Rep. McGonagle invited by Governor to celebrate Hero Act signing

The Rep. joined Governor, members of her cabinet and other legislative officials at the signing in Lexington

On August 8, 2024, State Representative Joe McGonagle attended the ceremonial signing of the HERO Act by Governor Maura Healey at Battin Hall in historic Lexington. The law, which is formally called An Act honoring, empowering, and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans, boosts support for hundreds of thousands of individuals in the Commonwealth who have served in the United States military, including 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans. McGonagle sponsored an amendment in the bill to increase veterans’ awareness and accessibility to their benefits.

“I am so grateful to my colleagues in the Massachusetts legislature for prioritizing and passing this bill and to Governor Healey for inviting me to the signing,” said McGonagle. “Though not a veteran myself, I am the son of a Lieutenant Colonel and was raised with immense respect for the military and our veterans. Since Day 1 on Beacon Hill, I have made sure to do all I can to support Massachusetts’s veterans and military families. They have served us and we must serve them. The HERO Act is another example of Massachusetts leading the way in veteran care. These new laws will help continue to make Massachusetts the best place to live. The amendment I sponsored will help veterans gain easier access to understanding their benefits and how we can help them.”

The bill signing was attended by many leaders, including the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Veteran and Federal Affairs Co-Chairpersons Senator John Velis and Representative Gerry Cassidy, Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services Jon Santiago, Gold Star father Representative Steven Xiarhos and Everett Director of Veterans Affairs Antoine Coleman. Other legislators, veterans, active military and Gold Star Family members also attended.

This legislation increases and simplifies benefits and opportunities, modernizes services and promotes inclusivity for Massachusetts veterans while reaffirming the Commonwealth’s commitment to recognizing and serving all service members and their families. It increases benefits for disabled veterans and Gold Star family members, bolsters new and existing initiatives for municipalities and businesses to support veterans, creates comprehensive services for active-duty service members and military families, expands the scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board, updates the Chapter 115 definition of a veteran to expand eligibility, and codifies medical, behavioral health and dental benefits. Further, it establishes new recognitions for military service in the Commonwealth and requires several working groups to review post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans, mental health treatments for veterans and overall quality of life for veterans in Massachusetts.

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