2015 In Review
Seth accomplished a great deal in 2015. The following recaps some of Seth's notable stories, moments and milestones from his first year in office.
January 6
Soup kitchen and swearing in
WASHINGTON – Representative Seth Moulton was sworn into the 114th Congress on Tuesday afternoon, taking over the Massachusetts Sixth Congressional District seat from former Representative John Tierney. A Salem native, Moulton will represent the district covering most of the North Shore.
January 8
First floor speech
January 25
Seth on MSNBC's Taking the Hill: "We need to focus on ISIS"
February 21
Salem News: Moulton returns to Iraq, Middle East on congressional tour
SALEM — Congressman Seth Moulton just returned from his first trip back to Iraq since serving there with the Marines between 2003 to 2008.
But the first-term congressman wasn’t going back for a reunion. He was there for a much more serious reason: the Islamic State group’s escalating threat to the region and the world.
Moulton, a Salem Democrat, joined U.S. Reps. Brad Ashford (D-Nebraska), Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) on a week-long House Armed Services Committee delegation. They were there from Feb. 13 to 20.
Read the original story here.
March 5
After Months of Pressure, NOAA adopts Sector Proposal on Cod Fishing Restrictions
Washington, D.C. – Today, following pressure by the Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC), Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), the Northeast Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it would adopt the sector-based proposal on cod fishing restrictions.
Read more here.
Gloucester Times: NOAA to Reconsider Emergency Gulf of Maine Cod Measures
The fishing sector-based proposal to remove some of the most restrictive emergency cod measures in the Gulf of Maine, initially rejected by NOAA Fisheries, is back in play.
Responding to a Jan. 22 letter written by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and co-signed by four other members of the Bay State's congressional delegation, NOAA Fisheries now says the alternative cod management proposal developed by the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund and Northeast Fishing Sector 4 "warrants further consideration."
NOAA informed Moulton on Wednesday night that it will revisit the alternative cod management proposal put forth by the fishing sectors and other fishing advocates.
"Fishermen, environmentalists and others share a commitment to ensuring a sustainable fishery for future generations," Moulton said today in a statement. "I am grateful that NOAA will revisit how we go about accomplishing that goal."
In the Jan. 22 letter, the first-term congressman and his colleagues went to bat for the plan largely developed by GFCPF Executive Director Vito Giacalone and widely endorsed by sectors and other fishing advocates and stakeholders.
That plan proposed fishing sectors would surrender up to 60 metric tons of their annual cod catch entitlement if NOAA would relax or eliminate some of the emergency cod measures it instituted last November after a surprise and unscheduled stock assessment last summer showed the Gulf of Maine cod stock to be highly imperiled.
Read the story here.
March 11
Moulton proud to march in Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade with OUTVETS
OUTVETS not only honors the service and sacrifice of active-duty service members and veterans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and those questioning their sexuality, but all veterans and their families, according to the group’s commander, Bryan Bishop. Membership in the group is open to gay and straight veterans and active-duty personnel.
Read more here.
April 7
TIME: ISIS Defeat Must Be Political
Stop us if you have heard this before. Gruesome beheadings and torture dominate headlines. Violence is steadily escalating across Iraq. But our military advisors are optimistic: Ancient tribes are banding together to fight back, sectarian military and political leaders are being replaced, soldiers are gaining skills and confidence with their American trainers, and our special operations forces are eliminating the majority of the terrorist leaders.
That is the story in Iraq today. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is exactly what we all heard in 2007, as we entered the surge.
Read Seth's op-ed with Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) on Time.com »
May 26
Seth Speaks at NSCC Commencement
June 5
First legislation introduced: The VA Education Training and Sustainability (VETS) Act
Congressman Seth Moulton has shared with local and national media his bad experience as a patient receiving care under the Veterans Administration to address a hernia he sustained while lifting weights.
With each interview, Moulton describes undergoing an intake process in which staff at a Washington D.C. VA hospital spent 30 minutes looking up his veteran status.
The story coincides with the congressman’s package of four bills aimed at improving the VA’s medical workforce through investing in existing staff, expanding educational opportunities and attracting talent.
Read the full story from the Marblehead Reporter »
June 27
#MarriageEquality
July 8
Seth Co-Authors Free Community College Bill
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton joined other Democrats Wednesday in proposing legislation that would provide $80 billion to states over the next decade to make two years of community college available free of charge.
In his district, the North Shore Community College has estimated that it provides surrounding communities a $100 million economic boost, roughly a five-to-one return on the public money spent to support the college, he explained.
Read the full story at the Taunton Gazette »
Introducing America's College Promise Act of 2015
This week, Congressman Seth Moulton joined Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Committee on Education and Workforce, and other congressional leaders at a press conference to announce the America’s College Promise Act of 2015. The bill, if enacted, would make two years of community college free and provide an affordable pathway for low-income students to a four-year college degree.
Learn more about the bill.
July 13th
First Bill Passed!
Last month, the House Committee on Small Business unanimously passed legislation authored by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) to increase access to capital for startups and small businesses by modernizing the Small Business Administration's Microloan Program.
Read the full story from the Salem News »
July 30
Saugus Fire Department nets $144K for equipment from FEMA grant
The Saugus Fire Department is now home to 20 new air packs and 34 face pieces, thanks to a $144,728 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).The 2014 grant was awarded to the department during a ceremony on July 26, when Congressman Seth Moulton, Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree, Fire Chief Don McQuaid and several firefighters gathered to check out to the new equipment."These firefighters put their lives on the line for Saugus residents every day," said Moulton.
Read the full story from the Saugus Advertiser »
August 10
Moulton Announces Congress on Your Corner Tour of the Sixth Congressional District
Peabody, MA - Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) today announced the "Congress on Your Corner" tour, a series of five public events throughout Massachusetts' Sixth District during the month of August. The tour is part of Moulton's effort to increase access to the constituent services his office provides.
Read more here.
August 17
Salem News: Our view: An open approach to volatile Iran issue
Since he decided to run for office two years ago, Seth has promised he would keep an open mind and take a thoughtful, reasoned approach to the tough issues of our day. We don't need political posturing or soundbites. We need representatives who are really willing to engage on the issues and make tough decisions - even when they are not politically expedient. Seth's approach to the Iran Deal is a prime example.
Read the full story from the Salem News »