Transcript:

Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of Bills H 135 S 76, an act establishing basic needs assistance in Massachusetts immigrant residents. I'm Claire-Cecile Pierre, I'm the vice president of community health at Mass General Brigham.

As an immigrant and a physician in the Commonwealth, I understand the intimate relationship between access to food and one's overall health. I have personally and professionally witnessed the difficult decisions immigrants make between food and medical care, often choosing food to survive by prioritizing that for their children and loved ones. As we do our best to treat immigrants who bravely risk their lives to come to this country, I remain heartbroken by the number of my colleagues who still report seeing kids who are malnourished or people who skipped doses of their medications because they didn't have access to food. For our patients it is a painful existence, for our committed physicians, social workers, nurses, community health workers, it is an emotionally distressing experience.

This legislation will restore access to basic nutrition and benefits immigrants need, providing them with life sustaining services. And I urge the Massachusetts Legislature to support this bill. Thank you.