March 28, 2024

Representative Steven Howitt continues to maintain perfect voting record

Local legislator has never missed a roll call while serving in the House

Posted

Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) has successfully maintained a perfect voting record for the 2019-2020 legislative session, participating in all 267 roll call votes recorded in the House of Representatives between January 30, 2019 and July 31, 2020.

Since he was first elected to the Legislature in 2010, Representative Howitt has never missed a roll call vote. His current unbroken streak of votes cast now stands at 2,226 or 100% roll call votes.

The Seekonk legislator cast votes on several major pieces of legislation that were signed into law this session, including Nicky’s Law, which established a statewide “do not hire” registry to track caregivers who abuse clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A longtime advocate for Massachusetts’ public schools, Representative Howitt also voted for the Student Opportunity Act, which calls for increased school funding and stronger accountability standards to help close student achievement gaps, and the Breakfast After the Bell initiative, which will expand school breakfast programs across the state to help ensure every student comes to school prepared to learn.

In response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency declared on March 10, Representative Howitt supported a wide range of bills to assist families, municipalities and small businesses during the pandemic. In addition to backing expanded mail-in voting and other options to allow residents to safely exercise their right to vote, he also supported the Restaurant Relief Act, which would cap third-party delivery fees and give businesses additional time to submit their meals tax payments without being subject to penalties or interest.

Other key initiatives supported by Representative Howitt this session include legislation to:

  • address racial disparities in maternal healthcare;
  • establish a Foster Parents Bill of Rights;
  • enhance consumer access and insurance parity for telehealth services;
  • criminalize female genital mutilation (FGM);
  • expand access to behavioral and mental health services for children;
  • protect students attending financially struggling colleges facing possible closure;
  • reduce distracted driving by allowing only hands-free cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle;
  • provide over $1.3 billion in state grants to communities for climate change adaptation and infrastructure improvements;
  • assist Massachusetts veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other deployment-related health conditions; and
  • create a Women’s Rights History Trail to promote education and awareness of the struggle for women’s rights in Massachusetts.

Representative Howitt noted, “I am humbled to continue to serve the citizens of the 4th Bristol District. I stand ready to assist as best I can, especially now during this pandemic, and work for my constituents to make their lives a little easier. I am available when they need me, with distancing and mask in place as needed. Together we make it work, and every roll call vote cast is important. I am appreciative and honored to serve.”

Representative Howitt represents the 4th Bristol District communities of Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Swansea. He currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on three legislative committees, including the House Committee on Redistricting, the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and the Joint Committee on Transportation, and is also a member of the Joint Committee on Export Development.

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