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Health & Fitness

Convention Center Expansion Bill Leaves Senate With Joyce Good Government Amendments

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate has reported the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) expansion legislation has kept several provisions authored by Senator Brian A. Joyce when the bill came the through the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets chaired by Joyce. These include decreasing the proposed borrowing amount by $110 million, cutting the terms of the bonds to save a potential $480 million, expanding transparency and oversight of the construction, requiring green construction, and more.

Sen. Joyce also had several amendments adopted on the floor of the Senate. One which bars the use of bonded funds from being used by any privately-owned hotel, one which requires the expansion to receive US Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification and the existing structure to work toward LEED Silver Certification and meet strict energy code standards, and another which strengthens taxpayer protections in the public procurement process.

“I’m happy that the Senate bill includes the cost-savings, taxpayer protection and transparency measures, and green construction requirements,” said Joyce.

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The legislation now goes to a conference committee charged with crafting the final version of the bill. Proponents of the legislation testify that the project could create 4,700 construction jobs, 2,100 new permanent jobs and have a $716 million economic impact in the area.

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