LAWRENCE — This weekend, Senator Ed Markey addressed over 200 local elected officials, candidates running for office, local residents and members of the North Andover Democratic Town Committee at their annual fundraising Scholarship Breakfast. Senator Markey spoke about his efforts on protecting our climate, fighting for common-sense gun safety, pushing to meet the national goal to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease by 2025, and advocating for the residents of the Merrimack Valley in the wake of the explosions that rocked the area in 2018.

Senator Markey has been leading and delivering for Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, specifically working to ensure that a disaster like the Columbia Gas explosions never happens again by pushing to update infrastructure and fighting for stronger regulations. In November 2018, he hosted a Senate Commerce Committee field hearing in Lawrence alongside congressional colleagues. He later introduced the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act in April 2019 with Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Lori Trahan to strengthen pipeline safety by closing regulatory loopholes and increasing safety standards.

Senator Markey has garnered widespread support from the Merrimack Valley state delegation, including Mayor Dan Rivera of Lawrence, Mayor James Fiorentini of Haverhill, Representative Tram Nguyen, Representative Christina Minicucci, Representative Linda Dean Campbell, Representative Marcos Devers, and Senator Barry Feingold. Markey also won the North Andover caucus, held on the third week of caucuses, adding to the strong support seen in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, including Brookline, Longmeadow, Waltham, Pittsfield—and beyond.

Recently, Senator Markey has secured the endorsements of several major national progressive organizations, including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice, the NRDC Action Fund, and Peace Action. Markey has also been endorsed by 20 mayors from across the Commonwealth who plan to stand with the Senator as he seeks re-election this September. Additionally, in a significant labor union development, UNITE HERE Local 26 Hotel Workers recently announced its endorsement of Ed Markey–the same day the Senator stood with Local 26 airplane catering workers at a job action at Logan Airport.

Senator Markey has served in the United States Senate for the last six years and is widely regarded as the leading member of Congress on environmental issues. He has also led legislation to protect consumers and address the opioid epidemic, internet privacy concerns, and net neutrality.

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