Digital currency

Reps Lynch & Pressley Introduce Legislation to Develop Electronic Version of U.S. Dollar

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Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA 8) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA 7) introduced a bill that would develop an electronic version of the U.S. dollar. “As digital payment and currency technologies continue to rapidly expand and with Russia, China, and over 90 countries worldwide already researching and launching some form of central bank digital currency, it is absolutely critical for the U.S. to remain a world leader in the development and regulation of digital currency and other digital assets,” said Rep. Lynch, Chairman of the Task Force on Financial Technology. “By establishing a pilot program within Treasury for the development of an electronic U.S. Dollar, the ECASH Act will greatly complement and advance ongoing efforts undertaken by the Federal Reserve and President Biden to examine potential design and deployment options for a digital dollar. Importantly, this pilot program will also preserve a role in our financial system for smaller anonymous cash-like transactions which are currently transacted in physical dollars and which have seen a rapid decline in use.”

The White House previously announced an executive order on March 9 instructing numerous federal agencies to study digital assets and provide numerous reports about their use and proposals that could regulate them. The hope of this legislation is to promote greater financial inclusion, maximize consumer protection and data privacy, and advance U.S. efforts to develop and regulate digital assets.

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Government

Congressman Lynch on Russian Aggression Towards Ukraine

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Congressman Stephen Lynch recently led a hearing to examine Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine. Russia recently brought 150,000 troops to Ukraine's borders, which President Joe Biden spoke about on Feb. 15. Lynch is the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, and led the hearing the same day. “By holding Ukraine hostage unless the United States and NATO surrender to his demands, President Putin threatens the fundamental principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and territorial integrity, that have helped to preserve global peace and security and that form the basis of the rules-based international order,” said Lynch.  “[It] is in our strategic and national security interests to help support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and President Biden has been absolutely clear that if Russian troops cross over the border, the United States will respond decisively and impose swift and severe consequences.”
The Committee heard testimony from Michael McFaul, Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation; Lieutenant General (ret.) Ben Hodges, Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Analysis and former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe; Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security; and the Richard Grenell, former Acting Director of National Intelligence.

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Coronavirus

Congressman Lynch Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Receiving Second Vaccine Dose

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Congressman Stephen Lynch announced that he tested positive for COVID-19, even after receiving the second dose of a Coronavirus vaccine. Lynch announced he tested positive on Jan. 29, stating that an unnamed staff member had tested positive earlier in the week. Lynch had received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, had tested negative before attending President Joe Biden's inauguration. "While Mr. Lynch remains asymptomatic and feels fine, he will self-quarantine and will vote by proxy in Congress during the coming week,” said Molly Rose Tarpey, Communications Director for Rep. Lynch.

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Coronavirus

Almost 2,000 Vaccine Doses Spoiled at JP VA Medical Center After Freezer Unplugged

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As people across the world clamor for Coronavirus vaccines, a careless circumstance led to nearly 2,000 vaccine doses being spoiled at the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center. The plug of a freezer was loose after a contractor removed it while cleaning, reported NBCboston.com. The freezer in a secure location with an alarm system that was installed. Congressman Stephen Lynch visited the facility after hearing about the human error that led to the vaccine doses being compromised. His office shared an image of what the back of the freezer looked like before the error, and then after when it had been more secured.

1,518 Views
Government

Social Media Recap: Insurrection, Mayoral Vacancy, Climate Change Bill and More

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Since Jan. 6's attempted coup at the Capitol a lot has happened in Washington DC, and at our state capital. Our Congressional representatives impeached the president, and our local state officials fought for a climate change bill vetoed by the governor. This is the last week in social media. Both of Jamaica Plain's Congressional Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Stephen Lynch voted to impeach President Trump for inciting insurrection.

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Elections

Virtual Senate and Congressional Candidates Forum on August 12

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Six Boston Democratic Ward Committees are sponsoring a virtual candidates forum for two Congressional Districts and U.S. Senate on August 12. The candidate forum begins at 5:30 pm, and will be available to the public through Zoom and sponsored by the Democratic Committees of Wards 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, and 20. Tanisha Sullivan, President of the Boston Chapter of the NAACP, will moderate the forum. The forum will include Congressman Stephen Lynch, D-8th, and his Democratic Party challenger Robbie Goldstein, who has positioned himself as less conservative than Lynch. U.S. Senator Ed Markey and his Democratic Party challenger Congressman Joe Kennedy, will also address the forum.

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Elections

Former Prez Candidate Andrew Yang Endorses Robbie Goldstein to Unseat Lynch

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Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has endorsed Robbie Goldstein in his challenge to unseat Congressman Stephen Lynch D-8th MA

Yang gained popularity as a top candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and his followers were called the Yang Gang. He suspended his campaign in February and endorsed Joe Biden. Yang retweeted Goldstein's tweet above on May 22. Goldstein will face Lynch in the Democratic primary in September. "My impression of Congressman Lynch comes from my own experience and what I’ve heard from other voters and residents: that he has failed to lead on these and other issues that impact every person in the 8th District in one way or another.

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Elections

Rep. Elugardo Endorses Goldstein in Attempt to Unseat Congressman Lynch

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First-term state Rep. Nika Elugardo pulled off a huge upset when she unseated her predecessor Jeffrey Sanchez, who was the chair of the very powerful Massachusetts Ways and Means Committee. Now she's pulling for another upset -- Robbie Goldstein to unseat longtime Congressman Stephen Lynch. Goldstein, an infectious disease doctor, is running for the 8th Congressional District seat. Lynch has held that seat since 2013, after the 9th Congressional District, which he was first elected to represent in 2001, was redrawn. "It is my honor to endorse Dr. Robbie Goldstein in his campaign for the Massachusetts 8th Congressional District," said Elugardo via press release.

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Elections

Elizabeth Warren, Bernie, Biden? Who Are JP’s Politicians Supporting?

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Early voting for Massachusetts residents occurred last week and the presidential primary is March 3. Many elected officials have let it be known who they support. Let's review who they're supporting. At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu was a student of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren -- so you know the Wu Train is in full support of Warren. Wu is continually canvassing for Warren, went to the Iowa Caucus, and more.

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Elections

Q&A: Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Congressional Candidate, Wants to Address Healthcare, Climate Change, and Transportation

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Democrat and Boston resident Robbie Goldstein is challenging U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch, and answered why he thinks 8th District residents should vote for him, how being a doctor will make him a good congressman, and more. The 8th Congressional District part of Jamaica Plain and includes two precincts in Raynham, Avon, Braintree, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Holbrook, precincts in Milton, Norwood, Quincy, Randolph, Stoughton, Walpole, Westwood, Weymouth, Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Easter Bridgewater, Hingham, Hull, Scituate, West Bridgewater and Whitman. 

Part of the 7th Congressional District is also in Jamaica Plain and is represented by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Goldstein lives in Fort Point with his husband Ryan. Q: Why did you decide to run for the 8th District Congressional seat? Goldstein: My parents taught me from an early age the importance of caring for your community.

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