Representative Keenan Appointed to Committees
for 185^th Legislative Session

 

BOSTON, MA – State Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) was today named to sit on three committees for the 185^th session of the Massachusetts legislature.  The second-term Representative has been re-appointed by Speaker Salvatore DiMasi to serve again on the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development.  He has also been assigned to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy.

“I am honored to be named to these three committees, all of which are critically important to Salem and the Commonwealth in general” said Rep. Keenan.  “I very much look forward to continuing my work on the Tourism Committee to help stimulate and support our Commonwealth’s travel and tourism efforts and our investments in the arts and culture.”  Rep. Keenan, an active member of the legislature’s tourism, arts, and culture working group, has filed three bills this session to promote local tourism investment and improve the recently revived Cultural Facilities Fund.

“This session also promises to be a busy one for the Judiciary Committee, as we continue our efforts to strengthen Massachusett’s sex offender and domestic violence statutes, as well as create more effective re-entry policies to reduce recidivism rates,” said Rep. Keenan, formerly an Assistant District Attorney for Essex County.  Rep. Keenan has authored bills this session that would crack down on sex offenders in nursing homes and reform the Commonwealth’s bail payment system to reduce the potential for fraud; both are expected to be referred to the Judiciary Committee.

“Serving on the Energy Committee will be extremely exciting this session, as both Governor Patrick and Speaker DiMasi have indicated that energy policy will be a top priority,” pointed out Rep. Keenan, “Particularly with the on-going discussions around the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and efforts to promote renewable energy.”  As Salem’s City Solicitor, Rep. Keenan had worked extensively for a number of years on legal matters relative to the city’s relationship with the Salem Harbor Station power plant.  He has cosponsored a dozen bills this session regarding improving Massachusetts’ energy efficiency and boosting the Commonwealth’s growing renewable and alternative energy sectors.