Massachusetts first in the nation in this regard.
• Supported initiatives that established Massachusetts as leading the nation for benefits programs for veterans, offering 67 unique services targeting veterans, more than the second closet state and nearly double the number of financial assistance programs any other state offers.
• Supported a military bond bill to promote domestic security, to protect jobs and to spur economic growth by investing in military installations.
• Supported added funding to Veterans Outreach Centers and Veterans Homeless Shelters in Massachusetts.
• Supported funding for the Train Vets to Treat Vets program, which helps recently returned veterans become behavioral health counselors.
• Supported the creation of a new War Memorial budget line item, providing grant funding for municipal war memorial restoration.
• Supported a veteran’s ability to obtain a special “veteran” designation on a driver’s license or state ID.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of SFC Jared C. Monti Bridge in Raynham in honor of fallen soldier and Medal of Honor recipient SFC Jared C. Monti.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Fernand Medeiros POW Bridge in Taunton in honor of Fernand Medeiros, who was a prisoner of war during World War II and a former member of the Taunton Municipal Council.
• Sponsored legislation to dedicate Sergeant Shane Duffy Bridge in Taunton in honor of late Sergeant Shane Duffy who served his country in Iraq.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of the Sgt. Bruce Rushforth Bridge in Middleborough in honor of the late Sgt. Bruce A. Rushforth Jr. who served as a member of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of the Lance Corporal Kevin Preach Bridge in Bridgewater, in honor of the late Kevin Preach who served his country in Afghanistan.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Frank “Gasper” Sylvia Bridge, in honor of the late Frank “Gasper” Sylvia, in recognition of his service to his country in World War II as well as his service as a Councilor to the City of Taunton.
• Sponsored legislation authorizing the dedication of Julian M. Southworth and Nelson J. Garnett Bridge in Carver, in memory of Julian M. Southworth and Nelson J. Garnett, veterans from the town of Carver who served their country during World War II.
• Fought to establish tuition and fee waivers for Massachuetts National Guard members and the children of fallen soldiers and immediate family members.
• Authored and fought for legislation that lowers the cost of insurance for veterans, by allowing them to take advantage of group insurance discounts.
• Fought to give veteran-owned business the same benefits that are afforded to minority-owned businesses.
• Fought to ensure funding for the Middleborough Veterans Outreach Center.