Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators

Please join us in welcoming Senator Vanna Howard (D–Lowell), the first Cambodian American elected to the Massachusetts Senate and the first in any state legislature in the country.

Her election marks a meaningful step forward in representation, expanding who is seen, heard, and reflected in our government.

While is not a new member to the MA Legislative body, she is a new Senator and we’re proud to have you in the Senate.

Happy Presidents’ Day! Today, we celebrate the leadership that has shaped our nation, here in Massachusetts and beyond.

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Women remain underrepresented, according to the World Economic Forum, women made up only 28.2% of people in STEM related fields, with the majority of them being white. Women play a vital role in science, and we celebrate their achievements and encourage girls to feel inspired to pursue careers in STEM fields.

’sEconomicOpportunity&EliminatingBarriers

This World Cancer Day, we’re highlighting S.1484/H.2432: An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer, filed by Senator Comerford, Representative Kane, and Representative Gentile. In 2025, we lost two of our own members to pancreatic cancer — Rep. Carol Doherty and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante. Their absences are felt deeply and we work to honor their legacies.

In Massachusetts, pancreatic cancer is the 2nd most deadly cancer, and the rates of pancreatic cancer are rising disproportionately in women. This act aims to address these disparities and save lives.

The face of medicine is changing – today, 39% of doctors and 54% of medical students in the US are women. While these numbers are steadily increasing, women in the medical field face unique challenges, such as pay gaps and unequal leadership opportunities.

Everyone, please join us in taking a moment to bid farewell to one of our members, State Representative Natalie M. Blais, 1st Franklin District, as she steps away from her seat to begin a new role at UMass Amherst.

Representative Blais made history as the first woman to represent her district, serving with distinction, compassion, and deep commitment to her constituents. During her tenure, she worked tirelessly to uplift rural communities, secure critical grant funding, and advocate for the needs of her district. She authored one of our Caucus legislative priority bills, H.804 Gender Neutral Terms in Election Laws. She is an irreplaceable member of our body.

We thank Representative Blais for her dedicated service and wish her continued success in all her future endeavors.

Legislative Update 📣

Our Caucus prioritized five bills at the start of the legisltive session in alignment with our strategic priorities. The graphic shows where each of these bills stood as of the last day of 2025.

We have submitted testimony, partnered with bill sponsors and coalitions, co-sponsored briefings, and actively advocated for these bills throughout the State House.

As the bills move through secondary and tertiary committees, constituent engagement is more critical than ever. Let's keep the momentum going—share this post and reach out to your legislators.

The December Newsletter is here!

Check out our linktree to find updates on everything we have been celebrating in 2025 and the exciting opportunities we have to look forward to in 2026.

Economic justice is essential to gender equality.

In 2025, our legislative agenda was strengthened by events and presentations that examined the root causes and prevalence of gender-based economic inequities, while highlighting how economic inequality intersects with health equity and representation. Through this work, we continued advancing women’s economic opportunity—breaking down barriers, elevating awareness, and building pathways to a more equitable Commonwealth.

Women’s health is foundational to strong families, resilient communities, and a thriving Commonwealth.

In 2025, we reaffirmed our commitment to confronting racial and gender disparities in health care. In partnership with the MA Mind the Gap Coalition, the American Cancer Society Massachusetts Chapter, and the Menstrual Equity Coalition, we strengthened and advanced our legislative priorities—working together to turn equity-driven policy into law and impact across our State.