Public Policy Priorities

CEOC's 2023-2024 Public Policy Priorities

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee’s (CEOC) mission is to empower people and mobilize resources to fight poverty’s causes and impacts through education and organizing. We envision an inclusive and diverse Cambridge without poverty where everyone has affordable housing, quality health care and education, food security and economic stability. In addition to providing direct services to achieve these goals, we have set out the following public policy agenda to target structural change that prevents poverty and promotes economic stability.

Public Policy Agenda

Eliminating Food Insecurity
Level 1 H.150/S.85 An Act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program
Level 3 H.603/S.261 An Act relative to universal school meals

Promoting Affordable Housing
Level 2 H.1690 and S.956 An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (HOMES Act)
Level 2 H.1731/S.864 An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts

Lifting Individuals and Families Out of Deep Poverty
Level 2 H.489/S.301 An Act providing affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth (Common Start)
Level 2 H.1237/S.740 An Act to ensure equitable health coverage for children (Cover All Kids)
Level 2 S.1798 An Act to reduce poverty by expanding the EITC and the child and family tax credit
Level 2 H.2762/S.1793 An Act to increase family stabilization through the earned income tax credit
Level 2 H.2761/S1792 An Act establishing a child and family tax credit
Level 3 H.144/S.75 An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty (Lift Our Kids)

Eliminating Wage Disparities
Level 1 H.1705/S.1108 An Act prohibiting body size discrimination
Level 1 S.2016 An Act to ensure gender parity and racial and ethnic diversity on public boards and commissions (Parity on Boards)
Level 1 H.1922/S.1162 An Act relative to non-fault unemployment insurance overpayments
Level 1 H.1868/S.1158 An Act to prevent wage theft, promote employer accountability, and enhance public enforcement
Level 3 H.1157/S.1999 An Act addressing the racial wealth gap (Baby Bonds)

Promoting the Wellbeing of Immigrants and Refugees
Level 1 H.2288/S.1510 An Act to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents (Safe Communities Act)
Level 3 H.135/S.76 An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents
Level 2 H.3084/S.1990 An Act relative to language access and inclusion

Tiers of Involvement

Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Level 0

We cannot support this legislation and may even oppose it.

Level 1

We support this legislation.

We sign on to letters of support as CEOC.

We include it in our list of advocacy efforts.

We attend coalition meetings when available but they are able to use our logo and signature to endorse this bill.

Level 2

Includes Level 1 activities +

We actively use social media to endorse this bill.

We write to legislators to ask them to advance this bill.

We attend coalition meetings.

Level 3

Includes Level 2 activities +

We are a leader in the coalition efforts.

We meet with legislators to expand our efforts.

We organize around the issue (e.g. rallies, canvassing, phone banking)

We provide written and verbal testimony for the bill.