BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement on One Boston Day:

“As we mark ten years since the devastating Boston Marathon attack on our city, I am thinking of the families robbed of a loved one, of folks still recovering from physical injuries, of those suffering from their invisible wounds, and of the Greater Boston community. I am grateful for the powerful community response and unity in the aftermath of the attack, despite the fear, confusion, and despair many were feeling.

“Our work towards healing continues. I remain committed to pursuing policies that address trauma and strengthen our community. We must continue addressing the cycles of trauma that have impacted our neighbors and our loved ones on a difficult road to recovery.

“Earlier this year, I was honored to join survivors of the marathon attack to mark the passage and enactment of my Post Disaster Mental Health Response Act, which will expand mental health support for survivors of natural disasters and terrorist attacks like the marathon bombing. These are the types of policies we need in this moment to meet people exactly where they are, and to set our communities on a pathway to healing.

“Healing is nonlinear, and remembrance can be both meaningful and challenging. On One Boston Day and every day, I encourage people to come together for volunteer events and acts of kindness—and if necessary, to seek the meaningful support they need and deserve. There is no shame in that.”

In February, Rep. Pressley joined advocates and survivors of the marathon attack to for a roundtable discussion on her Post Disaster Mental Health Response Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in December. The legislation, which Rep. Pressley first introduced in October 2021, will expand mental health support for survivors of natural disasters and terrorist attacks—like the Boston Marathon bombing—that are designated emergency declarations by FEMA. 

A longtime resident of the City of Boston, Rep. Pressley was a City Councilor At-Large in April 2013. Throughout her near decade on the Council, Pressley convened a series of hearings about the impact of trauma, including the Council’s first-ever listening-only session to hear directly from those impacted by the trauma of community gun violence.

###